UroLift for BPH

Minimally Invasive Enlarged Prostate Treatment

Sexual Function Preserved. Same-Day Discharge. No Cutting or Tissue Removal.

If you are living with the frustrating urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate, UroLift offers something most BPH treatments cannot: meaningful, lasting relief without sacrificing your sexual health. UroLift is the most popular minimally invasive BPH procedure in the United States, and it is one of the only FDA-cleared treatments clinically shown not to cause new-onset erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction. Most men go home the same day, without a catheter, and return to normal activities within days, not weeks.

At Tower Urology, a proud affiliate of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (ranked #1 in California and #2 nationwide by U.S. News & World Report), our board-certified urologists perform UroLift entirely in our office, so you never need to set foot in an operating room.

What Is the UroLift System?

The UroLift system is a minimally invasive, FDA-cleared treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), more commonly known as an enlarged prostate. Rather than cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue, UroLift uses tiny permanent implants to lift and hold the enlarged prostate lobes away from the urethra, restoring a clear channel for urine to flow. Think of it as tying curtains back: the obstruction is moved aside rather than destroyed.

The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia with mild sedation, takes less than an hour, and most patients are discharged the same day. Because no tissue is removed and no heat energy is applied, the risk of sexual side effects is dramatically lower than with traditional surgical options.

BPH Symptoms and What Happens If It Goes Untreated

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is remarkably common. More than half of men in their sixties have it, and that figure climbs toward 90% by their eighties. BPH develops when the prostate gland gradually enlarges and begins squeezing the urethra, restricting urine flow and producing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that worsen over time. Common symptoms include:

• A weak or slow urine stream

• Frequent urges to urinate, especially at night (nocturia)

• Difficulty starting urination or straining to go

• A feeling that the bladder never fully empties

• Dribbling at the end of urination

• Sudden, urgent need to urinate that is hard to control (urinary urgency)

These symptoms may seem like a minor inconvenience at first, but BPH is a progressive condition. Left untreated, the bladder must work harder and harder to push urine past the obstruction. Over time, this can cause the bladder muscle to weaken, leading to urinary incontinence or, at the other extreme, acute urinary retention, a painful inability to urinate that requires emergency treatment. Chronic urinary retention can back up into the kidneys, causing kidney damage or recurrent urinary tract infections. Physicians use the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and peak urinary flow rate (Qmax) to track BPH progression and guide treatment decisions. The bottom line: BPH does not resolve on its own, and the sooner you address it, the better your quality of life and long-term urological health.

Who Is the Ideal Candidate for UroLift?

UroLift is a strong option for men who:

• Are aged 45 or older with symptomatic BPH

• Have a small to medium-sized prostate (generally less than 100 cc in prostate volume)

• Prioritize an ejaculation-sparing treatment that preserves sexual function

• Experience symptoms such as frequent urination, weak stream, difficulty starting and stopping urination, and nocturia

• Have not responded well to medications such as alpha-blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, or prefer not to take daily medications

• Have BPH symptoms caused primarily by the lateral lobes of the prostate, with mild or no median lobe obstruction

• Have normal kidney function and mild to moderate post-void residual urine (less than 200 ml)

The procedure suits both younger, healthy men and older or frail men who are not good candidates for more invasive surgery. Men who have previously undergone prostate procedures that are no longer effective may also qualify if there is regrowth of prostate tissue. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and imaging are typically part of the pre-procedure evaluation to rule out other conditions.

UroLift is not recommended for men with prostates larger than 100 cc, active urinary tract infections, certain urethral conditions, stress urinary incontinence, current gross hematuria, or known allergies to nickel, titanium, or stainless steel.

How the UroLift Procedure Is Performed

At Tower Urology, we can perform UroLift entirely in our office, so you don’t need to go to the operating room. This in-office convenience is a real differentiator: less disruption to your schedule, no hospital admission paperwork, and a familiar, comfortable environment.

Most patients receive local anesthesia combined with mild oral or intravenous sedation, keeping you comfortable and relaxed throughout without the risks associated with general anesthesia. In select cases, a urologist may recommend a spinal block, but most UroLift procedures at Tower Urology are performed in our office.

The procedure unfolds in a few straightforward steps:

1. A small camera is inserted through the urethra to visualize the prostate and confirm the anatomy.

2. We advance the UroLift delivery device to the obstruction site.

3. Tiny suture-based implants are placed to lift and hold the enlarged prostate lobes away from the urethra, opening the channel for urine flow. No tissue is cut, heated, or removed.

On average, our urologists place between three and five permanent implants per procedure, though the exact number depends on the size and shape of your prostate. The entire outpatient procedure typically takes around 60 minutes or less from start to finish, and most patients are discharged the same day, often without a catheter.

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UroLift Success Rates: What the Data Really Show

Clinical studies show that 80% of men reported feeling much better or very much better within the first month after UroLift. A review of 10 studies involving nearly 700 patients found that almost all experienced overall symptom improvement, including better urine flow and quality-of-life scores. Most Tower Urology patients experience fewer urinary symptoms and improved flow after the procedure.

Regarding long-term durability, we believe in sharing the full picture, including data that most providers do not publish:

• The official UroLift pivotal trial reports a surgical retreatment rate of approximately 13.6% over five years, or about 2 to 3% per year.

• An independent systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 clinical studies encompassing 2,016 patients found a higher surgical reintervention rate of 6.0% per year, or about 28.9% at five years. This real-world figure reflects variability across different patient populations, prostate sizes, and clinical settings.

We surface this discrepancy because we believe informed patients make better decisions. The gap between the two figures likely reflects the carefully selected patient populations in manufacturer-sponsored trials versus the broader mix of patients treated in everyday clinical practice. When retreatment is needed, the most common reinterventions are transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) (51.0%), repeat UroLift (32.7%), and UroLift explant (19.6%). Importantly, if symptoms do return, additional minimally invasive options remain available, and prior UroLift does not foreclose future treatment.

Despite these retreatment considerations, UroLift maintains a strongly positive profile due to its minimally invasive nature, preservation of sexual function, and quick recovery compared to more invasive surgical options. Clinical studies have consistently shown that UroLift does not cause new, sustained instances of sexual dysfunction.

Benefits of UroLift Compared to Other BPH Treatments

UroLift offers a compelling combination of effectiveness, convenience, and quality-of-life preservation that most other treatments cannot match simultaneously. Here is a consolidated look at the standout advantages:

Benefit	UroLift	Medications	TURP (Surgery)
Preserves sexual function	Yes – ejaculation typically preserved	Often impaired	Frequently impaired
Same-day discharge	Yes	N/A	Usually requires hospital stay
No cutting or tissue removal	Yes	N/A	No – tissue is removed
Fast symptom relief	Within days to weeks	Weeks to months	Weeks
No ongoing daily medication	Yes	No	Yes
Can be performed in-office	Yes	N/A	No – operating room required

One of the most meaningful advantages for many men is that UroLift is specifically designed to preserve ejaculatory function. Traditional surgical approaches and even some thermal therapies carry a real risk of retrograde ejaculation, where semen travels backward into the bladder during orgasm. For sexually active men, this is a significant concern, and it is one area where UroLift consistently stands out. UroLift is the only leading BPH procedure not shown to cause new-onset or sustained erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction.

One important nuance our board-certified urologists always share with patients: ejaculation-sparing refers specifically to the ability to ejaculate and the preservation of erectile function, sensation, and orgasm, not necessarily to the literal volume or character of the ejaculate. Individual patients should be aware that some modifications are possible, and a candid pre-procedure conversation with your urologist will set realistic expectations.

Risks and Complications of UroLift

As with any procedure involving instrumentation of the urinary tract, UroLift carries a defined set of risks. Fully understanding them is part of making an informed decision. The most commonly reported side effects in clinical studies include:

• Dysuria – a burning or stinging sensation when urinating, which typically resolves within a few weeks as the prostate settles around the implants.

• Haematuria – blood in the urine, usually mild and self-limiting but worth monitoring.

• Urinary tract infection (UTI) – a small risk with any urinary tract instrumentation, generally treatable with a short course of antibiotics.

• Urinary retention – some men experience temporary difficulty emptying the bladder in the days immediately following the procedure, occasionally requiring a short-term catheter.

• Bleeding – in rare cases, significant bleeding may require placement of a Foley catheter or, if more severe, intervention under general anesthesia in the operating room.

• Implant-related issues – in rare cases, a UroLift implant may migrate or fail to hold the prostate tissue in the desired position, which could require removal or additional treatment.

It is also worth noting that UroLift is not suitable for all prostate sizes or anatomies. Men with a very large prostate or a prominent median lobe may not be ideal candidates, as the implants may be less effective in those configurations. Your urologist will evaluate your anatomy carefully before recommending this procedure. A thorough conversation with a board-certified urologist is the best way to weigh these risks against the potential benefits for your specific situation.

What Recovery After UroLift Looks Like

Recovery from UroLift is generally quick with minimal restrictions. Most patients return home on the day of the procedure and can resume normal daily activities, excluding strenuous exercise, within one to two days. It is normal to experience a brief worsening of bladder irritation symptoms, including burning, frequency, and urinary urgency, as well as some blood in the urine in the first one to two weeks. These symptoms are expected and typically resolve on their own.

Some men may need a temporary urinary catheter for a day or two while initial urethral swelling settles down. This is more common in men with more significant obstruction, but most patients are catheter-free before they leave the office.

For returning to work, most men with desk jobs feel ready within two to three days. If your job involves heavy lifting or physical labor, plan on waiting at least one to two weeks. Sexual activity should be avoided for roughly two to four weeks to allow the implants to fully seat and the tissue to heal.

Contact your urologist promptly if you experience a high fever, an inability to urinate, severe pain that is not improving, or large or persistent blood clots in the urine. These are uncommon after UroLift but warrant a prompt call to our team. At Tower Urology, our board-certified urologists guide you through every step of your recovery.

UroLift vs. Rezum: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Rezum and UroLift are two leading minimally invasive treatments for BPH, and patients frequently ask how they compare. The core difference is mechanical versus thermal: UroLift uses tiny implants to physically hold the prostate open, while Rezum uses convective water vapor ablation, delivering steam directly into prostate tissue to destroy and shrink it over time as the body reabsorbs the treated cells.

Symptom relief: Both treatments significantly improve the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) at three months, with approximately a 50% reduction. Rezum achieved greater long-term symptom improvement at 24 and 36 months, while UroLift provided more immediate relief because it has no tissue resorption period.

Flow rate improvement: Rezum showed greater improvement in peak urinary flow rate (Qmax) at three months (6.4 vs. 4.29 ml/sec). By 12 to 36 months, both treatments showed similar flow rate improvements.

Sexual function: Neither procedure causes new-onset erectile dysfunction. However, UroLift showed better preservation of ejaculatory function than Rezum. UroLift is the only leading BPH procedure not shown to cause new-onset or sustained ejaculatory dysfunction.

Recovery: UroLift offers faster recovery, about one week, with 93% of patients catheter-free on day three compared to 45% for Rezum. Rezum typically requires a two- to four-week recovery period, with higher short-term rates of urinary retention, haematuria, and dysuria.

Durability and retreatment: Rezum carries a surgical retreatment rate of approximately 4.4% at four to five years. UroLift’s official pivotal trial reports 13.6% at five years, while the independent meta-analysis of 11 studies and 2,016 patients estimated 28.9% at five years.

Ideal candidates: UroLift is best suited for men with mild to moderate prostate enlargement who prioritize immediate symptom relief and sexual function preservation. Rezum is better suited for men with larger prostates, more severe symptoms, median lobe enlargement, or those who can tolerate a longer recovery for potentially more durable results.

Both procedures offer significant advantages over traditional surgical options. The right choice depends on your prostate anatomy, symptom severity, sexual health priorities, and lifestyle. Your Tower Urology urologist will walk you through both options in detail.

Other BPH Treatment Options to Consider

UroLift is one of several effective BPH treatments. The right option for you depends on your prostate size and anatomy, typically assessed with ultrasound imaging and cystoscopy, as well as your symptoms, overall health, and personal priorities. Here is a plain-language overview of the most common options:

No single treatment fits every patient. Factors like prostate volume, overall health, sexual health priorities, and how much your symptoms affect your quality of life all play a role in determining the best path forward. Our nationally recognized team of board-certified urologists will walk you through each option with personalized care, so you can make a confident, informed decision.

Treatment	How It Works	Key Consideration
Watchful Waiting	Active monitoring without immediate treatment, with lifestyle modifications.	Appropriate for mild symptoms; if BPH progresses, regular reassessment is essential.
Medications	Alpha-blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors relax or shrink the prostate to ease urinary symptoms.	Ongoing daily use required; side effects can include low blood pressure and sexual dysfunction including ejaculatory dysfunction.
UroLift	Small implants hold the enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra – no cutting, no heat, no tissue removal.	Minimally invasive, same-day outpatient procedure with a strong record of preserving sexual function.
Rezum (Water Vapor Therapy)	Convective water vapor ablation destroys excess prostate tissue and reduces obstruction.	Effective for larger prostates; a short recovery period is needed before symptom relief.
Laser Therapy (e.g., HoLEP)	A high-powered laser removes or vaporizes obstructing prostate tissue through the urethra.	Highly effective for large prostates; performed under general or spinal anesthesia.
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)	Tiny particles are injected to reduce blood flow to the prostate, causing it to shrink over time.	A minimally invasive, non-surgical option well suited for men who are not surgical candidates.
TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate)	The gold-standard surgical procedure that removes prostate tissue blocking urine flow.	Very effective but involves anesthesia, a hospital stay, and a longer recovery compared to office-based options.

Is UroLift Covered by Insurance?

Yes. Medicare and most major commercial insurance plans cover UroLift when you meet the medically necessary criteria. Because UroLift received FDA clearance in 2013 and has an established clinical evidence base, insurers generally recognize it as a standard-of-care treatment for BPH, making coverage broadly accessible for eligible patients.

Coverage details, including deductibles, co-pays, and prior authorization requirements, vary by plan. UroLift’s cost-effectiveness compares favorably to surgical alternatives when you factor in avoiding hospital admission, general anesthesia, and extended recovery time. Our team at Tower Urology can help you navigate the insurance process and verify your coverage before your procedure, so there are no surprises. If questions about cost or coverage are giving you pause, do not let that be a barrier to getting the care you deserve. Reach out to our team, and we will work through it with you.

Tower Urology’s healthcare professionals are conveniently located for patients throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, and Downtown Los Angeles.

Our men’s health specialists treat all urological conditions, including prostate cancer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, kidney stones, and male infertility, to name a few.