How Does Water Vapor Therapy Work?
Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy is an ideal choice for men seeking a minimally invasive solution to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This innovative procedure utilizes natural steam to shrink the prostate gland and provide long-lasting relief from the troublesome symptoms of BPH without the need for surgery or the risk of side effects from medication.
Unlike traditional operations, this technique does not require any incisions or general anesthesia and offers multiple benefits. Water Vapor Therapy is a new alternative to treat important health issues. In this blog from 1Prostate, we will explain the procedure below and answer frequently asked questions.
What Can I Expect During Rezum Therapy?
Patients that undergo this form of therapy will have to follow a few pre-procedure guidelines. Prior to the scheduled treatment, either Dr. Yosef Golowa or Dr. David Shusterman will advise you to discontinue taking certain medications such as blood thinners some days to a week before the procedure. Our physicians will further discuss any necessary pain medication or antibiotics that will be included in your treatment plan.
During the procedure, sterile water vapor is released throughout the target tissue of the prostate. When the steam comes into contact with the prostate tissue, all the stored energy is released into the tissue to kill all the excess prostate cells that squeeze the urethra. The actual process only takes a few minutes, but you should plan on spending more time at our clinic for the entire appointment. Your doctor will determine the number of treatments you need based on the size of your prostate. You may be advised to arrange a ride to and from your treatments.
After the procedure, you want to follow all the doctor’s post-procedure guidelines. You want to avoid activities and foods that may irritate the prostate such as caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol. For specific advice, consult your physician at 1Prostate. You can expect to be back to normal activities within a few days. Most patients will see significant improvement in symptoms in as little as two weeks, with maximum benefits likely to occur within three months. Patient responses do vary depending on age, prostate size, and other relevant factors.
Why Is Water Vapor Therapy An Important Option?
For many years, the main options for treating BPH were medication or invasive surgery. Rezūm Therapy is a natural in-office treatment option for men who do not want to take medication or are unhappy with medication-based symptom relief and wish to avoid invasive surgery or implants to treat BPH.
What Are The Benefits Of Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy?
Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy offers many benefits as a minimally-invasive procedure, such as a decreased risk of infections, bladder stone formation, and damage to the urinary sphincter. Unlike traditional methods, water vapor therapy preserves erectile and urinary functions. This procedure does not require permanent implants and removes the need for more BPH medications.
Who Is A Viable Candidate For Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy?
Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy has certain restrictions and can only be used on men under the age of 50 with a prostate volume of between 30cm3 and 80cm3. Moreover, the Rezūm System is indicated for the treatment of enlarged central zone and/or median lobe of the prostate.
What Are The Potential Risks of Water Vapor Therapy?
All treatments have inherent risks. Potential risks include, but are not limited to, painful urination, blood in the urine, blood in the semen, decreased ejaculate volume, suspected urinary tract infection (UTI), and urinary frequency, urinary retention, or urgency. These risks are rare and treatable.
Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy is a safe and efficient alternative to treat an enlarged prostate. At 1Prostate in New York, we specialize in minimally invasive and non-surgical treatments that enable our patients to live happy and healthy lives. We are proud to offer Rezūm™ Water Vapor Therapy, Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE), and other BPH treatments to patients with symptoms of enlarged prostate in the Tristate area. If you have symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and are considering treatment, call 212-991-9991 to learn more about your options today.
