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Prostatic urethral lift implant (Urolift)
- An effective, minimally invasive day-case treatment
- Rapid symptom relief: get back to normal activities within 72 hours
- Restores your usual urinary function
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PROSTATIC URETHRAL LIFT IMPLANT AT HCA UK
Why choose us?
If you have troubling urinary symptoms and are considering your treatment options, you may be worried about what the future holds. HCA UK is here to help.
Our urology specialists include world-leading experts in pioneering, minimally invasive procedures. That includes the prostatic urethral lift procedure, also known as Urolift.
This effective treatment for an enlarged prostate helps to preserve all aspects of sexual function for most of the men we treat. It’s usually performed as a quick day-case in our state-of-the-art facilities, with a fast recovery time, making it a safe and easy way to relieve unwanted urinary issues.
Our urology specialists include world-leading experts in pioneering, minimally invasive procedures. That includes the prostatic urethral lift procedure, also known as Urolift.
This effective treatment for an enlarged prostate helps to preserve all aspects of sexual function for most of the men we treat. It’s usually performed as a quick day-case in our state-of-the-art facilities, with a fast recovery time, making it a safe and easy way to relieve unwanted urinary issues.
Prostatic urethral lift implant, also known as a Urolift, is a procedure designed for men with an enlarged prostate gland, a condition known as benign prostate hypertrophy or BPH.
The procedure uses small implants the shape of treasury tags to lift aside the obstructive lining of your prostate from your urethra, improving your urinary flow.
The procedure uses small implants the shape of treasury tags to lift aside the obstructive lining of your prostate from your urethra, improving your urinary flow.
If you have an enlarged prostate gland leaving you with unwelcome urinary symptoms, TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) is regarded as the gold standard treatment. It almost completely improves your urinary flow, whereas Urolift is often less effective at improving urination and the benefits are less long lasting too.
However, the side effects of TURP in terms of reduced sexual function and painful urination are more serious. Your consultant can talk you through all the available treatment options and discuss their relative benefits and risks. This will help you to make the right, balanced decision for you.
There are lots of good reasons to choose this procedure. The benefits that Urolift offers include:
- It’s a minimally invasive, day case procedure and you should be back to your usual routines within 72 hours
- There’s a lower risk of sexual side-effects such as retrograde or dry ejaculation and erectile dysfunction
- There’s less chance of developing incontinence as a result of the treatment
- There’s a reduced risk that you’ll need a catheter
- There’s less chance of developing an infection
Your specialist surgeon will decide whether you need a general, or local anaesthetic, depending on your personal diagnosis. A narrow telescope will be inserted into your bladder, through your urethra and the implants will then be placed through it into your enlarged prostate.
Your surgeon will attach these implants to the inner and outer wall of your prostate and use them to lift the prostate tissue that’s blocking your urethral track. The number of implants your surgeon uses will depend on the size of your prostate, but you’ll usually need four to six on average.
You usually won’t need to have a catheter inserted during surgery, but your consultant will advise you what’s best for you.
Your surgeon will attach these implants to the inner and outer wall of your prostate and use them to lift the prostate tissue that’s blocking your urethral track. The number of implants your surgeon uses will depend on the size of your prostate, but you’ll usually need four to six on average.
You usually won’t need to have a catheter inserted during surgery, but your consultant will advise you what’s best for you.
Generally, no. This is a fast procedure taking less than 20 minutes and you can usually go home the same day.
35,000+
outpatient urology visits across HCA UK in 2024
11,000+
urology specific ultrasounds carried out in 2024
100+
urology consultants to choose from for your care
Next-day appointments
See a leading urologist and get on the path to an expert diagnosis within 24 hours
State-of-the-art diagnostics
With results in as little as 48 hours
Wide-reaching expertise across the UK
Choose from 9 hospitals and 4 diagnostic centres in London, Birmingham and Manchester
Your Urolift procedure with HCA UK
What to expect
For compassionate and discrete prostate treatment delivered by specialists who really care, you’re in the right place. From a fast, accurate diagnosis to a care plan tailored to your specific condition and lifestyle, we’ll be here for you through your surgery, into recovery and beyond.
01
Initial consultation and pre-op checks
You can book in to see one of our urology specialists. They’ll ask about your medical history and your general health and conduct a range of assessments and pre-op checks. These will include blood and urine tests, cystoscopy and other imaging.
Your consultant will review these before talking with you about the results and discussing the best treatment options with you.
Your consultant will review these before talking with you about the results and discussing the best treatment options with you.
02
Day-case admission
On your arrival you'll be greeted by a member of the team. You'll have a chance to talk to your consultant before the procedure and ask any questions you may have.
The procedure itself will only take 15–20 minutes. It’ll be carried out under either a local or general anaesthetic. You’re likely to have four to six implants.
The procedure itself will only take 15–20 minutes. It’ll be carried out under either a local or general anaesthetic. You’re likely to have four to six implants.
03
Immediate recovery
Many patients having a Urolift procedure don't need to have a catheter fitted during surgery. You should be able to go home the same day and be back to your usual routine within 72 hours.
04
Post-op care and follow up
You may have mild urinary symptoms and minimal blood in your urine for up to four weeks. Any mild pain can be treated with paracetamol.
You’ll be asked to come back in for a follow up consultation, which will include a review of your symptoms, an ultrasound scan and an assessment of any side effects you’re experiencing.
You’ll be asked to come back in for a follow up consultation, which will include a review of your symptoms, an ultrasound scan and an assessment of any side effects you’re experiencing.
Our locations
Where can I get a Urolift?
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
Urolift FAQ
Your consultant can talk you through the benefits and risks of both treatment options and together you can agree what’s best for you.
UroLift works best in men whose urinary symptoms are caused by a mild to moderate enlargement of the prostate.
It’s also popular with men who are keen to preserve their sexual function and view this as a priority, as well as with men who are experiencing side effects from prostate-relaxing medication and are looking for another solution.
TURP is a more invasive procedure that’s better at improving urinary symptoms, but you’ll need a longer recovery and may experience some unwelcome sexual function and urinary side effects.
Which treatment you choose should depend on what’s top of mind for you, such as how concerned you are about possible effects on your sexual function or how distressing your urinary symptoms have become.
UroLift works best in men whose urinary symptoms are caused by a mild to moderate enlargement of the prostate.
It’s also popular with men who are keen to preserve their sexual function and view this as a priority, as well as with men who are experiencing side effects from prostate-relaxing medication and are looking for another solution.
TURP is a more invasive procedure that’s better at improving urinary symptoms, but you’ll need a longer recovery and may experience some unwelcome sexual function and urinary side effects.
Which treatment you choose should depend on what’s top of mind for you, such as how concerned you are about possible effects on your sexual function or how distressing your urinary symptoms have become.
A Urolift is ideal if you’re keen to preserve your sexual function. It’s also a great option if you quickly want to get back to life as usual.
The implants used in Urolift are permanent so can potentially last a life-time, though how long you continue to feel the benefits of treatment will greatly vary from patient to patient.
The results tend to last for approximately 5 years, with about 15% of men needing to come back at that point to have the treatment redone due to continued prostate growth.
The results tend to last for approximately 5 years, with about 15% of men needing to come back at that point to have the treatment redone due to continued prostate growth.
In most cases, you’ll be able to resume most, if not all, of your normal activities within 48-72 hours.
There are no restrictions to physical activity and as long as you feel safe, you can get back to driving after a couple of days too.
There are no restrictions to physical activity and as long as you feel safe, you can get back to driving after a couple of days too.
Wherever possible, we suggest someone accompanies you during your stay so they can help you to safely get home. You should be able to leave hospital without an overnight stay, however, there are risks associated with any surgery, so we advise that you bring an overnight bag.
Yes, most private insurance companies should cover a Urolift, however we recommend that you check and get written confirmation before going ahead with any treatment.
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.