How Safe is Green Light Laser Surgery for BPH?

I am 63 years old and had Green Light Surgery on Dec 12 after being on Flow Max for serveral years. I was a bit conserned with the comments I had read on several forums but concluded you only see the bad comments . I had a young Dr that had preformed Aprox 700 of these surgeries and I trusted him . I knew it would not be fun but I wanted relief form the constant sense of urgency and getting up at night several times. I was willing to accept retrograde ejulaction with assurance that in would not reduce my pleasure. I was in the hospitial one night as I had alot of bleeding . I had a cather for the time I was in the hospitial. When they removed the cather I was able to go right away with a fair amount of bleeding and moderate discomfort. I was on antibotics and stoolsoftner as you dont want to get bound up at this stage of recovery.I had burning in the head of the penis

After the fourth day of taking it easy ( I was kind of tired) the bleeding became MUCH less and only at the end of the stream . The ugrency was worse than before the surgery and I still had a lot of discomfort when going and just after for about ten min. Stream was disapointing

One Week out the sense of urgency improved alot as the Dr explained the blatter needed time to adjust and the prostrate is just a little pissed at you (no Pun intended). Bleeding was just slightly at the end of stream and the stream was much stronger . Mornings erections returned and I waas getting friskie.

Day 12 Things are greatly improved .Did not get up once last night and stream is very strong. Very little discomfort left and no signs of bleeding. Ask the Dr about sex and he indicated that when I felt comfortable enought doing it it would be ok . I will take the plung soon .

I am very happy with the results of this surgery . Any surgery has risk but it is a matter of Risk to reward and So far The rewards are great . Also with any surgery you need to give the body a chance to recover . I still expect some small amount of bleading for several months . Different people recover at different rates . Good luck if you are anticipating this surgery and dont listen to all the Negitive stuff there is lots of good results.

Green Light Laser is one of the most common minimally invasive procedures that are performed for relief of the symptoms that are associated with BPH. The effects of this procedure are very similar to those that are achieved with the more traditional TURP (transurethral resection of the prosate) but is associated with fewer side effects, shorter periods of catheterization, quicker recovery, and no need for hospitalization. In essence, the effects of the laser can easily be compared to removing the pulp of an orange and leaving the rind behind.

Less than 1% of patient will experience erectile dysfunction after the procedure, and 1/3 of the patients have retrograde ejaculation after the procedure. Some of the common side effects include mild burning with urination. Although incontinence can occur with this procedure, it is very uncommon, especially when it is performed by an experienced Urologist.

Thank you Tom and Dr Jay Matola for your answers.

I did have the surgery on October 19 2008 and all went very well.

I was in hospital overnight and after I urinated twice without the catheter was allowed home.

One thing is worrying me: if I don't urinate when I feel the usual urge to it reaches a point of extreme urgency - not the normal kind that I had before the onset of BPH. In fact if I don't rush then I know that I will be in trouble.

Is this normal?

Apart from that, the flow is far better than it was but the urination is shorter (in time) than it was before BPH, and I do wake up once at night.

Will these symptoms go away (it has now been 3 months) or should I go back to my urologist?

I had BPH Green light prostate surgery 8 weeks ago.  I still get up at least twice a night at urinate and I'm still leaking during the day (unless I'm seated) I have been wearing Depends for 2 months.  Will it ever get better?  Is there somewhere I can go for relief??

Who and where are top practitioners of green light laser surgery for BPH in the Boston area?

what are the complications of this surgery