Preparing for Your PlasmaButton™ Vaporization Surgery: Here's What You Need to Know

At first, your benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was only mildly annoying, sending you on a few more trips to the bathroom than you’d like. These days, however, your BPH has become highly disruptive and more than a little bit uncomfortable.

Millions of men follow this trajectory; BPH touches the lives of up to a third of men aged 65 and older. And BPH doesn't get better, but worse, as the prostate grows.

If you’re opting for PlasmaButton® vaporization surgery, be sure to read these preparation tips from our team, led by board-certified urologist Robert J. Cornell.

What we accomplish during PlasmaButton vaporization surgery

If you’re a candidate for this surgery, that means you have a large prostate that interferes with your urinary tract. We’ve had great success treating this issue with PlasmaButton vaporization surgery.

During the procedure, we insert a small camera called a resectoscope through your urethra to gain access to your prostate. Once in position, the scope allows Dr. Cornell to get a magnified view of your prostate. 

From there, he uses a button at the end of the instrument to deliver low-temperature plasma energy into the excess prostate tissue. This energy quickly destroys the tissue to create more room for your urine to flow through. 

Once Dr. Cornell finishes the vaporization, he temporarily inserts a catheter into your urethra to help drain your bladder.

Preparing for the PlasmaButton vaporization procedure

This approach for treating BPH has many benefits, including the fact that more than 80% of PlasmaButton procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. 

This means that most patients can go home on the same day, though some may have to spend a night or two in the hospital if the urinary tract doesn't come back online quickly or there are complications. In these cases, we may have to leave the catheter in and allow time for your body to catch up with our work.

So, for starters, we suggest that you arrange for rides to and from the surgery, as you won’t be able to drive.

When you get home, you’ll need to take it easy for a week or two to start. You can prepare in advance by:

• Prepping meals ahead of time (avoid foods that create excess gas, such as beans)
• Creating a recovery space where everything is within reach
• Making sure that you can navigate your house and bathroom easily (get rid of throw rugs and wires)
• Arranging for help with chores and driving 

There are some restrictions afterward, such as avoiding sexual activity and strenuous exercise for at least a month, so please plug that into your preparation equation.

We will also go over any medications you’re taking and may ask you to temporarily suspend certain ones before your PlasmaButton procedure, namely blood thinners.

Get more of your questions answered

Keep in mind that we provide guidance every step of the way. We’re just a phone call or click away if you have any questions about the PlasmaButton procedure, before, during, and after.

If we haven’t answered your questions here, please don’t hesitate to contact our Houston office.