Prostate surgery and laser prostate surgery at Spire Thames Valley Hospital

At Spire Thames Valley Hospital, we take pride in providing a high standard of private hospital care to our patients in the Thames Valley, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Windsor areas.

Our expert consultants will provide you with a treatment and recovery plan that’s personalised to your needs. We offer fast access to diagnostic tests, scans and consultations, so you won’t have to wait long to find out if surgery is right for you. We’ll usually be able to book your surgery within a week of your referral or diagnosis by your consultant.

You can expect to receive high-quality care in our clean, modern facilities from a consultant of your choice.

Your consultant will assess the condition of your prostate, your general health and your intended outcome in order to recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

Our consultants offer a variety of treatments for benign prostate enlargement.

The type of anaesthetic you need varies depending on the procedure you need. It may be:

• A general anaesthetic meaning you’re asleep – this is most often used
• A spinal or epidural – where you can’t feel anything from the waist down
• A local anaesthetic – you’ll be awake but you won’t be able to feel anything in the area being operated on

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

• A special instrument is passed through your urethra and a small, electrically-heated wire is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You’ll need a urinary catheter for around one to three days after the operation

Holmium Laser Prostate Surgery (HoLEP)

• This is the best technique for very big prostates
• A specialised telescope is passed through your urethra and a laser (Holmium laser) is used to shell out the inside of the prostate
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You usually need a urinary catheter for around one to two days after the operation

Transurethral electrovaporisation of the prostate (TUVP)

• Similar to TURP, but a rollerball instead of a wire loop is used to apply electrical energy to the tissue
• Performed under general or spinal anaesthetic
• A catheter is still required, but may be for a shorter time than TURP

Laser prostate surgery

• A specialised tool is passed through your urethra and a laser (eg a HoLEP Holmium laser or GreenLight laser) which generates intense heat is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You usually need a urinary catheter for around one to three days after the operation, but it may be for a shorter time than with a TURP

UroLift (prostatic urethral lift (PUL) implants)

• Instead of removing prostate tissue, implants are positioned to hold your prostate out of the way and increase the width of your urethra
• This procedure can be performed under general or local anaesthetic
• Usually, a urinary catheter isn’t required

Prostate artery embolisation (PAE)

• Shrinks the size of your prostate by blocking the arteries that feed it
• Performed using local anaesthetic
• A urinary catheter isn’t usually required

Water ablation

• Water or steam under pressure is used to destroy prostate tissue
• Performed using general or spinal anaesthetic
• You’ll need a urinary catheter, usually until you leave the day after.

Your consultant will explain the potential benefits and complications of each procedure before you decide to go ahead.

Getting here

We're only a 10 minute drive from both the M4 and M40 motorways and we’re less than half an hour from central London by train. We have free on-site parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

You’ll meet your chosen consultant in one of our private consultation rooms. They’ll discuss:

• Your symptoms and any particular urinary problems you’re having
• What the treatment options are, including alternatives to surgery such as medication and lifestyle changes
• Whether you need any tests or scans to help your consultant plan the next steps
• The potential benefits and risks of treatment

You may also need a pre-operative assessment with one of our specialist nurses to check if the procedure is right for you.

Prostate surgery takes from one to two hours. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge, which has a TV and free hot drinks or water, while you have your operation.

After surgery, you may need a urinary catheter until the swelling in your urethra has gone down, allowing you to pass urine normally again. This will be taken out by one of our nurses before you leave hospital – which is usually two nights after your operation. During your stay, you’ll have your own en-suite room which will have:

• A TV
• A window
• An armchair
• An en-suite bathroom with towels
• A lockable bedside table

Our nurses will provide you with medication to help you manage any pain following your operation. They’ll also give you advice about over-the-counter medications you can use while at home, and anything you should or shouldn’t do.

Your recovery time will depend on the procedure you've had and your overall health. Although everyone’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical timeline for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) - the most common procedure: