HoLEP Surgery – What is HoLEP (Holmium Laser Prostate Enucleation)?
23 July 2025What is GreenLight™ e Laser Treatment?
During the GreenLight procedure, the tissue blocking your prostate is quickly heated and vaporized. The enlarged part of the prostate is removed by vaporizing it with laser energy, thereby relieving urinary flow. In most patients, natural urine flow returns quickly. The procedure is typically performed as an outpatient surgery. Many patients can go home without a urinary catheter. Some patients may be advised to stay in the hospital overnight.
How is GreenLight™ e Vaporization Performed?
- A thin device called a resectoscope is gently inserted into the urethra (urinary canal).
- The laser at the tip destroys the prostate tissue by applying heat energy, thereby clearing the blockage.
- The camera on the resectoscope allows the surgeon to clearly view the procedure on a screen and guide it safely.
- General anesthesia (where the patient is put to sleep) or spinal anesthesia (where the lower body is numbed) is administered during the procedure.
- At the end of the surgery, a catheter may be inserted into the urethra to drain urine directly into a urine bag.
- The catheter also flushes the bladder and urinary tract to prevent blood clot formation.
- If a catheter is placed after surgery, you will be ready for discharge 1 or 2 days later, once the catheter is removed and you are able to urinate on your own.
- It is recommended to avoid sexual activity for 2–3 weeks after the procedure.
- When you resume sexual activity, you may experience retrograde ejaculation (backward ejaculation).
Advantages of GreenLight Laser Treatment
Numerous articles have been published in the medical literature about GreenLight™ e Laser Therapy.
Based on these articles, GreenLight Laser Therapy:
- Has a low complication rate, associated with short catheter use and hospital stay.
• Can be safely administered to patients who use blood thinners, those experiencing urinary retention (in patients requiring a catheter due to inability to urinate), or those with a large prostate volume.
• It offers the advantage of being usable in patients with implants such as pacemakers, defibrillators, or neurostimulators.
When compared to traditional surgical options, GreenLight Laser Therapy is associated with the following advantages:
- The likelihood of significant blood loss is significantly lower.
- The hospital stay is shorter, and in most cases, patients can be discharged on the same day.
- There is a shorter catheter (tube) usage time.
After GreenLight Laser Surgery
Patients can usually return home a few hours after the procedure.
If a urinary catheter was placed in your bladder at the end of the procedure, it is usually removed within 24 hours. However, in some patients, the catheter may need to remain in place for a longer period.
Most patients experience rapid relief of symptoms and a noticeable improvement in urine flow. This typically occurs within 24 hours after the procedure. However, each patient's experience may vary.
Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions to follow after discharge and information about symptoms or signs that may require further medical evaluation.
You may experience mild discomfort such as a slight burning sensation when urinating and a small amount of blood in your urine for about a week. You may also feel the need to urinate more frequently and suddenly, depending on the condition of your bladder. This condition will most likely improve over time.
You can usually return to your daily activities shortly after the GreenLight procedure.
GreenLight Laser Surgery Risks
Like any surgical procedure, GreenLight™ Laser Treatment may carry some risks.
The most common risks include:
- Hematuria – Blood in the urine
• Bladder irritation – Frequent and/or sudden urge to urinate
• Urethral irritation – Frequent urination, burning sensation
• Retrograde ejaculation – During sexual climax, semen may enter the bladder instead of exiting the penis
If deemed appropriate by the doctor, some patients taking blood-thinning medications may undergo GreenLight Laser Therapy without discontinuing their medication.
2 Comments
Is “shielded hood” green light therapy available at your center ?
Hello David,
Thank you for your question.
Yes — GreenLight Laser treatment is available at my center. We use the latest-generation GreenLight technology, including techniques with enhanced fiber control and tissue protection similar to the “shielded hood” concept you mentioned.
If you would like, I’d be happy to review your case and assess whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure.
You can contact us directly for an appointment:
📞 +90 530 445 88 52
📍 Feneryolu, Kadıköy – Istanbul
Kind regards,
Prof. Dr. Şükrü Kumsar
Urology & Andrology Specialist