Overview
Surgical procedures that employ side-firing laser fibers and lasers to vaporize obstructing prostate tissue are also used to treat BPH. A laser fiber is passed into the urethra near the prostate using a cystoscope and then several bursts of energy lasting 30 to 60 seconds are delivered through the laser fiber. The laser energy destroys prostate tissue and causes shrinkage. As with TURP, laser surgery requires anesthesia but is generally done as an outpatient procedure. One advantage of laser surgery over TURP is that laser surgery causes less blood loss and allows for a quicker recovery.