Aquablation therapy
Treatment overview
Aquablation therapy is a ground-breaking surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
The advanced heat-free AQUABEAM庐 robotic system enables our consultants to carefully remove excess prostate tissue with greater precision and fewer complications than traditional prostate treatments.
Your consultant may recommend Aquablation therapy if you have moderate to severe symptoms, or are looking for a heat-free surgical procedure.
AOA体育平台 is a centre of excellence in both robotic surgery and urology. The pioneer of the AQUABEAM robotic system, is Dr Neil Barber, one of our practising consultant urologists.
Choosing this minimally invasive technology reduces recovery time and the risk of complications, sometimes seen with more traditional procedures.
We are one of only a handful of private hospitals in the UK that currently offers this advanced therapy.
Aquablation therapy at AOA体育平台
The surgeons who offer Aquablation have all had extensive training using the AQUABEAM robotic system, which was pioneered by one of our own urology consultants, Dr Neil Barber.
Before your treatment, your care team will guide you through what to expect, a recovery plan and answer all your questions.
You鈥檒l stay with us for one to two nights while you recover from the Aquablation.
Your comfort is our priority and to make you feel more at home we offer extra touches like a personalised food menu and concierge service.
Complementary therapies such as reiki and acupuncture are also available which can help you to relax, heal and get more out of your stay.
Once you鈥檙e ready to leave AOA体育平台, your personal care team will support you with a personalised aftercare program. So you can get back to living the life you love.
Why choose AOA体育平台
Excellence in one place
AOA体育平台, in collaboration with Northwestern Medicine, operate as teams of experts with world-class resources, dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of care. Supported by the latest treatments, expert guidance, and a comfortable recovery environment in our patient rooms, you'll have everything you need to regain your best health.
Personal care, every time
Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. We鈥檒l be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care to your specific needs, including healthy and delicious meals designed to support your recovery. We keep our staff-to-patient ratio low, so our nurses, clinicians, therapists, and support teams can offer a personalised, quality experience.
Effortlessly simple
We work together as one to guide you through every step of your patient experience. From explaining your personal treatment plan to ensuring all details are taken care of, we make the process stress-free, so you can focus on your health. Whether it鈥檚 your first consultation or follow-up care, our teams are here to provide seamless support and the peace of mind you deserve.
What's included in your package?
Choosing AOA体育平台 means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
Your treatment package will include:
- Enhanced pre-admission assessment
- Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
- Personalised aftercare and follow-up
We want you to be in control of your health. That鈥檚 why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us. To help you manage the cost, we also offer a 0% finance option, allowing you to spread the payments for your treatment over 12 months with no added interest. Learn more about our .
How to pay
- You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
- You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
- If you鈥檙e paying for yourself, we have 0% finance options available with Chrysalis. Find out more .
FAQs
Aquablation therapy works by removing excess prostate tissue caused by prostate enlargement due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
The treatment enables our surgeons to remove sections of your prostate safely with minimal side effects.
At AOA体育平台 our surgeons perform the treatment using the advanced AQUABEAM robotic system.
The AQUABEAM has an integrated camera and probe which your surgeon inserts into your urethra and bladder.
Using robotics and ultrasound your anatomy can be surgically mapped and the treatment adjusted to your individual prostate size and shape.
The cystoscope camera combined with ultrasound provides 鈥榬eal time鈥� imaging, so that your surgeon can target and safely remove excess prostate tissue using the heat-free waterjet, without damaging nearby tissue.
Studies have found Aquablation therapy is both effective and long lasting.
Aquablation therapy is heat-free with less complications and risk of heat injury.
The combination of ultrasound imaging and robotics enables your surgeon to tailor the therapy to your individual anatomy, without damaging surrounding tissue.
The whole treatment takes around an hour, and the surgical resection of the prostate takes around 3 to 5 minutes.
Research suggests Aquablation has several advantages including:
- Fewer complications
- Better outcomes post-surgery
- Better preservation of the surrounding tissue that controls:
- Erectile Function
- Ejaculation
- Continence
How long it takes to recover from Aquablation therapy depends on how fit and healthy you are before your surgery.
It鈥檚 likely you will return to normal activities within a few days.
During the 1-hour procedure, your surgeon will fit you with a catheter, which will need to stay in place for around 1-2 nights post operation.
You might experience a mild burning sensation on urination for a couple of days post-surgery, as well as rectal soreness, but tend to be symptom-free after a few days.
There is no post-treatment or rehabilitation required for Aquablation therapy, and after a one-to-two-night stay, you can return home.
We鈥檒l closely monitor your recovery with regular follow-ups, and if there鈥檚 anything you need help with, your personal care team are always on hand to help.
Aquablation therapy is a relatively low-risk procedure however all surgeries carry some risk of complications.
The most common side-effects post-surgery are:
- mild pain or difficulty when urinating
- pelvic discomfort
- mild rectal discomfort
- blood in the urine
- inability to empty the bladder or frequent urge to urinate
- possible urinary tract infection (UTI)
There have been a few reported cases of Aquablation therapy causing retrograde ejaculation (where semen travels backwards towards the bladder) and urethral or rectal damage.
However, this is quite rare and probably less likely to occur with Aquablation than other surgeries.
AOA体育平台鈥檚 skilled urology consultants and nursing staff are always on hand to explain the risks and benefits of each treatment and answer any questions you might have before or after surgery.
Aquablation therapy is one of several treatment options we offer for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).
Your consultant might recommend one or more of these treatments depending on:
- Your age
- Your general health
- The severity of your symptoms
The alternative treatments to Aquablation therapy we offer are:
- Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgery 鈥� an operation to remove prostate tissue.
- Medication 鈥� drug treatment for prostate enlargement, particularly in the early stages.
- Urolift 鈥� a minimally invasive procedure that rapidly improves urine flow without the loss of ejaculatory or erectile function.
- Prostate artery embolisation 鈥� a procedure that involves blocking the arteries that supply blood to the prostate, causing it to shrink.
- iTind 鈥� a temporary implant device that improves the flow of urine.