Urolift
UroLift Procedure For BPH
When BPH starts to control your day, you do not always want more pills or a big surgery. Some men want a simpler, in-office procedure that opens the channel without cutting or destroying prostate tissue.
At Riverstone Urology Specialists, Dr. Russell Libby offers the UroLift procedure as one option for men with bothersome BPH who want meaningful relief with a quick recovery and a strong record for preserving sexual function.
What Is UroLift
UroLift is a minimally invasive procedure for BPH, also called a prostatic urethral lift. Small permanent implants lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra so urine can flow more freely. There is no cutting, heating, or removal of tissue.
Key Points
- Done through the urethra with a small scope
- Usually performed as an outpatient procedure
- Typically uses local anesthesia with light sedation
- Most men go home the same day, often without a catheter
You still have your prostate. The implants simply pull the blocking tissue away from the urinary channel, similar to tying curtains back from a window.
How Dr. Libby Thinks About UroLift
Dr. Libby Explains Aquablation As A Two Stage Process Carried Out During One Operation Under Anesthesia.
Dr. Libby Treats UroLift As A Mechanical Fix For A Mechanical Blockage. It Often Fits Men Who
- Have moderate BPH symptoms that affect sleep, work, and travel
- Want more relief than medication provides
- Hope to avoid tissue removal procedures like TURP or laser in the near term
- Strongly value preserving ejaculation, when anatomy and data support that goal
He Also Looks At
- Prostate size and shape
- Whether there is a median lobe folding into the urethra
- Bladder function and overall health
Some men do better with Aquablation or GreenLight laser because of prostate size, shape, or symptom severity. UroLift is one tool in a broader BPH toolkit, not the only option.
Who Might Be A Good Candidate
UroLift May Be Considered If You
- Have clear BPH with lower urinary tract symptoms
- Have a prostate in the mild to moderate size range
- Are tired of side effects from BPH medicines
- Want an office based or short-stay procedure with a quick return to daily activity
UroLift Is Often Not The Best Choice If You
- Have very large prostate volume
- Have significant scarring or unusual anatomy in the prostate or urethra
- Have active infection, uncontrolled bleeding risk, or unaddressed bladder problems
A full evaluation with Dr. Libby, including history, exam, urine testing, and imaging or cystoscopy, decides whether UroLift belongs on your shortlist.
How The UroLift Procedure Works
On The Day Of The Procedure, Things Usually Follow A Predictable Sequence.
Check-In And Prep
- You arrive at the office, surgery center, or hospital.
- Staff review medicines, allergies, and consent.
- Anesthesia team or staff prepare you for local anesthesia with or without light sedation.
Scope Placement
- Dr. Libby passes a small scope through the urethra to view the prostate and bladder.
- He confirms the exact length and pattern of the blockage.
Implant Placement
- Using the UroLift delivery device through the scope, he compresses the side lobe of the prostate and deploys a small implant.
- Each implant tethers the inner prostate tissue to the outer capsule, pulling it away from the urethra.
- Several implants, often four to six, are placed until the urinary channel looks open and straight.
Final Check And Recovery
- The scope is removed and urine flow is checked as needed.
- Some men go home without a catheter, others use one for a short time, based on anatomy and how the procedure went.
The entire procedure time is usually short compared with more involved surgeries.
Benefits You Might Notice
For The Right Patient And Anatomy, Outcomes From UroLift Studies Include
- Significant reduction in BPH symptom scores
- Better urine flow and less straining
- Lower nighttime urination in many men
- Minimal impact on sexual function, with preserved erections and ejaculation in most patients
- Rapid recovery, often back to normal light activity within a few days
Most men who respond start to feel a difference within days to weeks as swelling settles and the channel stays open. Relief can last for years, though some patients later choose additional treatment if symptoms return or the prostate continues to grow.
Recovery And Short-Term Expectations
In The Days After UroLift, Common Experiences Include
- Burning or discomfort with urination
- Urgency or more frequent trips to the bathroom
- Mild pelvic or tip-of-penis pain
- Small amounts of blood in the urine, especially at the start of the stream
These Effects Usually Settle Over One To Three Weeks. Dr. Libby Often Recommends
- Extra fluids, unless another condition limits them
- Avoiding heavy lifting, cycling, and high impact exercise for a short period
- Taking prescribed pain and bladder medicines as directed
You receive clear instructions about warning signs such as fever, inability to urinate, or large clots, which need urgent attention.
Risks And Limits
Even Though UroLift Is Minimally Invasive, It Still Carries Risk. Reported Issues Include
- Temporary burning, urgency, or leakage
- Blood in the urine
- Pelvic or perineal pain
- Need for a short-term catheter
- Infection that might need antibiotics
- Rare problems with implant position that might need adjustment or removal
Some men do better with Aquablation or GreenLight laser because of prostate size, shape, or symptom severity. UroLift is one tool in a broader BPH toolkit, not the only option.
Compared With More Aggressive Tissue Removal Surgeries, UroLift Usually Has
- Lower risk of retrograde ejaculation
- Lower risk of new erectile dysfunction
- Slightly less symptom improvement on average in some studies
That tradeoff is part of the discussion before you decide.
How UroLift Compares With Other BPH Treatments
When Dr. Libby Lays Out Options, The Picture Often Looks Like This
Medicines
First line for many men. Useful but often limited by side effects or incomplete relief.
UroLift
Mechanical lift, quick recovery, strong sexual side effect profile, best for selected prostate sizes and shapes.
Aquablation Or GreenLight Laser
Remove tissue for more powerful symptom relief, helpful in larger glands or more severe obstruction, but with higher procedural intensity and different sexual side effect risks.
TURP Or Other Surgery
Longstanding standard with strong relief, often reserved for larger prostates, bladder damage, or when other options are not suitable.
UroLift often fits men who want a middle path between pills and full surgical tissue removal.
UroLift At Riverstone Urology
Riverstone Urology offers UroLift as part of a complete BPH program for men in North Houston, Cypress, The Woodlands or a nearby community. It is one of several tools Dr. Libby uses to match treatment intensity with symptom burden, anatomy, and personal priorities like sexual function and recovery time.
If you live with weak stream, hesitancy, or frequent nighttime urination despite medicines, schedule a visit with Dr. Libby. Once your diagnosis and anatomy are clear, you can look at UroLift beside Aquablation, GreenLight, and other options and decide which fits your health and your life best.