Laser treatment of the prostate is a minimally invasive surgical technique for treating Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or enlargement of the prostate. A specially designed laser light source and fiber optic delivery system is utilized. The procedure combines the immediate symptom relief and the dramatic flow rate improvements of the current "gold standard" procedure (called TURP or Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate) with minimal side effects, fast operative and recovery times, and usually no need for a catheter after surgery.  The technique is a fast, outpatient treatment.

The laser procedure is performed in an outpatient setting with average operative times normally less then 60 minutes. The surgical laser delivers laser light pulses through a specially designed fiber optic delivery device that is inserted through a standard cystoscope. The light pulses are directed towards the prostate tissue. The laser quickly vaporizes and removes the prostatic obstruction without significant bleeding.

Once the procedure is completed, patients have immediate post-operative symptom relief and dramatic improvements in symptoms, urinary flow rates, and bladder emptying.

Post-operative side effects, if any, have been minimal and transient. Patients usually feel well within several days of the procedure, but full recovery can take several weeks.  Some blood in the urine is common during the recovery process.  This is harmless, and rarely requires treatment.  It is common to have decreased fluid with ejaculation after this or any prostate surgery, since the prostate is the gland which makes the fluid portion of the ejaculate. 

Because the laser does not cause deep tissue damage and tissue is effectively removed, some patients are sent home without catheter insertion. Others are sent home with catheters that are removed within 24 hours after treatment.