Enlarged prostate treatment in Lawrenceville, Braselton and Oakwood

Is it time to treat an enlarged prostate?

An enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), is the most common reason men see our urologists. It is not cancer, but as the gland grows it can squeeze the urethra. Typical signs are a weak urine stream, trouble urinating or getting started, stopping and starting, dribbling at the end, feeling that the bladder never fully empties, and waking again and again at night to pee.

Treatment is worth discussing when these symptoms disrupt sleep, work or travel, when medicines are no longer enough, or when tests show the bladder is not emptying well. Being unable to pass urine at all, or fever with trouble urinating, needs an emergency room right away.

What happens at an enlarged prostate visit?

Your first visit is about measuring the problem, not guessing. Expect a symptom questionnaire, a urine test to rule out infection or blood, a quick ultrasound bladder scan to see how much urine stays behind, and often a urine flow test, so arrive with a comfortably full bladder. A PSA blood test is discussed when it fits your age, because BPH and prostate cancer can exist at the same time. Some men also need prostate imaging or a look inside with cystoscopy, which tells us the size and shape of the gland and which procedures fit.

Which enlarged prostate treatments do we offer?

Every option below is listed on the Advanced Urology enlarged prostate page. Our urologists match them to your prostate size and shape, your health and your goals, such as protecting ejaculation.

• Medicines and habit changes. Less fluid in the evening, less caffeine and alcohol, and medicines that relax or gradually shrink the prostate help many men first.
• UroLift. Small implants hold the prostate open without removing tissue; it is an outpatient procedure designed to help protect sexual function. See our UroLift page and the UroLift page on advancedurology.com.
• Aquablation. A robot-guided waterjet removes prostate tissue, suited to a wide range of prostate sizes.
• TURP and HoLEP. Long-established procedures that remove or enucleate tissue from inside the urethra, often for larger glands.
• Robotic simple prostatectomy. For very large prostates; see the robotic surgery page.
• Prostate artery embolization (PAE). A nonsurgical option described below.

What about prostate artery embolization (PAE)?

PAE shrinks the prostate by partly blocking the small arteries that feed it. An interventional radiologist places a thin catheter through an artery in the upper thigh or wrist and releases tiny beads, and the gland gradually shrinks over the following weeks. It is usually considered for larger prostates when medicines have not helped and you would like to avoid surgery.

Men from Lawrenceville, Braselton and Hall County are evaluated by our team here, and the procedure itself is done at our Alpharetta-Roswell or Decatur location; follow-up can come back to the office you know. Read our PAE page or the prostate artery embolization page on advancedurology.com.

Where are enlarged prostate procedures done?

UroLift, Aquablation, TURP, HoLEP and robotic surgery are done at our Lawrenceville Clinic & Surgery Center on Crown Pointe Way, usually by the urologist who evaluated you. Consultations, testing and follow-up visits can stay at Lawrenceville, Braselton or Oakwood.

What do patients ask?

How do I choose an enlarged prostate treatment?

The choice depends on prostate size and shape, how well your bladder empties, your health and whether protecting ejaculation matters to you. Measurements from the first visit, such as the bladder scan and prostate imaging, narrow the options to the ones that fit.

Do I need to try BPH medicine before a procedure?

Most men start with medicines and habit changes, but it is not required. Men who cannot tolerate medicines, or who have retention or repeat infections from BPH, may move to a procedure sooner.

Is UroLift an option for me?

UroLift suits some men who want a minimally invasive option that removes no tissue. Prostate size and the shape of the middle lobe matter, so our urologists check both before recommending it.

Can PAE be done in Lawrenceville, Braselton or Oakwood?

Your consultation and follow-up can happen at any of those offices. The PAE procedure itself is done at our Alpharetta-Roswell or Decatur location by an interventional radiologist.

Does an enlarged prostate turn into cancer?

No. BPH is a noncancerous growth, but the two can exist at the same time, so a PSA test is often discussed at the same visit; our high PSA page explains what a raised number can mean.

When is trouble urinating an emergency?

Being unable to pass urine at all, or fever and chills with trouble urinating, needs an emergency room right away. Blood clots in the urine or severe lower belly pain also warrant urgent care.

Which video can help?

Who treats enlarged prostates at our offices?

These are the urologists and physician assistants who see patients at our Lawrenceville, Braselton and Oakwood offices. Our physician assistants see patients for evaluation and follow-up; procedures are performed by our urologists.

• Dr. Hemant Chaparala, Urologist: sees patients at Lawrenceville, Braselton and Oakwood
• Dr. Michael F. Nordsiek, Urologist: sees patients at Lawrenceville
• Dr. Mukesh Patel, Urologist: sees patients at Lawrenceville
• Dr. Vik Sabarwal, Urologist: sees patients at Lawrenceville and Braselton
• Dr. Nicholas Farber, Urologist: sees patients at Braselton
• Ian Thomas, PA-C, Physician Assistant: sees patients at Lawrenceville and Oakwood
• Jordon Blackmon, PA-C, Physician Assistant: sees patients at Lawrenceville
• Lucy Choi, PA-C, Physician Assistant: sees patients at Lawrenceville and Braselton
• Sarah Nayebosadri, PA-C, Physician Assistant: sees patients at Braselton

Where can you be seen for this?

Our Lawrenceville Clinic & Surgery Center on Crown Pointe Way has exam rooms, imaging and an outpatient surgery center under one roof. Our Braselton Clinic on Old Winder Hwy cares for Braselton, Hoschton, Jefferson and Buford families. Gainesville, Flowery Branch and other Hall County patients are seen at our Oakwood Clinic on Mundy Mill Road. Any procedure from the Braselton or Oakwood offices is done at the Lawrenceville surgery center.