By Annette Pinder

Nearly four out of five men in their 60s are living with BPH, otherwise known as an enlarged prostate. Although BPH is benign and unrelated to prostate cancer, it can greatly affect a man’s quality of life.

According to local urologists, Drs. John Griswold and Michael Hanzly, “As the prostate enlarges, it presses on and blocks the urethra, causing many bothersome urinary symptoms.”

Some of these symptoms can include:

  • A frequent need to urinate day and night
  • A weak or slow urinary stream or a stream that stops and starts
  • The sensation that you cannot completely empty your bladder
  • Difficulty or delay in starting urination
  • An urgent feeling of needing to urinate

Common therapies for BPH include medications, heat and microwave therapies, laser treatments, and surgery to remove prostate tissue. However, many of these therapies can result in uncomfortable and unpleasant side effects, which is why Drs. Griswold and Hanzly want people to know about the UroLift® System, and the recently-named Center of Excellence at Buffalo Medical Group — one of only 12 in the United States.

According to the doctors, Urolift is a minimally invasive procedure that treats the symptoms of BPH by lifting or holding the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way. There is no cutting, heating, or removal of prostate tissue, unlike other procedures that treat this condition. Additionally, clinical data reveals that UroLift is a simple and safe procedure. When the procedure is performed by a urologist it safely and effectively relieves lower urinary tract BPH symptoms, without compromising sexual function.

So how does Urolift work? Your urologist places tiny implants to hold the prostate lobes apart, thereby relieving compression on the urethra, and allowing urine to flow normally. The treatment can be performed in a physician’s office under local anesthesia. Typically, patients return home the same day without a catheter.

Who is a good candidate for Urolift? Urolift is highly successful for patients seeking an alternative to drug therapy or more invasive surgery. You may be a good candidate if you:

  • Do not want to take a pill every day
  • Have tried BPH medication but are unhappy with the side effects
  • Do not want to undergo major surgery due to potential surgical risks of side effects and complications
  • Want a BPH solution that preserves your sexual function
  • Want to regain your quality of life with minimal downtime

Most common side effects of Urolift are mild to moderate, and symptoms and relief can be experienced as early as two weeks following the procedure.

John Griswold, M.D. and Michael Hanzly. Jr., D.O. are urologists at Buffalo Medical Group. To make an appointment at one of the practice’s many convenient locations or satellite offices, call 716-630-1050, and visit www.buffalomedicalgroup.com to learn more.