“It was a living hell, a living nightmare.” Larry Schwartz is describing the excruciating pain he experienced as a result of an enlarged prostate. Larry who works as an events planner said at times the pain was paralyzing.
“I could not pass my urine and I had a blockage,” says Larry.

Half of all men over the age of 50 will develop an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. But a breakthrough FDA approved laser treatment called the GreenLight PV Laser System is offering men like Larry tremendous relief.
“The idea behind the green light laser is to remove obstructing prostate tissue,” explains urologist, Dr. Eric Margolis of Englewood Medical Center.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that forms part of the male reproductive system. The prostate secretes fluid that carries sperm. It surrounds the urethra, the canal which carries urine from the bladder out of the body.
With age and time, the prostate enlarges causing pressure on the urethra.
“Symptoms are difficulty with urination, and that can take the form of obstructive type symptoms, where the patient has a poor stream, a poor flow and they feel like they’re straining and the stream starts and stops. Another set of symptoms can be more irritating. These are frequency, urgency, the need to get up three, four times or more at night,” says Dr. Margolis.
The GreenLight Laser directs high energy pulses of green light at the prostate, which is absorbed in the blood of prostate tissue. The light pulses quickly and gently, vaporizing and removing the obstructive prostate tissue.
Dr. Margolis says the outpatient procedure allows patients to return home several hours after treatment. The procedure is performed with minimal anesthesia, is virtually bloodless and eliminates the need for invasive surgery.
“Patients afterwards are able to urinate almost immediately,” reports Dr. Margolis.
Larry, who had the procedure just months ago is thrilled to be back in top form, planning his events. “It saved my life and my happiness,” says Larry.
According to Dr. Margolis side effects are minimal. The risk of bleeding is extremely rare, but of course as with any procedure, there is a risk of infection.

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