UroLift treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia in Turkey: indications, procedure and cost

When does benign prostatic enlargement call for treatment?

Benign prostatic enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is a non-cancerous increase in the size of the prostate. By compressing the urethra, it can obstruct the flow of urine. European guidelines speak more broadly of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS),of which prostatic obstruction is only one possible cause.

Signs that should prompt a consultation:

• Weak, interrupted or slow-starting urinary stream.
• Frequent or urgent need to urinate.
• Repeated waking at night to urinate (nocturia).
• Feeling that the bladder does not empty completely.
• Urinary infections, urinary retention or blood in the urine (report promptly).

Treatment is discussed when symptoms become bothersome or when medication is insufficient, poorly tolerated or declined. The choice of treatment then rests on a shared medical decision between the patient and the urologist.

What is UroLift treatment?

UroLift is a minimally invasive technique that relieves symptoms linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Small permanent implants hold the prostatic lobes apart to clear the urethra. Its medical name is prostatic urethral lift (PUL).

How the implants work: the urologist inserts a thin instrument through the urethra, with no incision. An implant is fixed on each side of the prostate. It keeps the lobe away from the urethra, a bit like tying back a curtain to free the passage. About four implants are placed on average, the exact number depending on the anatomy. No tissue is cut, heated or removed.

Who can benefit from UroLift?

Eligibility is decided case by case. Scientific societies do not set exactly the same limits, which is why several levels of criteria are distinguished.

The criteria that matter

• Prostate volume: The American Urological Association (AUA) uses a range of 30 to 80 grams, while European guidelines refer to volumes below 70 milliliters. The UK's NICE and the device label sometimes widen the scope, up to 100 milliliters.
• Median lobe: The main guidelines (AUA, EAU) reserve UroLift for prostates without an obstructive median lobe, although recent data suggest new possibilities in this area.
• Symptom severity and expectations: The impact on quality of life, the results of the urological assessment and the explicit wish to preserve ejaculatory function weigh heavily in the decision.
• Overall medical profile: The patient's age, medical history and current treatments are always taken into account.

When UroLift is less suitable

According to the device label, the technique is not indicated in cases of active urinary infection, a prostate larger than 100 mL, certain urethral abnormalities that prevent the instrument from passing, or incontinence linked to a faulty sphincter. In addition, any risk of prostate cancer must be ruled out or managed separately. As these criteria evolve with clinical progress, the urologist alone decides whether the procedure is indicated.

Which tests are needed before the procedure?

The assessment is adapted to each patient. It may include:

• Clinical evaluation: A detailed interview, calculation of the symptom score (IPSS) and assessment of sexual function.
• Physical examination: Digital rectal examination.
• Blood tests: PSA measurement, interpreted according to the clinical context and age.
• Urine analysis: A urine culture (ECBU) to rule out or treat an active infection.
• Imaging: A pelvic or prostatic ultrasound to measure the volume of the gland precisely and assess the post-void residual.
• Functional testing: Uroflowmetry to measure the strength and flow rate of the urinary stream.
• Endoscopy: A cystoscopy, particularly useful to inspect the anatomy of the urethra and check that there is no obstructive median lobe when this is needed to confirm the indication.

Not all of these tests are necessary for every patient. Which ones are prescribed depends on the individual evaluation by the urologist.

How is a UroLift procedure carried out in Turkey?

The procedure is most often performed on an outpatient basis, under local or general anesthesia depending on the medical team's protocols and the patient's profile. After a careful endoscopic check of the bladder and the prostatic anatomy, the implants are positioned one by one. The exact duration of the procedure varies with the number of implants needed and the anatomical complexity.

Depending on the individual case, a urinary catheter may be placed temporarily for a few hours or removed before departure. Discharge from the clinic generally takes place the same day, once spontaneous and satisfactory urination is confirmed.

Advantages and limits of UroLift

Choosing UroLift means weighing its comfort advantages against limits in effectiveness compared with the reference surgeries. A critical look helps check whether the expected benefits match your urological profile.

Possible advantages

• Anatomical preservation: no resection, cutting or thermal destruction of prostate tissue.
• Sexual function: a markedly lower risk of ejaculation disorders compared with traditional surgeries, although no absolute guarantee can be given.
• Comfort of care: a minimally invasive procedure, most often performed on an outpatient basis.
• Recovery: a return to daily activities that is generally quick.

Limits to consider

• Symptom improvement is on average less marked than with TURP or HoLEP, according to the analysis by the health authorities (NICE).
• Effectiveness depends closely on the volume and anatomy of the prostate.
• Risk of persistent symptoms or of a possible need for retreatment in the longer term.
• Preserving ejaculation does not mean guaranteeing all sexual functions.

What are the risks and side effects of UroLift treatment?

The most frequent side effects after UroLift are generally mild to moderate and temporary. They include burning or pain when urinating, blood in the urine, frequent or urgent need to urinate, and pelvic pain. These symptoms usually go away within two to four weeks.

More rarely, the procedure can cause a urinary infection or urinary retention requiring the temporary placement of a catheter. Complications linked to the implants, such as their displacement or the formation of calcified deposits around them, have also been reported.

Urinary symptoms may sometimes persist or come back over time, which may call for additional treatment or a new procedure.

UroLift implants are permanent. They are, however, MRI-compatible under certain conditions, so it is important to inform the radiologist and other health professionals of their presence, particularly before an imaging test or a later procedure.

When to seek care? Contact your medical team promptly in case of fever, heavy bleeding, inability to urinate or severe pain.

Recovery and follow-up after UroLift treatment

Recovery after UroLift is generally quick, but its length varies from patient to patient. In the L.I.F.T. clinical trial, a return to the usual level of physical activity was observed after 8.6 days on average. Irritative urinary symptoms, such as burning or frequent need to urinate, may nevertheless persist for a few days to a few weeks. Drinking enough fluids and avoiding intense exertion are recommended, following the medical team's instructions.

Urological follow-up then assesses how symptoms evolve and how well the treatment works. Depending on needs, it may include an evaluation of urinary flow (uroflowmetry) and of the post-void residual. The schedule of consultations and tests is set by the urologist.

If you have the procedure in Turkey before returning to your home country, ask for an operative report that states, among other things, the type and number of implants placed. Keep this document to make your later medical follow-up easier.

What results and how durable?

UroLift aims to relieve the urinary symptoms linked to benign prostatic enlargement over the long term while preserving ejaculation. Symptom improvement is generally less marked than with TURP or HoLEP, according to the analysis by the health authorities (NICE).

Results depend closely on the volume and anatomy of the prostate, which is why rigorous patient selection by the urologist matters. Because the implants are permanent, symptoms may sometimes persist or come back over time, which may call for additional treatment or a new procedure.

To judge the durability to expect in your case, ask the urologist for the long-term clinical data that match your profile, and plan regular follow-up after the procedure.

UroLift or other treatments for benign prostatic enlargement: what are the differences?

Several treatments can relieve the symptoms linked to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). They differ in how they work, their effectiveness, their impact on sexual function and their conditions of use.

No single technique is ideal for every patient. The choice depends in particular on the volume and anatomy of the prostate, the severity of symptoms, overall health, expectations regarding sexual function and the patient's preferences. The experience of the urology team and the expected long-term results must also be taken into account.

Support from Turquie Santé

Turquie Santé does not make diagnoses and does not decide whether surgery is indicated: that decision rests with the urologist. The platform can help you organize your care pathway:

• Review of your medical file and referral to a partner urologist for an opinion.
• Connection with specialized medical teams and partner facilities.
• Coordination of the tests and the procedure.
• Translation of medical documents and an interpreter during your stay.
• Organization of transfers and accommodation, with support on site.
• Coordination of follow-up after you return home.