GreenLight Laser Therapy for BPH

BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia, also known as enlarged prostate, is a non-cancerous and common cause of LUTS or Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms due to the overgrowth of prostatic cells. The risk of developing BPH increases with a man’s age – about 50% of men experience it by the age of 50 and upwards of 80% by age 90. Greenlight Laser Therapy is an advanced, minimally invasive procedure to treat BPH using laser technology to vaporize excess prostatic tissue and help patients reduce or eliminate bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms.

How GreenLight Laser Therapy Works

Under general anesthesia, a thin scope is passed through the urethra to the level of the prostate. A laser fiber is then guided through the scope to the treatment area. The urologic surgeon deploys the laser fiber to vaporize and eliminate excess prostatic tissue, thus reducing pressure on the urethra and improving urinary symptoms. In essence, the procedure increases the diameter of the urethral opening as it traverses the prostate. This technique allows for precise tissue removal, ensuring optimal symptom relief.

While the procedure has traditionally been performed in a hospital setting, Dr. Kriteman recently began performing GreenLight at Georgia Urology’s ambulatory surgery centers, meaning patients can go home after a short recovery period on the same day and can take advantage of all the conveniences and personalized attention our surgery centers provide. With the convenience of same-day discharge, patients can experience a quicker recovery.

In the early recovery period, patients should take it slow and allow their bodies to recover. Patients can usually return to normal activities within a few days but should avoid sexual activity and strenuous exercise for about two weeks. Please follow the postoperative guidance provided to you by our office. Adhering to these guidelines is essential to ensure a smooth recovery and optimal outcomes.

Benefits of GreenLight

GreenLight Laser Therapy offers significant benefits for qualifying patients who would otherwise have had a surgical procedure like a TURP. These benefits include less catheterization, bleeding, and faster recovery. Greenlight is indicated for patients on blood thinning medication and those with heart-pacing devices.

Because the GreenLight laser destroys prostatic tissue on contact, some patients will void more reliably within just a few hours of the procedure. More significant symptom relief begins within about two weeks, and improvement is seen over the next three to six months. However, it may take longer for the bladder to reacclimate to remove the obstruction.

In the long term, prostatic tissue will regrow and once again cause symptoms; however, GreenLight reliably offers up to 15 years of symptom relief for most patients.

Considerations & Risks: Recovery & Aftercare

Patients will likely only experience mild to moderate discomfort after the procedure. Any pain can be managed with appropriate post-procedure medication, which will be detailed in the instructions provided. Other possible risks and considerations include:

• Some patients may have irritative symptoms like urinary frequency or urgency, which tend to improve with time.
• Blood in the urine is expected and should improve over a month or so.
• Retrograde ejaculation, also known as a dry orgasm, is always a consideration with any procedure that involves thermal therapy, in this case, heat.
• Some patients experience urinary tract infections, which are relatively rare and easily managed.

Patients will have a catheter in place for a couple of days, after which they will remove it at home. Normal activities can be resumed within a few days.

GreenLight Laser Therapy Center of Excellence

Several of the urologic surgeons at Georgia Urology are amongst the most experienced in GreenLight Laser Therapy nationwide and have thus been designated Centers of Excellence:

Other BPH Therapies

GreenLight Laser Therapy is just one of the many BPH treatments available at Georgia Urology. In addition to GreenLight therapy, we offer a variety of other options, ranging from minimally invasive in-office and ASC-based options like Rezum, Optilume-BPH, and Urolift, which are ideal for patients looking for quicker recovery times to more extensive hospital-based therapies like TURP, Aquablation, and Simple Prostatectomy, which are suited for more severe cases of BPH. It’s important to remember that virtually every case of BPH can be treated successfully. With such a wide range of treatment options available, patients should feel reassured that they no longer need to live with the bothersome symptoms and lifestyle limitations caused by BPH. Georgia Urology provides customized care to meet every patient’s unique needs, whether seeking a minimally invasive solution or a more comprehensive surgical treatment.

Next Steps

Visiting a comprehensive urologic practice like Georgia Urology is the best way to understand which options are suitable for you.