Rezum
St. George Urology & Body Sculpting
Prostate enlargement isn’t always a cancer issue. Medically called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as many as 50% of men over 50 may be affected. The doctors of St. George Urology in St. George, Utah have added the Rezūm® system to the toolbox that treats the urinary problems that often accompany BPH. Call the office or book online to learn how Rezūm can help you.
Excess tissue growth in the prostate gland creates an enlargement of the gland called BPH. It’s a very common condition that affects about 90% of men over the age of 80. BPH isn’t harmful on its own, but there’s little room for the prostate to expand before it starts pressing on surrounding tissue and affecting other systems.
Why the prostate continues to grow and cause BPH isn’t known, but the effects are very real once the prostate starts to press on the urethra. This starts to reduce the flow of urine. You may feel the need to go to the bathroom more often, and it may seem as though you can’t completely empty your bladder. Left untreated, the bladder thickens as it has to force urine through the urethra, causing the bladder to lose flexibility.
Rezūm uses controlled radiofrequency (RF) energy to gently warm the overgrown prostate tissue that causes BPH and its associated urinary problems. When certain tissue is warmed sufficiently above body temperature, the brain perceives the tissue is damaged, despite that the tissue is only warmed about 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. When this warming occurs, the body then starts to dispose of the treated tissue through the lymphatic and circulatory systems. Noticeable improvement in urinary function is usually seen within about two weeks after Rezūm treatment.
The procedure takes about two hours from your arrival to departure, and it’s performed in the offices at St. George Urology. The RF energy is administered through the urethra, without incisions or heavily invasive techniques. You may receive local anesthetic or mild sedation, and it’s likely you’ll need to arrange a ride home. Your St. George Urology caregiver will discuss these specifics with you.
Rezūm is drug-free, non-surgical, and treatments are safe, simple, and don’t require general anesthesia. Both urinary and sexual functions are preserved, and recovery time is usually only a few days. Unlike minimally invasive surgical techniques, there’s typically no need for follow-up treatments. Most patients have noticeably reduced symptoms within two weeks of Rezūm treatment.
