An enlarged prostate has more than one answer. We match the treatment to your anatomy and your goals, from office procedures to robotic surgery, with the least disruption possible.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a normal part of aging for many men. As the prostate grows, it presses on the urethra and makes everyday life harder than it should be. It is common, it is not cancer, and it is very treatable.
The International Prostate Symptom Score is the same seven-question measure urologists use in the clinic. Answer for the past month, and bring your score to your visit.
They differ in recovery, anesthesia, and whether they are done in the office or the hospital. We will walk through them together and choose what fits.
Prostatic Artery Embolization shrinks the prostate by gently reducing its blood supply, through a catheter no wider than a strand of spaghetti placed in the wrist or groin. The prostate itself is never cut.
Tiny permanent implants lift the enlarged tissue away from the urethra and hold it open, like tiebacks on a curtain. No prostate tissue is removed, heated, or cut.
Targeted water vapor is released into the prostate, where stored heat energy causes the excess tissue to shrink over the following months as the body reabsorbs it.
A robotically controlled, heat-free waterjet removes excess prostate tissue with real-time imaging and precision. Dr. Sawkar performs more of these than any surgeon in Orange County.
Dr. Sawkar offers all four, which is rare for one practice. That means the comparison below is a menu, not a sales pitch.
| PAE | UroLift | Rezūm | Aquablation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setting | Outpatient, home same day | Office | Office | Hospital, usually one night |
| Anesthesia | Light sedation | Local | Local, with light sedation | Spinal or general |
| Catheter afterward | Usually none | Usually none | Temporary, a few days | One to two days |
| Back to routine | About a day | Within days | A few days | One to two weeks |
| What happens to the tissue | Shrinks over 4 to 12 weeks | Held open by implants | Reabsorbed over months | Removed robotically |
| Notable strength | Works for nearly any size, including very large glands | Fastest office recovery, nothing removed | No implants, durable five-year data | Surgical-grade result at any size |
General patterns, not a guarantee. Your anatomy, medications, and goals can change the picture, which is exactly what the consultation sorts out.
We review your symptoms, imaging, and what matters most to you, then talk through the options honestly.
Three of the four options are outpatient. You will know exactly what yours involves before the day arrives.
A clear, realistic timeline for getting back to normal, with telehealth follow-up whenever that is easier.
A UroLift Center of Excellence, and Orange County's highest-volume Aquablation surgeon.
Same-day and next-day appointments for urgent concerns. Most major insurance plans accepted, and telehealth consultations available. For the fastest response, send the office a secure message; the reply comes back by text.
Chief of Urology, Providence St. Joseph Hospital · UroLift Center of Excellence · Orange County's highest-volume Aquablation surgeon