Treatment

Aquablation therapy

AQUABEAM robotic system, transurethral water jet ablation, water jet ablation therapy, waterjet ablation therapy for endoscopic resection of prostate tissue (WATER)

We provide a private Aquablation therapy service for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

 

 

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What is it for?

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Treatment overview

Aquablation therapy is a ground-breaking surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and associated lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). 

The advanced heat-free AQUABEAM® robotic system enables our consultants to carefully remove excess prostate tissue with greater precision and fewer complications than traditional prostate treatments. 

Your consultant may recommend Aquablation therapy if you have moderate to severe symptoms, or are looking for a heat-free surgical procedure.

The London Clinic is a centre of excellence in both robotic surgery and urology. The pioneer of the AQUABEAM robotic system, is Dr Neil Barber, one of our practising consultant urologists. 

Choosing this minimally invasive technology reduces recovery time and the risk of complications, sometimes seen with more traditional procedures. 

We are one of only a handful of private hospitals in the UK that currently offers this advanced therapy.

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Aquablation therapy at The London Clinic

The surgeons who offer Aquablation have all had extensive training using the AQUABEAM robotic system, which was pioneered by one of our own urology consultants, Dr Neil Barber.

Before your treatment, your care team will guide you through what to expect, a recovery plan and answer all your questions. 

You’ll stay with us for one to two nights while you recover from the Aquablation. 

Your comfort is our priority and to make you feel more at home we offer extra touches like a personalised food menu and concierge service.

Complementary therapies such as reiki and acupuncture are also available which can help you to relax, heal and get more out of your stay.

Once you’re ready to leave The London Clinic, your personal care team will support you with a personalised aftercare program. So you can get back to living the life you love. 

Why choose The London Clinic

Excellence in one place

We operate as teams of experts with world-class resources dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of medical care. You are surrounded by the latest treatments and advice with everything you need to get back to your best health.

Personal care, every time

Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. Our nurses, clinicians and support teams are dedicated to the care of a very small number of patients, so have more time for you. They’ll be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care around you and giving the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing you’re in the best hands.

Effortlessly simple

We work together as one to guide you through each step of your experience, with complexities unravelled and answers readily to hand. Your personal treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.

What's included in your package?

Choosing The London Clinic means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.

Your treatment package will include:

  • Enhanced pre-admission assessment
  • Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
  • Personalised aftercare and follow-up

We want you to be in control of your health. That’s why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us. To help you manage the cost, we also offer a 0% finance option, allowing you to spread the payments for your treatment over 12 months with no added interest. Learn more about our finance options here.

How to pay

  • You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
  • You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
  • If you’re paying for yourself, we have 0% finance options available with Chrysalis. Find out more here.
     

FAQs

Aquablation therapy works by removing excess prostate tissue caused by prostate enlargement due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

The treatment enables our surgeons to remove sections of your prostate safely with minimal side effects.

At The London Clinic our surgeons perform the treatment using the advanced AQUABEAM robotic system. 

The AQUABEAM has an integrated camera and probe which your surgeon inserts into your urethra and bladder.

Using robotics and ultrasound your anatomy can be surgically mapped and the treatment adjusted to your individual prostate size and shape. 

The cystoscope camera combined with ultrasound provides ‘real time’ imaging, so that your surgeon can target and safely remove excess prostate tissue using the heat-free waterjet, without damaging nearby tissue.

Studies have found Aquablation therapy is both effective and long lasting.

Aquablation therapy is heat-free with less complications and risk of heat injury. 

The combination of ultrasound imaging and robotics enables your surgeon to tailor the therapy to your individual anatomy, without damaging surrounding tissue.

The whole treatment takes around an hour, and the surgical resection of the prostate takes around 3 to 5 minutes. 

Research suggests Aquablation has several advantages including: 

  • Fewer complications 
  • Better outcomes post-surgery 
  • Better preservation of the surrounding tissue that controls: 
  • Erectile Function
  • Ejaculation
  • Continence

How long it takes to recover from Aquablation therapy depends on how fit and healthy you are before your surgery. 

It’s likely you will return to normal activities within a few days.

During the 1-hour procedure, your surgeon will fit you with a catheter, which will need to stay in place for around 1-2 nights post operation. 

You might experience a mild burning sensation on urination for a couple of days post-surgery, as well as rectal soreness, but tend to be symptom-free after a few days.

There is no post-treatment or rehabilitation required for Aquablation therapy, and after a one-to-two-night stay, you can return home.

We’ll closely monitor your recovery with regular follow-ups, and if there’s anything you need help with, your personal care team are always on hand to help.

Aquablation therapy is a relatively low-risk procedure however all surgeries carry some risk of complications. 

The most common side-effects post-surgery are:

  • mild pain or difficulty when urinating
  • pelvic discomfort
  • mild rectal discomfort
  • blood in the urine
  • inability to empty the bladder or frequent urge to urinate
  • possible urinary tract infection (UTI)

There have been a few reported cases of Aquablation therapy causing retrograde ejaculation (where semen travels backwards towards the bladder) and urethral or rectal damage. 

However, this is quite rare and probably less likely to occur with Aquablation than other surgeries.

The London Clinic’s skilled urology consultants and nursing staff are always on hand to explain the risks and benefits of each treatment and answer any questions you might have before or after surgery.

Aquablation therapy is one of several treatment options we offer for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Your consultant might recommend one or more of these treatments depending on: 

  • Your age
  • Your general health
  • The severity of your symptoms

The alternative treatments to Aquablation therapy we offer are:

  • Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgery – an operation to remove prostate tissue.
  • Medication – drug treatment for prostate enlargement, particularly in the early stages.
  • Urolift – a minimally invasive procedure that rapidly improves urine flow without the loss of ejaculatory or erectile function.
  • Prostate artery embolisation – a procedure that involves blocking the arteries that supply blood to the prostate, causing it to shrink.
  • iTind – a temporary implant device that improves the flow of urine.
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