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UroLift vs Rezum — How They Compare
Two leading minimally invasive BPH therapies with different mechanisms and different candidate profiles.
How they work
UroLift: Permanent implants pull the lateral lobes of the prostate apart, mechanically opening the urethra. No tissue is heated, cut, or removed.
Rezum: Sterile water vapor causes targeted necrosis of obstructing tissue, which the body reabsorbs over 3 months.
Candidacy differences
- Median lobe: UroLift was traditionally avoided in significant median lobes; expanded indications now permit it. Rezum treats median lobes effectively.
- Prostate size: Both indicated up to ~80 g.
- Catheter goals: UroLift often catheter-free same day. Rezum usually requires 3–7 days.
Recovery and onset
UroLift: Symptom improvement within days. Return to work very fast.
Rezum: Symptom improvement begins around 2 weeks, peaks at 3 months as the body resorbs treated tissue.
Sexual side effects
Both preserve antegrade ejaculation in the vast majority. UroLift trial data show essentially no new ejaculatory dysfunction.
Durability
Both have 5-year follow-up with re-treatment rates in the 10–15% range — higher than TURP but with markedly better sexual-function preservation.
Cost considerations
Per-procedure costs are similar in most markets. Disposable implant cost (UroLift) versus disposable generator/needle cost (Rezum) drive most of the difference.