Also known as enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in men — particularly as they age. It’s not cancerous, but a growing prostate can lead to uncomfortable urinary symptoms that interfere with your daily life.
Fortunately, treatment options for BPH are available, and they can make a big difference. GreenLight™ Laser Therapy is a minimally invasive option that treats BPH symptoms at the source by removing excess prostate tissue without open surgery, and it could be a good option for you.
Our team at Advanced Urology offers this innovative BPH treatment at our offices in Culver City, Los Angeles, Redondo Beach, and San Pedro, California. Here’s what you need to know about how it works and what to expect.
Your prostate gland is located below your bladder and surrounds your urethra — the tube responsible for carrying urine out of your body. BPH is a non-cancerous condition that develops when your prostate gets larger, and it’s very common with age. In fact, an estimated 1 in 3 men ages 65 and older have BPH.
As your prostate gets larger, it can start to press against your urethra and cause a number of urinary issues. Common symptoms include:
While BPH isn’t life-threatening, its symptoms can significantly impact your daily life. The good news is that effective treatment is available, and our team is here to help you find the right BPH treatment for your needs.
GreenLight Laser Therapy is a minimally invasive procedure designed to treat BPH by removing excess prostate tissue. It utilizes a high-powered laser to vaporize the overgrown tissue, effectively relieving urethral compression and improving urine flow.
GreenLight Laser therapy involves inserting a small fiber into your urethra through a cystoscope — a flexible instrument equipped with a camera. We use the camera to see your prostate, and the fiber delivers laser energy that heats and vaporizes the enlarged prostate tissue to create a more open channel for urine to pass through.
It’s a highly accurate procedure that gives us the ability to precisely remove obstructive tissue while minimizing damage to surrounding areas. We recommend GreenLight Laser Therapy for many of our patients, because it offers a balance between efficacy and reduced recovery time compared with traditional surgical methods.
As with any medical procedure, GreenLight Laser Therapy comes with some potential risks, including urinary tract infections, bleeding, or, in rare cases, sexual side effects such as retrograde ejaculation. Discussing these risks with our team can help you make an informed decision.
If you’re interested in GreenLight Laser Therapy, book a consultation to review your medical history, discuss your symptoms, and undergo a physical exam. You may be a good candidate for treatment if you’re in generally good health but are bothered by symptoms of BPH.
GreenLight Laser Therapy is an outpatient procedure, which means most people can go home the same day. On the day of your procedure, we start by administering general or spinal anesthesia to keep you comfortable.
Treatment usually takes about an hour, depending on the size of your prostate. If you’re awake, you’ll lay back and relax while we get to work. If we use general anesthesia, you’ll wake up in a recovery room once the procedure is complete.
We may place a temporary urinary catheter to aid bladder drainage during initial healing. Some men may notice mild blood in the urine, increased urinary urgency, or discomfort during urination shortly after the procedure. These effects are typically temporary.
Many patients experience a rapid improvement in urinary symptoms, often within 24 hours. You can expect to return to normal activities within a few days, but we recommend avoiding strenuous exertion for a couple of weeks.
If you’re frustrated by the symptoms of BPH, GreenLight Laser Therapy could be the answer. It’s an effective, minimally invasive solution for BPH, and our experienced urology team can help determine if it’s a good option for you. Call us at 310-670-9119 or request an appointment online.
