Aquablation® Therapy for Enlarged Prostate (BPH) in Conroe & The Woodlands, TX
Another trip to the bathroom? Dr. W. Cooper Buschemeyer III offers Aquablation therapy, a robotic waterjet procedure designed to provide long-lasting relief from BPH symptoms while helping protect sexual function and bladder control.
What is BPH (an enlarged prostate)?
The prostate gland starts to grow around age 25 and keeps getting larger through adulthood. Eventually this can lead to an enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It is the most common cause of urgent and frequent urination in men over 50.
BPH does not cause prostate cancer. The problem is that the growing prostate presses on the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, and slows the flow. BPH gets worse gradually, and many men do not realize how much they have adjusted their daily lives around it.
Signs you may have BPH
Over time, an enlarged prostate can cause:
- A frequent need to urinate
- A sudden, urgent need to urinate
- A weak or slow urine stream that stops and starts
- Difficulty starting to urinate
- Waking often during the night to urinate
- Dribbling after you finish
- Feeling like your bladder never fully empties
If you have been planning your day around bathrooms or losing sleep, these may be signs of BPH, and they are worth discussing with a urologist. Left untreated, BPH can eventually affect bladder health.
How is BPH treated?
Medication is often the first choice, but it only manages symptoms and does not treat the cause. When medication stops working, or when symptoms persist or get worse, many men consider a procedure.
BPH treatments differ in how much relief they provide, how long it lasts, their possible effects on sexual function and bladder control, and how long recovery takes. Dr. Buschemeyer will review your symptoms, your prostate and your priorities with you to find the right option.
What is Aquablation therapy?
Aquablation therapy uses a waterjet to precisely remove the enlarged prostate tissue that is blocking the flow of urine. It is guided by real-time imaging and performed with a robotic system, so the treatment area is mapped out in advance and carried out with precision.
Because it uses water and not heat, it is designed to protect the delicate structures that affect sexual function and bladder control, while providing lasting relief from BPH symptoms.
What to expect
Every patient is different, and Dr. Buschemeyer will walk you through each step. In general, the process looks like this.
- Evaluation. Dr. Buschemeyer reviews your symptoms and medical history, examines you, and may order tests and imaging of the prostate to see whether Aquablation is right for you.
- Planning. Before the procedure, your prostate is imaged and the treatment area is mapped so the waterjet removes the blocking tissue and spares the structures around it.
- The procedure. Aquablation is performed under anesthesia. The robotic system delivers the waterjet along the planned path to remove the enlarged tissue.
- Recovery. Many patients go home the same day and have a catheter for a short time afterward. Dr. Buschemeyer will explain your recovery, activity limits and follow-up visits.
What matters most to you?
BPH treatment is about more than symptom relief. Aquablation therapy is designed to help in these areas.
Symptom relief
Designed to improve urinary symptoms, such as weak stream, urgency and nighttime trips to the bathroom.
Long-lasting results
Clinical studies of Aquablation show a low likelihood of needing another BPH procedure.
Sexual function
Designed to help protect sexual function, including erections and ejaculation.
Bladder control
Designed to help protect bladder control, with a low risk of leakage.
Recovery
Many patients go home the same day, with a catheter in place for a short time.
Prostate size
Aquablation can be used for a wide range of prostate sizes.
How is Aquablation different from TURP?
Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) has been used for many years and can relieve BPH symptoms, but it can come with a trade-off in sexual function. In clinical studies, Aquablation provided symptom relief similar to TURP, with lower rates of ejaculatory dysfunction.
Every treatment has benefits and risks, including bleeding, infection and temporary urinary symptoms. Results vary from person to person, and Dr. Buschemeyer will talk through the options that fit you.
Your BPH specialist
W. Cooper Buschemeyer III, M.D., is a board-certified urologic surgeon with a private practice serving Conroe and The Woodlands, TX. He completed his residency and fellowship in urologic surgery at Duke University Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident, and is an Associate Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Aquablation questions, answered
What is Aquablation therapy?
Aquablation is a robotic waterjet procedure for an enlarged prostate. It uses a high-pressure stream of water, guided by real-time imaging, to remove the prostate tissue that is blocking the flow of urine.
Is Aquablation surgery?
Yes. It is a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed under anesthesia, with no incision on the outside of the body. Dr. Buschemeyer will explain the anesthesia options and what to expect.
Will Aquablation affect my sexual function or bladder control?
Aquablation is designed to help protect both. In clinical studies, the large majority of men preserved erectile function and bladder control, though results vary and no procedure is risk free.
How soon will I notice results?
Recovery and the timeline for improvement vary from person to person. Dr. Buschemeyer will give you a realistic picture at your consultation and follow-up visits.
Do I have to try medication first?
Medication is often the first step, but it only manages symptoms. If it is not working, or you would rather not take it long-term, ask Dr. Buschemeyer whether a procedure like Aquablation makes sense for you.
Does an enlarged prostate mean I have prostate cancer?
No. BPH does not cause prostate cancer, but the symptoms can look similar, so it is important to be evaluated by a urologist.
Ready for relief from BPH symptoms?
Call Dr. Buschemeyer’s office or request an appointment online to find out whether Aquablation is right for you.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Individual results vary. Please do not submit protected health information through our website.