Focal Laser Ablation

Men's health
1

Does anybody know if this procedure is available in the UK, private or NHS?

2

Just got a quote from Doctor in Florida, go in threw recton, heat only area of blockage, 20,000cash no insurance company will pay

3

Have not found anybody to date in the UK although I wouldn't be too surprised if somebody starts doing it soon, although I would want somebody experienced. As Paul says there is somebody in Florida who will do it for 20,000 Dollars.

4

Just got a quote from Doctor in Florida, go in threw recton, heat only area of blockage, 20,000cash no insurance company will pay, Sterling medical

5

I just had this done in Houston by Dr Karamanian. Any search of this forum for FLA or focal laser ablation will turn up a few continuing discussions on this procedure and about this Dr. He is an amazing human being and a highly skilled IR and I wouldn't consider anyone else for FLA.

6

covered under your insurance or did you pay cash,if cash how much did it cost you;?

7

Hi

​I asked my UK eurologist about this.  He was adamant that it was old technology.  He said that it was resurrecting some old laser ..... I pressed him again later, but he stuck to his story.  He claims he knows everything there is to know about what is going on worldwide.  He went as far as to imply that the claims for it are actually lies.

​He said that the future was Aquablation.

​Mike

8

No I paid $$$ for the procedure. It is $20,000. I am only two weeks out but already doing way better than I was and the healing has barely begun!

9

Good luck and get well soon

10

Thnks Paul appreciate it. There's a number of guys on this forum doing so well from FLA and they are all extremely generous with their time and willingness to answer any questions. I encourage you to take advantage of this incredible resource.

11

Schedule for HOLEP at Mayo Phoenix in July, I had a failed Urolift so they can remove metal and core out prostate all in one shot, forced from my job at Honeywell, so insurance is good for only 6months so looking for a permenite solution, only one %redo rate. At 62 may be without insurance for 3 years the way things are looking with this healthcare debaucle. Been dealing with it for over 20 years.However after reading some of these forums I sometimes think I don't have it so bad, never had to use cath

Don't know sometimes if I should wait until Medicare kicks in in 3 years and address it then. I can go to Mexico for my meds. Had insurance all my life and now I'm 62 and losing my coverage so that's why I'm looking at the HOLEP. Seems like a full proof solution.

12

Holep is a pretty drastic surgery for a 62 year old who never went into retention. Do you know for sure that your prostate is the only problem? Have they done bladder dynamics tests? Sometimes they redo Urolift with better results.

Holep can be a long recovery with a month or more of incontinence, and almost a 100% chance of lifetime RE. While you have insurance, you should get full diagnostics and if your prostate is a big part of the problem (without them you don't know) you should consider Rezum or PAE which are less invasive, rarely caused RE and have a much shorter, easier recovery with no anesthesia.

FYI - they have to give your COBRA for 18 months after they let you go.

13

FLA would seem to be the best & only way.

14

Any casual read of the FLA threads in the Prostate forums wolud prove your urologist unequivocally wrong! Perhaps it's the occasional disdain for interventional radiologists we see from urologists coloring his thoughts.

IMHO, time for a new urologist.

ps Aquablation looks cool but so is MRI guided FLA

15

Thanks something to think about,

16

12 days prior to my FLA, I was catheterized due to AUR. Thtat was the second scary episode of acute urinary retention that same week. The FLA has me peeing quite well now and no side effects. Everything works as it is suppsed to and I am  ony 15 dys out. The best is yet to come!

oldbuzzard is right. HoLEP is virtually guaranteed retrograde ejaculation and a long challenging recovery. FLA recovery is long too but not so challenging.

Best

Ross

17

I second what Ross said

18

Get as much mileage out of those last six months of insurance as you possibly can.

19

As far as I know there are only two places in the USA - Houston and Florida  - that offer this procedure. I am currently in conversation with the Houston practice and will be uploading MRI to check if I'm a suitable candidate for the op. Would love to know if there are more than two practices in the world doing this procedure. My urologist here in Hong Kong had never heard of it.

Pete

20

I had HoLEP done one month ago and would recommend it. Easy recovery, catheter 2 days, minimal pain, no complication. HoLEP removes more tissue than any other method, and it can be analyzed for cancer. Retro ejaculation is guaranteed, and it is no problem. Unfortunately, in my case, a cancer (Gleeson 7) was discovered, so I am looking into FLA to deal with that.