This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As men age, many can begin experiencing irritating, even exasperating urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. This common issue is referred to medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous growth of the prostate. Though typically not life-threatening, BPH symptoms, like unbearable urgency and interrupted urinary flow, can wreak havoc on everyday living. Today, permanent BPH relief can be found after a short and painless procedure known as the UroLift® System from NeoTract, Inc., based in California.

"UroLift is a game changer. It is changing lives," says Dr. Steve Gange, who was the first urologist in North America in February 2011 to perform the UroLift System and the first in the world to perform the procedure under local anesthesia.

UroLift is an FDA-approved, ground-breaking device that is helping men urinate freely and comfortably again. Tiny implants delivered by this minimally invasive system open up the blocked urethra by lifting or holding enlarged prostate tissue out of the way. There is no cutting, heating or removal of prostate tissue. Think of it as a window curtain tie-back that holds the lobes of the enlarged prostate open, relieving obstruction.

The entire UroLift procedure can take just 30 minutes from start to finish. After the prostate is numbed, men are awake and pain-free during the procedure. There's no catheter afterword, nor are there postoperative restrictions or sexual side effects. "Most men even drive themselves home," says Gange, who performs the quick and well-tolerated procedure at his Salt Lake-based Western Urological Clinic.

Though there are other treatments available for men who are suffering from BPH, such as medications, TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) or laser surgery, Gange notes that UroLift can be performed with few—if any—side effects. "Many procedures are utterly uncomfortable and potentially cause permanent side effects, like the loss of the ability to ejaculate and even erectile dysfunction," he says. "I've taken care of quite a number of guys who chose UroLift because they didn't want to take chances on permanent side effects."

Men who are experiencing bothersome BPH symptoms should at least consider the procedure, says Gange. "Some men are up peeing just a couple times a night. Others have every symptom in the book. If you're the last guy out of the bathroom at the Jazz game, you should consider it," he says, adding that early intervention is best. "The longer we sit on this problem, the more our bladder decompensates and you'll see gradual decline of bladder function. UroLift allows the bladder to keep working and nearly immediately returns it to near normal urination."

As one of the nation's leading experts on the UroLift System, Gange has seen the device improve the lives of many men. "They spend less time in the bathroom day and night, they experience less dribbling after voiding and better voiding satisfaction," he says.

Gange has implanted UroLift in men of varying ages and fitness levels, and recently performed the procedure on a man who plans to climb Mount Everest this April. "He had the UroLift implant done a month or so ago and is very happy. And it really didn't interfere with his training."

Gange says he's excited about the potential of the UroLift System to enhance the lives of countless men. "I get a 'thank you' every single day," he says. "It makes a person's life better. That keeps me going."