UroLift Procedure in Texas
Regular health check-ups are essential to maintaining overall well-being, and addressing urological issues promptly is a cornerstone of effective healthcare. At CLS Health, our team is dedicated to providing thorough and personalized care when it comes to managing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or enlarged prostate.
Our highly trained and compassionate urology specialists take the time to understand your urinary challenges, allowing them to provide tailored recommendations and treatment options. Depending on the severity of your BPH symptoms, we may recommend an effective treatment option called UroLift. Our UroLift procedure services are designed to alleviate the symptoms of BPH and improve your quality of life.
What is UroLift?
The UroLift prostate procedure is a minimally invasive treatment designed to relieve symptoms of BPH. it involves placing small UroLift implants to lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue back so it no longer blocks the urethra. This helps to improve urine flow and reduce symptoms such as difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and weak urine stream. The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis and does not involve cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue.
What to Expect Before and After the Urolift Procedure
At CLS Health, we begin with a thorough evaluation to ensure you receive the most appropriate and effective care for your condition. After confirming you are a good candidate for UroLift, your procedure date will be scheduled. Here’s what you can expect throughout your UroLift treatment.
You must ensure eligibility before beginning UroLift treatment. Screenings are an essential part of your evaluation and consultation. These tests help us assess several aspects of your health to detect underlying conditions that might affect your suitability for the UroLift procedure. Patients with a prostate volume greater than 100 cc, those who have a urinary tract infection, or those with obstructive median lobes are not considered suitable candidates for the UroLift.
Understanding your health history is vital for personalized care during a UroLift procedure. During your pre-procedure appointment, we will review any updates to your medical history, including any chronic conditions, past surgeries, family health history, and medications. We will also provide information about the day of the procedure, including whether you need to fast, if you need transportation home, and more. Be sure to ask any questions you have related to the procedure.
On the day of your UroLift procedure, you will be given either general or local anesthesia. One of our urologists will insert a cystoscope, a thin instrument with a camera, through the urethra to visualize the prostate. The UroLift is then placed through small implants that lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way. The procedure typically takes less than an hour; most patients do not require an overnight stay. After the procedure, some men may need a catheter for a short period, but many can void it immediately.
After the procedure, our team will provide detailed post-operative care instructions to support your UroLift recovery. We will schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and address any concerns. Most patients experience symptom relief quickly and can return to normal activities within a few days, as UroLift recovery time is shorter than other surgeries. If you experience side effects that persist or worsen over time, it’s important you contact your urologist.
UroLift Benefits
UroLift, also known as urethral prosthesis treatment, offers various benefits for BPH patients outside of immediate symptom relief. Some of the other primary benefits of UroLift include:
- Minimally Invasive: The UroLift procedure is less invasive than traditional surgical options for BPH, such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). It involves no cutting, heating, or removal of prostate tissue.
- Quick Recovery: Most patients experience a fast recovery and can return to normal activities within a few days. The procedure is typically done on an outpatient basis, meaning no overnight hospital stay is required.
- No Sexual Function Impact: Unlike many other treatments for BPH, UroLift does not cause sexual side effects such as erectile dysfunction or retrograde ejaculation, making it a preferred option for many men.
- Long-Term Results: Many clinical studies have shown that the procedure’s benefits can last several years. The implants are designed to be permanent, offering long-term symptom relief.
Many insurance plans including Medicare, cover the UroLift procedure. Urologists at CLS Health accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most major health plans. Coverage may vary based on your specific insurance provider and plan details. It is important to check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage, potential out-of-pocket costs, and any necessary pre-authorization requirements.
- Aetna Select
- Open Access Selects
- Elect Choice
- Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Choice POS II
- Managed Choice
- Open Choice PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans
CLS Health does not accept:
- Aetna CVS Marketplace Plans
* Some providers may not accept this insurance, please call to confirm
- Superior Ambetter Core (Complete, Clear, Focused, Standard Silver and Gold)
- Superior Ambetter Value (Clear Value Silver, Focused Value Silver, CMS Standard Silver & Gold Value, Everyday Value Gold)
- Superior Ambetter Virtual (Ambetter Virtual Access Silver, CMS Standard Virtual Access Basic Silver, Ambetter Virtual Access Gold)
- Superior Health Plan CHIP*
- Superior Health Plan MAPD (Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug)
- Superior Health Plan Medicare
- Superior Health Plan MMP Medicaid*
- Superior Health Plan MMP Medicare
- Superior Health Plan STAR*
- Superior Health Plan STAR Kids*
- Superior Health Plan STAR+PLUS*
CLS Health participates in most Blue Cross Blue Shield plans including:
- Blue Choice PPO
- Blue Essentials
- Blue Essentials Access
- HealthSelect
- HealthSelect of Texas In Area
- Consumer Directed HealthSelect in Area
- HealthSelect of Texas Out of State
- Consumer Directed Health Select Out of State
- HealthSelect Secondary 65+
- Medicare Advantage HMO
- Medicare Advantage PPO
- Medicare Advantage Value HMO
- POS
- Traditional/Par Plan
- TRS-Active Care
- TRS-Care Standard
- BCBS MyBlue Health (Marketplace)
*Some providers may not accept Community Health Choice, please call to confirm
- MarketplacePremier
- Medicaid*CHIPCHIP PerinateSTAR
- Medicare AdvantageDual-Special Needs Plan (D-SNP)
CLS Health accepts most Cigna plans, including:
- Cigna HMO
- Cigna Local Plus
- Cigna Open Access Plus
- Cigna PPO
- ChoiceCare PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- HMO Premier
- Medicare Advantage Plans
- HumanaChoice - Medicare Advantage PPO plan
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan
- Human Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage HMO & Special Needs Plan
- Military (TRICARE South Region Military Health Plan)
- POS - including Choice POS, National POS Open Access/Plus and Preferred POS Open Access.
- PPO
*Some providers may not accept United Healthcare, please call to confirm
- Commercial, HMO, POS, EPO and PPO Plans (Charter, Choice,Core, Doctors Plan, Freedon, Heritage, Navigate, Nexus ACO, Options PPO, Passport Connect, Select)
- Indemnity
- Medicare Advantage (AARP, Care Improvement Plus, C-SNP, D-SNP, I-SNP, Erickson Advantage, ERS Medicare Advantage, TRS-Care Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare Chronic Complete, UnitedHealthcare Connected (Medicare-Medicaid Plan), UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete, UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage PPO, United Healthcare Medicare Complete)
- Community Plans* (CHIP, CHIP Perinate, Star, Star Kids, Star Plus, MMP)
- Wellmed (Wellmed Dual SNP Focus, Wellmed Medicare Advantage Focus)
*Some providers may not accept Wellpoint, please call to confirm
- Medicaid (All Texas Plans Including the Below)*
- CHIP
- CHIP Perinate
- STAR
- STAR+PLUS
- STAR Kids
- Medicare Advantage
- C-SNP
- D-SNP
- I-SNP
- Medicare Advantage HMO
- Medicare-Medicaid (MMP)
- Medicare-Medicaid Program (MMP)
- STAR+PLUS MMP
*Some providers may not accept insurance, please call to confirm
PPO Networks
- Beechstreet PPO
- Carnival Cruise Lines PPO
- Envolve Benefit Options Vision-PPO, HMO
- First Health
- Curative/First Health
- Galaxy Health Network
- HealthSmart Preferred Care
- Accel
- Healthsmart Payors Organization
- Multiplan PPO
- Tricare (Humana) PPO/Prime
Employer-Specific Plans
- Brazoria County Employees – Aetna TPA Brazoria County Employees
Workers’ Compensation Plans
- Workers’ Comp
- Auto & Workers’ Comp
Medicare and Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Traditional
- Medicare Advantage
- Memorial Hermann Health Solutions Commercial and Medicare
- Molina Medicare Complete Care HMO SNP
- Medicare-Medicaid Program (MMP)
- STAR+PLUS MMP
- Alignment Health Plan
- AllyAlign Health
- American Health Plans
- Florida Complete Care
- Gold Kidney Health Plan
- Imperial Health
- Independent Health
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado
- Mass Advantage
- Presbyterian Health Plan
- PriorityHealth
- Provider Partners
- SCAN
- UCare
- Vantage Health Plan
- Verda Healthcare
- Zing Health
Medicaid and CHIP Programs
- Molina Healthcare* (Marketplace, Medicaid, CHIP, CHIP Perinate, STAR, STAR Kids, STAR+PLUS)
- Texas Children's Health Plans*
- TMHP (Traditional Medicaid) Traditional Medicaid
Specialty Plans
- VA Community Cares Network CCN
FAQs
The benefits of the UroLift for the prostate can last several years, with significant improvements maintained for at least five years. The implants are designed to be permanent, providing long-term relief from BPH symptoms. However, individual results may vary, and some patients may require additional treatment.
Yes, UroLift implants can be removed if necessary. Although rare, if complications arise or the implants need to be adjusted, a urologist can safely remove or reposition the implants. The procedure for removal is typically straightforward and can be performed endoscopically.
After the Uro Lift procedure, some patients may experience temporary side effects, including frequent urination, urgency, or mild discomfort during urination. These symptoms are usually temporary and tend to resolve within a few weeks as the body adjusts to the implants and the prostate heals. CLS Health urologist will guide you in managing any post-procedure symptoms and ensuring a smooth UroLift recovery.
The UroLift procedure has a high success rate in relieving BPH symptoms. Clinical studies have shown significant improvement in many patients’ urinary symptoms, quality of life, and urinary flow rates. Approximately 92% of patients report a notable reduction in symptoms, with many experiencing long-term relief. Additionally, patients reported a 44% increase in flow rate.
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) and UroLift are effective procedures for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), but they differ significantly in their methods, recovery times, and potential side effects. TURP involves passing a resectoscope through the urethra to remove sections of the prostate using an electrically heated wire. This reduces pressure on the urethra caused by the enlarged prostate.
However, it is an inpatient procedure requiring an overnight hospital stay. Though rare, TURP can also lead to side effects such as retrograde ejaculation, temporary bladder control issues, erectile dysfunction, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Urolift is an outpatient procedure that utilizes tiny implants to lift and hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way, widening the urethra without traditional surgical intervention. This allows for faster recovery times and only mild side effects. Most patients can resume normal activities within a few days, whereas TURP patients cannot resume full activities until 6 weeks post-operation.