From sudden, severe pain to a stone that simply will not pass, there is a clear path forward. Dr. Sawkar offers the full range of modern, minimally invasive options, and most patients go home the same day.
Medically reviewed by Hari Sawkar, MD, board-certified urologist · Updated August 2026
A kidney stone is a hard deposit that forms in the kidney and causes trouble when it moves into the urinary tract. The pain can be intense and sudden. The good news is that nearly every stone can be treated, and many never need a procedure at all.
The best approach depends on the stone's size, location, and makeup. We will confirm which one fits and get you comfortable as quickly as possible.
Small stones, under about 5 mm, often pass on their own. With extra hydration and medication to ease the way, Dr. Sawkar monitors your progress so nothing is missed.
Focused shockwaves break the stone into fragments from outside the body, with no incisions, using sedation for comfort. The pieces then pass naturally over the days and weeks that follow.
A slim scope is passed through the urethra and bladder to reach the stone, where a Holmium laser breaks or vaporizes it. No incisions, and highly effective anywhere in the urinary tract.
Once the stone is handled, the goal is preventing the next one. A metabolic review and a simple, personalized plan can meaningfully lower your odds of forming another.
For acute pain, we get you in quickly, confirm the stone with imaging, and bring the pain under control.
We choose the approach that fits your stone's size, location, and type, most of them outpatient.
A prevention plan to lower the chance of the next one, with follow-up whenever telehealth is easier.
Same-day and next-day appointments for acute stone pain. Medicare and most PPO plans accepted, with 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