Prostate surgery and laser prostate surgery at Spire Clare Park Hospital

At Spire Clare Park Hospital, we’re a leading provider of private hospital treatments for our patients in Surrey.

Our urologists are specialists in men’s health and have expertise in prostate surgery. Our dedicated nurses will provide you with expert aftercare, to help you get back to your usual activities as soon as possible.

You can expect fast access to diagnostic tests and scans, consultations and treatments.

We offer a variety of treatments for prostate surgery. Treatment choices available to you will depend on your condition and your general health. Your consultant will discuss which treatment is best for you.

The type of anaesthetic you need varies depending on the procedure you need. It may be:

• A general anaesthetic meaning you’re asleep – this is most often used
• A spinal or epidural – where you can’t feel anything from the waist down
• A local anaesthetic – you’ll be awake but you won’t be able to feel anything in the area being operated on

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

• A special instrument is passed through your urethra and a small, electrically-heated wire is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You’ll need a urinary catheter for around one to three days after the operation

Laser prostate surgery

• A specialised tool is passed through your urethra and a laser (eg a HoLEP Holmium laser or GreenLight laser) which generates intense heat is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You usually need a urinary catheter for around one to three days after the operation, but it may be for a shorter time than with a TURP

UroLift (prostatic urethral lift (PUL) implants)

• Instead of removing prostate tissue, implants are positioned to hold your prostate out of the way and increase the width of your urethra
• This procedure can be performed under general or local anaesthetic
• Usually, a urinary catheter isn’t required

iTind treatment 

• A small device is inserted into the prostate for 5-7 days, after which it is completely removed. The device expands and applies gentle pressure, remodelling the tissue and creating a wider channel through which urine can flow.
• The procedure can be performed under general of local anaesthetic
• Preserves sexual and ejaculatory function
• Routinely urinary catheter free

Coming into hospital

Spire Clare Park Hospital is a 10 minute taxi ride from Farnham station. There’s free parking available for you and your visitors.

Meeting your consultant

You’ll meet your consultant in one of our consultation rooms. You’ll discuss:

• Your symptoms and medical history
• If your consultant requires any additional tests or scans to help plan your treatment
• Alternative treatments or lifestyle changes which may help
• What the treatment involves and procedure options
• Potential benefits and risks of prostate surgery

You may also need a pre-operative assessment with a specialist nurse before going ahead with treatment. This is to ensure you're fit and well enough for surgery.

Prostate surgery takes about an hour. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge or restaurant while you have your operation.

After surgery, you may need a urinary catheter until the swelling in your urethra has gone down, allowing you to pass urine normally again. This will be taken out by one of our nurses before you leave hospital – which is usually for two nights after your operation. During your stay, you’ll have your own, en-suite room which will have:

• TV
• Window
• Armchair
• Side table

You may be in some discomfort following surgery, so our nurses will give you medication to help. They’ll also be able to give you advice on how to manage any pain once you’re home.

Recovery time

Everyone’s different, and your recovery will depend on the procedure you've had and your general health. Recovery from some procedures can be quicker for some patients, so check with your consultant.

As a guide, here’s a typical recovery timeline for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which is most often performed: