Aquablation: Post-surgery expectations

That’s great to hear. Have you seen any clots come out in the last few days?. That could be the reason for the increase.

I just don't see enough people saying that it was really great and seems too many having leakage issues. Also, I have a friend that had it done and leakage issues still and it been a month. Would like to see 80 percent of post saying how great it worked.
But then I would bet those that all went well and things were great don't get on here and post.
Then I was told how great Urolift was- wrong. Then by a different doctor and facility how great Aquablation was- only lasted 7 months and recovery was not what they said. In fact I think a resident did the surgery??

I would imagine a urologist is the best person to ask?

UPDATE: I went through aquablation on Monday 2/12. I stayed in the hospital (Mayo JAX) overnight afterwards for prostate flushing and observation. Went home 2/13 wearing a Foley catheter with travel urine bag in hand. I took it easy until 2/15 when the Cath was removed and I was instructed to drink about 50 oz of liquid in the next few hours. I returned that afternoon, urinated, and had an ultrasound to measure how fully I was able to empty my bladder. (The concern is the surgery puts the bladder on "pause" and they need certainty it has fully re-awakened) I passed the test and was fully released on 2/15 approximately 72 hours after the procedure.

The procedure itself was straight forward and non-painful. I never experienced any particular pain when urinating with the Foley catheter. With the catheter removed my urination pattern quickly returned to normal and I now feel (five days post) 95% of the way back.

At this point I am on activity restrictions for 3 1/2 more weeks. Intimate relations and heavy exercising will recommence on about 3/12.

In all, aquablation exceeded my expectations as far as discomfort goes. No real issues and my recovery followed the doc's plan perfectly. Time will tell if all prior bph symptoms are extinguished.

For anyone considering aquablation sometime in the future, I would suggest you also consider a PAE (prostate artery embolization). I had it done a little over a year ago and the results are amazing. They go into an artery in your thigh and up into you aorta and then down to the two arteries going to your prostate and place very small beads in them to block most of the blood going to the prostate. This is similar to placing stents going to the heart. I was in and out in half a day and had no after effects except that I no longer need to take two FloMax every day.

I followed this forum prior to my aquablation surgery so I thought I would share my experience. Had the surgery on 8/28 at UPENN in Philadelphia.

Background: 60 years old, relatively good health (except for BPH). First started experiencing issues about 10 years ago. First urologist put me on tamsulosin, which worked for a little while. Had an episode where I could not pee at all, went to the emergency room and got my first catheter. Not fun. Decided to switch urologists. At first, maintained the drug treatment. But experienced multiple UTI's due to incomplete emptying. In 2021, elected to have Urolift. I was borderline due to the size of my prostate, but thought I'd give it a go anyway. At first, surgery worked great! Awesome flow, no more UTIs. In 2024, old symptoms started to return. Weak flow, UTIs, etc. Urologist doubled up on the tamsulosin and added 5 mg of cialus at beginning of 2025. Also put me on methenamine to prevent further UTIs. Memorial Day weekend had another incident where I could not pee at all and ended up in the emergency room again. Visited urologist and got a complete scan and we decided best option was for surgical intervention via aquablation. Prostate size is roughly 100 g, with "significant intravesical median lobe."

As I said, surgery was 8/28 in the morning. In reading the notes in my chart, the doctor took two passes. First one was 4:09 and the second one was 4:01. Dr. then went in and resected residual fluffy tissue at the bladder neck and residual lateral and anterior tissue. Per the notes, the channel was notably wide open. And, the bilateral ureteral orifices, verumontanum and sphincter were all noted to be intact. Bottom line: doctor thinks the surgery went well.

I stayed overnight at the hospital with a foley catheter. Lots of irrigation going on. So, no real pain or discomfort on 8/28. The next day, 8/29, catheter was removed in the morning and needed to do a void trial to see if I had to go home with a catheter or not. Was not able to fully empty my bladder, but I was able to pee. So, they let me go home without the catheter. 8/29 was not a fun day. Drank a lot of water, peed a lot of blood, rested. Definite burning sensation when I peed. Tried to walk some to help with healing. Also, doctor had me resume all meds and added Finasteride for 2 weeks to help with bleeding.

On 8/30, felt much better. Still drinking a lot of water. But, blood in urine has gone down. Used to look like fruit punch. Now, only noticeable at start of urination. Still burns a little when I pee. But very tolerable. Also, stream is much improved! Got up twice at night to pee. But, part of that is because I am continuously drinking water (even at night).

On 8/31 felt better still. Remaining hydrated. Taking meds. Still some blood at start of urination. But, feel like bladder is emptying and good stream. Took a couple of longer walks and, while tired, felt good.

Today is 9/1, roughly 4 days post-procedure. Took a two plus mile walk this morning. Feel like things are still improving. I imagine blood will be present for at least a couple of weeks. But, so far, marked improvement from where I was a week ago!

I followed this forum prior to my aquablation surgery so I thought I would share my experience. Had the surgery on 8/28 at UPENN in Philadelphia.

Background: 60 years old, relatively good health (except for BPH). First started experiencing issues about 10 years ago. First urologist put me on tamsulosin, which worked for a little while. Had an episode where I could not pee at all, went to the emergency room and got my first catheter. Not fun. Decided to switch urologists. At first, maintained the drug treatment. But experienced multiple UTI's due to incomplete emptying. In 2021, elected to have Urolift. I was borderline due to the size of my prostate, but thought I'd give it a go anyway. At first, surgery worked great! Awesome flow, no more UTIs. In 2024, old symptoms started to return. Weak flow, UTIs, etc. Urologist doubled up on the tamsulosin and added 5 mg of cialus at beginning of 2025. Also put me on methenamine to prevent further UTIs. Memorial Day weekend had another incident where I could not pee at all and ended up in the emergency room again. Visited urologist and got a complete scan and we decided best option was for surgical intervention via aquablation. Prostate size is roughly 100 g, with "significant intravesical median lobe."

As I said, surgery was 8/28 in the morning. In reading the notes in my chart, the doctor took two passes. First one was 4:09 and the second one was 4:01. Dr. then went in and resected residual fluffy tissue at the bladder neck and residual lateral and anterior tissue. Per the notes, the channel was notably wide open. And, the bilateral ureteral orifices, verumontanum and sphincter were all noted to be intact. Bottom line: doctor thinks the surgery went well.

I stayed overnight at the hospital with a foley catheter. Lots of irrigation going on. So, no real pain or discomfort on 8/28. The next day, 8/29, catheter was removed in the morning and needed to do a void trial to see if I had to go home with a catheter or not. Was not able to fully empty my bladder, but I was able to pee. So, they let me go home without the catheter. 8/29 was not a fun day. Drank a lot of water, peed a lot of blood, rested. Definite burning sensation when I peed. Tried to walk some to help with healing. Also, doctor had me resume all meds and added Finasteride for 2 weeks to help with bleeding.

On 8/30, felt much better. Still drinking a lot of water. But, blood in urine has gone down. Used to look like fruit punch. Now, only noticeable at start of urination. Still burns a little when I pee. But very tolerable. Also, stream is much improved! Got up twice at night to pee. But, part of that is because I am continuously drinking water (even at night).

On 8/31 felt better still. Remaining hydrated. Taking meds. Still some blood at start of urination. But, feel like bladder is emptying and good stream. Took a couple of longer walks and, while tired, felt good.

Today is 9/1, roughly 4 days post-procedure. Took a two plus mile walk this morning. Feel like things are still improving. I imagine blood will be present for at least a couple of weeks. But, so far, marked improvement from where I was a week ago!