Prostatic urethral lift (UroLift)
UroLift uses small permanent implants, placed through a scope in the urethra, to hold the enlarged prostate lobes apart like tie-backs on a curtain. Nothing is cut, heated, or removed.
Also called UroLift, prostatic urethral lift, PUL, urolift implants, prostate tie-backs, prostate staples, prostate clips, lift the prostate
- Where
- Clinic procedure room or outpatient operating room
- Anesthesia
- Local numbing, often with an oral sedative; or light sedation or general anesthesia in an operating room
- Time in the room
- About 30 to 60 minutes in the room; the implants themselves take about 10 to 20 minutes
- Hospital stay
- Same day
- Going home with
- Usually none; some men go home with a catheter for a day or so
- Back to normal
- A few days; urinary irritation can last 2 to 4 weeks
- Back to work
- Often within 1 to 3 days
Overview
In BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), the side lobes of the prostate grow inward and press the urethra closed, the tube that carries urine out. UroLift does not remove any of that tissue. Instead, small implants are placed through a scope to pull each lobe back toward the outer wall of the prostate, opening a channel down the middle.
Each implant is a thin suture with a tiny metal tab on each end. One tab anchors on the outside of the prostate and the other sits on the inside of the urethra, holding the lobe back. Most men need about 4 to 6 implants. They stay in for life.
The main draw of UroLift is that in the large L.I.F.T. study, men did not have new lasting problems with erections or ejaculation. It is also quick, often done in a clinic, and most men go home without a catheter. The trade-off is that the improvement is usually smaller than with surgery that removes tissue (such as TURP or HoLEP), and more men need another treatment later.
The AUA guideline lists UroLift as an option for prostates about 30 to 80 grams without a blocking middle lobe. Standard UroLift does not work well when a middle lobe bulges up into the bladder, though a newer version is used for some middle lobes.
The parts of your body involved
The prostate sits below the bladder and surrounds the first part of the urethra. With BPH, the two side lobes grow inward and touch in the middle like closed curtains. If a middle lobe grows up into the bladder, it can block the outlet like a plug, and UroLift alone cannot lift it out of the way.
- Side lobes
The overgrown inner prostate on each side. The implants pull these back.
- Urethra
The channel that carries urine and semen out. UroLift widens it without removing tissue.
- Prostate capsule
The firm outer shell where the outer end of each implant anchors.
- Middle lobe
Growth that pokes up into the bladder. If large, it may mean UroLift is not the right fit.
- Ejaculatory ducts
Tiny ducts that carry semen into the urethra. UroLift avoids disturbing them.
Why it’s done
UroLift is for men with bothersome BPH symptoms who want a quick procedure, a short recovery, and the best chance of keeping sexual function, and who accept a smaller improvement than surgery that removes tissue.
- Symptoms despite medicines
A weak stream, straining, frequency, or night-time urination that pills are not controlling.
- Side effects of pills
Dizziness, stuffiness, tiredness, or ejaculation and erection changes from alpha blockers or finasteride.
- Protecting sexual function
In studies, UroLift did not cause new lasting erection or ejaculation problems.
- Quick recovery
Most men are back to normal life within a few days.
Other options
- Watching and waiting or medicines
Lifestyle changes or pills such as tamsulosin, finasteride, dutasteride, or tadalafil.
- Rezum water vapor therapy
Steam shrinks prostate tissue over weeks. Also usually protects ejaculation and can treat a middle lobe, but needs a catheter for several days.
- iTind
A temporary device reshapes the channel over about a week, then is removed. Nothing is left behind.
- TURP or HoLEP
Removing tissue gives a larger, more lasting improvement, but most men then have dry orgasms.
- Aquablation
Removes tissue with a waterjet and aims to protect ejaculation; done under anesthesia with a hospital stay.
Getting ready
Tick items off as you go. Your checklist is saved on this device only.
Weeks before
The week before
The day of
The procedure, step by step
Press play or pick a step. Each drawing shows what your surgeon is doing at that moment. Your team may do some steps differently.
1. Numbing the urethra and bladder
Numbing gel is placed into the urethra, and numbing liquid may be put into the bladder through a thin catheter for a few minutes. Some urologists also give a numbing injection next to the prostate.
After the procedure
Right afterward
- Short recovery
You rest for a short time after the procedure, longer if you had sedation.
- Voiding before you leave
Most clinics ask you to urinate before you go home.
- Catheter if needed
Some men, especially those who had retention before, go home with a catheter for a day or a few days.
- Medicines
You may go home with an anti-inflammatory, an antibiotic, and sometimes a medicine for urgency.
At home
- Burning and urgency
Burning, frequent urination, and urgency are common for about 2 to 4 weeks.
- Blood in the urine
Light blood is common for a few days.
- Pelvic discomfort
An ache behind the pubic bone or in the perineum (between the scrotum and anus) can last a week or two.
- Drinking
Drink plenty of water; cut back on caffeine and alcohol for a few weeks.
- Activity
Light activity right away. Many surgeons suggest avoiding heavy lifting and hard exercise for about a week.
- Sex
Usually fine after about a week, or when comfortable. Ejaculation is expected to continue.
- Future MRIs
The implants are safe in most MRI scanners, but tell any team doing a prostate MRI that you have them.
Recovery timeline
- Day 0Procedure
Home the same day, usually without a catheter.
- Days 1 to 3Back to light activity
Burning and urgency are at their peak.
- Week 2Flow improving
Many men notice a better stream within about 2 weeks.
- Weeks 2 to 4Irritation fades
Burning and urgency settle.
- 6 to 12 weeksFollow-up
Symptoms, flow, and emptying are checked.
- Long termWatching for durability
Most men keep benefit for years; some need another treatment.
What it feels like
Under local numbing, UroLift is uncomfortable but brief. Men describe strong pressure and urgency, and a pinch with each implant. The days afterward are more about burning than pain.
On the table
Embarrassment and nerves about a scope while awake, then pressure and a strong need to urinate.
What helpsSlow breathing and the sedative pill help. Ask the team to talk you through each step.
Each implant
A sharp pinch or cramp deep in the pelvis that passes in seconds.
What helpsKnowing how many implants are planned lets you count them down.
The first urination
Burning and a little blood, sometimes with a strong urge.
What helpsDrink water steadily. It improves each day.
The first week
Going often and in a hurry, with a dull ache low in the pelvis.
What helpsAnti-inflammatory medicine (if approved), avoiding caffeine, and patience.
A few weeks later
A stronger stream and fewer night trips, with ejaculation unchanged for most men.
What helpsKeep your follow-up so your urologist can measure the change.
How well it works
UroLift usually improves symptoms noticeably within a few weeks, though less than tissue-removing surgery like TURP or HoLEP.
- Symptoms
In the L.I.F.T. study, symptom scores improved by about a third or more and stayed improved through 5 years for most men.
- Sexual function
No new lasting erection or ejaculation problems were seen in the main studies.
- Retreatment
About 1 in 7 men in the L.I.F.T. study needed another procedure within 5 years.
- Later options
If symptoms return, TURP, HoLEP, or other treatments can still be done, and the implants can be removed during that surgery.
Risks
Every operation has risks. These are the ones people ask about most, with honest odds where good numbers exist. Your surgeon’s own results matter more than averages.
Common
Usually settles within 2 to 4 weeks.
Usually mild and lasts a few days.
An ache low in the pelvis for a week or two.
Usually short-lived.
Less common
Usually managed with a catheter for a few days.
Treated with antibiotics.
Symptoms may come back or not improve enough.
Rare
Rarely needs a catheter or a return to the clinic.
An implant can become encrusted with stone material or poorly placed, and may need removal through a scope.
The metal parts can create small dark spots on MRI images near the implants.
Call your care team or go to the emergency room if
- Fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher, or shaking chills
- Not able to urinate for 6 hours, or a painful, full lower belly
- Thick red urine or clots that block the flow
- Pain that keeps getting worse instead of better
- Burning that gets much worse after the first week, with cloudy or bad-smelling urine
Questions to ask your surgeon
- Is my prostate the right size and shape for UroLift? Do I have a middle lobe?
- How many implants do you expect I will need?
- Will this be done in the office or the operating room?
- How much improvement should I expect compared with TURP or HoLEP?
- What are the chances I will need another procedure in the next 5 years?
- Will the implants affect future prostate MRIs or cancer surgery?
- Will I need a catheter afterward?
- How many UroLift procedures have you done?
Words you may hear
- Prostatic urethral lift (PUL)
- The medical name for UroLift: implants that hold the prostate lobes apart.
- Implant
- A small suture with a metal tab on each end that stays in permanently.
- Capsule
- The outer shell of the prostate, where the outer tab of each implant rests.
- Middle lobe
- Prostate growth that pushes up into the bladder outlet.
- BPH
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia: non-cancer growth of the prostate.
- Cystoscope
- A thin scope with a camera used to look inside the urethra and bladder.
- Retreatment
- Needing another procedure for the same problem later.
- IPSS
- A symptom questionnaire scored from 0 to 35.
Common questions
Will UroLift affect my sex life?
In the main studies, men did not have new lasting problems with erections or ejaculation. That is one of its main advantages.
Does it hurt?
Under local numbing, most men feel pressure, urgency, and a brief pinch with each implant. Many clinics give a calming pill beforehand, and some do it under sedation.
Are the implants permanent?
Yes. They are designed to stay in place for life.
Can I still have other surgery later?
Yes. TURP, HoLEP, and other procedures can be done later, and the implants can be removed during them.
Will I need a catheter?
Most men do not. Some go home with one for a day or a few days.
Can I get an MRI?
Yes, in most scanners. The implants can blur a small area of a prostate MRI, so tell the radiology team.
Sources this page draws on
- American Urological Association, Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Attributed to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH): AUA Guideline
- European Association of Urology, EAU Guidelines on the Management of Non-neurogenic Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
- L.I.F.T. study investigators (Roehrborn and colleagues), The L.I.F.T. randomized trial of the prostatic urethral lift and its 5-year results
- Urology Care Foundation, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Written November 2026. This page explains what usually happens. It is not medical advice and does not replace a conversation with your own surgeon, whose plan for you comes first.