If you have been told you have an enlarged prostate, you may be weighing up your options for benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. Aquablation therapy, offered by Professor Prokar Dasgupta under the name Hydros, is a robotically guided, heat-free treatment designed to relieve troublesome urinary symptoms while protecting continence and sexual function. This article explains how Aquablation therapy works, who it suits, and what results patients can expect.
What Is Aquablation Therapy?
Aquablation therapy is an advanced, minimally invasive treatment for BPH. It uses real-time imaging, robotic guidance, and a heat-free waterjet to remove excess prostate tissue with precision. Unlike older techniques that rely on heat energy to cut or vaporise tissue, Aquablation therapy avoids heat altogether, which is one reason it is associated with low rates of irreversible complications such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
BPH is not prostate cancer. It happens when the prostate grows larger than normal and presses on the urethra, making it harder to pass urine and, over time, placing strain on the bladder. Left untreated, this can affect bladder and kidney function, and long-term use of medication to manage symptoms has also been linked to a higher risk of heart failure and dementia. For many men, Aquablation therapy offers a way to address the underlying problem rather than simply managing symptoms.
How Does Aquablation Therapy Work?
Aquablation therapy is carried out in two main stages during a single procedure.
Step 1: Creating a Personalised Surgical Map
Using two forms of imaging in the operating theatre, your surgeon builds a detailed, three-dimensional picture of your entire prostate rather than viewing it through a narrow scope. This allows a personalised treatment plan to be mapped out in advance, marking exactly which tissue needs to be removed and which structures, such as those controlling continence and ejaculation, should be preserved.
Step 2: Robotic Waterjet Tissue Removal
Once the plan is set, a robotically controlled, heat-free waterjet removes the mapped prostate tissue consistently and predictably. Because the robotic system executes the plan rather than relying solely on manual technique, treatment can be more precise across prostates of different sizes and shapes, including those with an obstructive median lobe.
Benefits of Aquablation Therapy Over Other Treatments
Choosing a treatment for BPH often feels like a trade-off between symptom relief and side effects. Clinical studies of Aquablation therapy have reported:
- A significant improvement in BPH symptom scores (IPSS)
- A meaningful increase in urinary flow rate
- High rates of preserved continence
- High rates of preserved erectile function
- Strong rates of preserved ejaculation
These outcomes matter because many men delay treatment out of concern for their sexual function. Aquablation therapy is designed specifically to reduce that trade-off, giving men effective, long-lasting relief without necessarily compromising the things that matter most to their quality of life.
Is Aquablation Therapy (Hydros) Right for You?
Aquablation therapy may be suitable whether your prostate is small or large, and regardless of whether it has a lobe protruding into the bladder. The best way to find out if it is right for you is a consultation, where your surgeon can assess your prostate size and shape, discuss your symptoms, and talk through what matters most to you, whether that is symptom relief, recovery time, or preserving sexual function.
Useful questions to bring to your consultation include how large your prostate is, whether it has a median lobe, and whether you are likely to maintain sexual function with medication or other procedures compared with Aquablation therapy.
About Professor Prokar Dasgupta
Professor Prokar Dasgupta is a consultant urological surgeon and academic urologist based in London, known for his work in robotic and minimally invasive urological surgery. Patients considering Aquablation therapy, or Hydros, are assessed individually to determine whether the treatment is an appropriate option for their specific case.
Book a Consultation for Aquablation Therapy
If an enlarged prostate is affecting your daily life, you do not have to accept it as something to simply manage. Aquablation therapy, delivered as the Hydros treatment, offers a modern, minimally invasive route to lasting relief. Contact the clinic today to arrange a consultation and find out whether Aquablation therapy is the right option for you.