Dr. Mehran Movassaghi continues to earn the trust of the community, providing expertise that results in faster recovery and fewer life-long side effects for men.
Dr. Mehran Movassaghi, a board-certified and fellowship-trained urologist, reached a significant milestone in men’s health. 100 successful treatments of aquablation not only demonstrate Saint John’s commitment to innovation and patient care, but also how our doctors are providing highly specialized treatments for BPH in a community hospital setting.
What is Aquablation?
Aquablation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that affects older men involving enlargement of the prostate gland, which can cause urinary symptoms such as frequent urination, difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak urine flow, and incomplete emptying of the bladder. Aquablation utilizes a robotically controlled water jet technology to precisely remove excess prostate tissue, thereby reducing the size of the gland and relieving pressure on the urethra. This results in immediate improvement of urinary function.
Men typically benefit most from aquablation when they are in their 50s or 60s, as this is the age range when BPH symptoms tend to become more frequent, and when other treatments may not be as effective. Aquablation is particularly suitable for men with moderate to severe BPH symptoms who have not responded well to medication or who wish to avoid traditional surgery. A key benefit of aquablation is its ability to restore urinary function with minimal risk of sexual side effects, which are common with other BPH treatments. After the procedure, most men experience significant improvement in their urinary symptoms, including increased urine flow rate, reduced frequency of urination, and decreased urgency. If prostate-related conditions indicate prostate cancer, Dr. Movassaghi and his team, including Dr. Timothy Wilson, an expert prostate robotics surgeon, guide patients accordingly.
“Having access to this kind of leading-edge surgical capability is an exciting prospect that provides a non-invasive method of treatment for those suffering from BPH that can offer significant and long-lasting symptom relief with lower risk to sexual function or continence.”
– Dr. Mehran Movassaghi, Director of Men’s Health.
What’s involved?
The procedure includes using a small, flexible device called a cystoscope into the urethra. The cystoscope contains a camera and the aquablation system, which uses a high-velocity water jet that precisely removes excess tissue. The surgeon uses real-time imaging to guide the water jet and ensure that only the targeted tissue is removed, minimizing damage to the surrounding area. Aquablation recovery time is typically faster compared to traditional surgery. Men typically able to return to normal activities within a few days to a week. However, some men may experience temporary side effects such as mild discomfort, urinary urgency, or blood in the urine. If this happens, these side effects tend to resolve on their own within a few weeks.