About Aquablation

BPH symptoms often happen because the prostate gets too large and blocks the urethra (tube that carries urine out of the body). This blockage can cause problems with urination. By removing the part of the prostate that's causing symptoms, our doctors can relieve your bothersome urinary symptoms without adversely affecting sexual function.

With Aquablation, Stanford Medicine urologists use the precision of a robot to control a specialized waterjet. Doctors use the robot to insert the waterjet into the urethra, so there are no incisions. Your doctor uses these tools to remove the affected part of the prostate in one procedure. Because the therapy uses no heat, the risks of damage to surrounding areas and sexual dysfunction are extremely low.

Our doctors perform this therapy in the hospital, and you receive general anesthesia for comfort. During the procedure, your doctor uses specialized ultrasound imaging to view your prostate in real time. The ultrasound allows your doctor to map out your prostate's unique size and shape. With this map, your doctor provides you with a fully customized—and highly effective—treatment. The removal of the obstructing tissue can usually be accomplished in three to five minutes. You will stay one night in the hospital, and most patients go home the following morning without a catheter.