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What Is a UroLift Procedure and Who Is a Good Candidate?
For men dealing with an enlarged prostate, the search for relief can feel like a long one. Many spend years managing symptoms with medication, tolerating side effects that chip away at energy, libido, or blood pressure, without realizing a same-day, minimally invasive option exists. At Lazare Urology, Dr. Lazare evaluates patients for UroLift when the clinical profile fits. It works differently from traditional prostate surgery, and for the right candidate, that difference matters.
How an Enlarged Prostate Creates Urinary Problems
The prostate gland sits just below the bladder and wraps around the urethra. As men age, it tends to grow — a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. When the gland expands enough to compress the urethra, urine flow slows. Men begin noticing a weak or interrupted stream, frequent urges (especially at night), difficulty starting to urinate, or the persistent sense that the bladder never fully empties.
BPH affects roughly half of men in their 50s and the vast majority of men in their 70s and 80s. It’s not cancer, doesn’t cause cancer, but left unaddressed it can meaningfully disrupt sleep, work, and overall well-being.
What the UroLift Procedure Actually Does
UroLift is a permanent implant system designed to pull enlarged prostate tissue away from the urethra rather than cutting, heating, or removing it. Using a small delivery device inserted through the urethra, the surgeon places tiny implants — typically two to four — that hold the obstructing prostate lobes apart. Once in place, the urethra opens up and urine can flow more freely.
The procedure takes roughly an hour and is performed under local anesthesia or light sedation. No incision is required. Most men go home the same day.
What separates UroLift clinically is what it doesn’t involve. Traditional options like TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) remove prostate tissue entirely. They’re effective but carry risks that give many men pause: retrograde ejaculation, temporary urinary incontinence, and a longer recovery period. UroLift was specifically developed to preserve sexual function. Clinical trials have consistently shown no increased risk of ejaculatory dysfunction or new-onset erectile dysfunction following the procedure — a distinction that matters significantly to men who are sexually active.
Who Is a Good Candidate for UroLift at Lazare Urology?
UroLift isn’t the right fit for every man with BPH. The anatomy, prostate size, and the nature of the obstruction all factor into whether the procedure will deliver lasting results.
Men who tend to benefit most have a moderately enlarged prostate — generally in the range of 30 to 80 grams. Anatomy matters more than numbers alone, though. Men with a median lobe obstruction, where a prostate lobe protrudes directly into the bladder neck, are typically not good candidates because the implants can’t adequately address that configuration.
Sexual health goals are part of the conversation too. UroLift tends to be especially well-suited for men who are sexually active and want to protect ejaculatory function. Younger patients, particularly those in their 40s, 50s, or early 60s, who have moderate symptoms that are no longer responding to medication are often the ones who see the most meaningful improvement.
Men with significantly larger prostates — above roughly 80 grams — or those with severe obstruction may achieve better long-term results with GreenLight laser therapy or TURP. This is why a proper evaluation comes before any recommendation. The decision isn’t made in the abstract; it’s made after a real assessment of each patient’s anatomy and goals.
Recovery and What to Expect After the Procedure
The first one to two weeks post-procedure typically involve some urinary urgency, mild discomfort, and increased frequency as the tissue settles. A temporary catheter may be placed for a short period, though not always. Most men return to normal activity within a few days — a notable contrast to surgical alternatives that may require weeks of restricted activity.
Symptom improvement generally becomes noticeable within two to four weeks as post-procedure irritation resolves. Research supports durable improvement in urinary flow and symptom scores out to five years, though some men with ongoing prostate growth may need further treatment over time.
Schedule an Evaluation at Lazare Urology
BPH has more treatment options today than it did a decade ago, and the right one depends on the individual — not a one-size-fits-all protocol. If your symptoms are interrupting sleep, interfering with daily routines, or affecting your quality of life, that’s reason enough to have a conversation with a urologist who performs UroLift regularly and can tell you honestly whether you’re a good candidate. Schedule a consultation at Lazare Urology in Brooklyn, New York, to find out which approach is right for your prostate and your goals.
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