The Basics Of Laser Prostate Surgery

Laser prostate surgery is relatively new medical use for laser technology. Enlarged prostate glands are a very big problem for aging men, especially those over the age of fifty-five. The condition can cause severe pain and discomfort, incontinence, and impotence in many men. There are many treatments available for the condition, but several of these are invasive and have severe side effects. Laser prostate surgery uses high-powered lasers to vaporize enlarged prostate tissue. A thin fiber is inserted into the urethra, and it lets off laser energy that removes the enlarged tissue. The surgeon can view the area through a small camera also inserted into the area through the same fiber. After the enlarged tissue is removed, a regular opening is created. This process can immediately correct the urinary and sexual problems that were a result of the excess tissue. Because the laser prostate surgery is non-invasive, most patients can return home within a few hours. Depending on the patient, general, spinal or local aesthesia may be used during the procedure. Most patients do not feel pain during the procedure, though there may be slight discomfort when urinating after the procedure is complete. This typically goes away within a week or so. Patients can resume normal activities after about a week, as well. The procedure can be performed as an outpatient surgery, though many doctors have the patients stay overnight to monitor their conditions directly following the surgery. Laser prostate surgery typically does not affect sexual performance, and the surgery can eliminate the need for most prostate medications that were needed prior to the surgery. Like most laser surgeries, laser prostate surgery is a safe and less invasive alternative to traditional procedures. The effects of the procedure are long lasting, so few patients need to be treated again.

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