Private Cystolithlapaxy (Bladder Stone Removal)

1. Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that  surgery is advisable. A private surgeon can also confirm the diagnosis if needed.
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2. Research.
   • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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3. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
   • We recommend booking 2 - 4 consultations with different surgeons to better understand your options.
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4. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical (and non-surgical) options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
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6. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.

How long bladder stone removal takes depends mostly on stone size/number and whether it’s done with a scope (most common) or through a small incision (less common).

Most common (scope removal: cystolitholapaxy)

• Operating time is often 30–90 minutes.
• Plan to be at the centre half a day for check‑in, anaesthesia, surgery, and recovery.

Less common (open or small‑incision bladder stone removal)

• Operating time can be 60–120+ minutes.
• Some patients may need a longer stay depending on the clinic and situation.

Basic steps (what actually happens)

Check‑in and plan

• You meet the nurse, anaesthesia team, and urologist.
• They review your imaging (ultrasound/CT) and confirm the plan, including whether a catheter is expected.

Anaesthesia

• Usually general anaesthesia (you’re asleep).
• Sometimes a spinal anaesthetic is used, depending on the centre.

Position and prep

• You’re positioned safely on a padded table.
• The area is cleaned with antiseptic and covered with sterile drapes.

Scope into the bladder (no outside cuts)

• A thin camera (cystoscope) goes through the urethra into the bladder.
• Saline fluid is used to gently fill the bladder so the surgeon can see clearly.

Break the stone and remove pieces

• The stone is broken into smaller fragments (often with a laser or ultrasonic tool).
• The fragments are washed out and/or removed with tiny graspers.

Finish up (catheter if needed)

• The surgeon checks the bladder for leftover fragments and bleeding.
• A temporary urinary catheter may be placed at the end.

Wake‑up and discharge plan

• You wake up in recovery, get instructions, and (for most scope cases) go home the same day with a ride.

Everyone heals a bit differently, so your surgeon’s instructions come first. Bladder stone removal is usually a scope procedure, so recovery is often faster than “big” surgery, but your bladder can feel irritated for a while.

In general, what to expect

First 1–3 days

What it feels like

• Burning or stinging when you urinate
• Feeling like you need to urinate often (even if not much comes out)
• Pink urine or small bits of blood
• Mild cramping low in your belly

Main goals

• Keep urine flowing
• Control pain and bladder spasms
• Stay hydrated

Typical activities

• Drink plenty of water
• Short, easy walks around the house
• Avoid heavy lifting, intense exercise, and straining on the toilet

Days 4–10

What it feels like

• Burning and urgency should slowly improve
• Urine should trend from pink back to yellow
• You may still feel “bladder cranky,” especially after activity

Main goals

• Return to normal routines without overdoing it
• Finish any prescribed meds (like antibiotics) exactly as directed

Typical activities

• Light daily tasks and school/desk work if you feel up to it
• Keep avoiding heavy lifting and high‑impact workouts until cleared

Weeks 2–4

What it feels like

• Most irritation fades
• Urinating should feel more normal and less urgent

Main goals

• Get back to your usual schedule
• Follow up with your urologist, especially if they want repeat imaging or stone analysis results

If you go home with a catheter (sometimes)

• The catheter drains urine so your bladder can settle down.
• It’s usually temporary, and you’ll be told when and how it comes out.

Red flags — call your team immediately

• Fever or chills, or feeling very unwell
• You cannot urinate at all, or the catheter stops draining
• Dark red “tomato juice” urine, large clots, or bleeding that keeps getting worse
• Severe lower belly pain/pressure (could be retention)
• Vomiting and you can’t keep fluids down

Most people feel noticeably better as the bladder lining calms down and the irritation from the stone and instruments settles.

Pricing depends on stone size/number, whether it’s done by scope (most common), what anaesthesia is used, and whether you need extra procedures (like treating a blockage at the same time). Always ask for a written, itemized quote.

For a typical scope procedure (cystolitholapaxy / cystoscopic bladder stone removal),  Canadian private centres charge: $6,000–CA$12,000+

If it’s a very large stone or requires a more complex approach (or longer OR time), costs can be higher.

How much does it cost in the United States (average)?

In the United States, total charges can be higher: CA$7,000–CA$20,000+

What’s usually included in the cost?

Most bundled/private quotes typically include:

• Surgeon fee
• Anaesthesia and monitoring (often general anaesthesia)
• Facility/OR fees and nursing care
• Standard equipment and supplies (scope use, stone‑breaking tools, irrigation)
• Immediate post‑procedure recovery care
• Often one routine follow‑up visit

What’s often not included?

These are commonly separate or outside the package:

• Initial consult and pre‑op workup done elsewhere (urine tests, bloodwork, CT/ultrasound)
• Extra OR time beyond the booked block or an unplanned overnight stay
• Prescriptions after the procedure (pain meds, antibiotics)
• Catheter supplies (if you go home with one)
• Repeat imaging to confirm clearance (sometimes)
• Travel and accommodation if you’re coming from another province/state
• Treating the underlying cause (for example BPH treatment) if it’s done as a separate procedure/booking

Choosing your surgeon is one of the biggest benefits of going private—here's how to use it to your advantage.

What to look for

Experience and volume

• Ask how many bladder stone removals they do per year (not just “urology scopes”).
• Ask what they commonly treat alongside stones, like BPH (enlarged prostate), catheters, or incomplete emptying, because these are common causes.

Credentials and training

• Verify they’re licensed with your provincial college (CPSO, CPSBC, CPSA, CMQ, etc.).
• Look for an FRCSC‑certified urologist with a strong endourology practice (lots of scope procedures).

Imaging and planning

A good clinic should review your imaging and itemize:

• Stone size, number, and location (CT or ultrasound)
• Whether you’re retaining urine (bladder scan / post‑void residual)
• Whether there’s a likely cause (BPH, stricture, neurogenic bladder, catheter use)

Surgical plan and tools

Ask how they plan to remove the stone:

• Scope approach through the urethra vs a small incision (rare, usually only for very large stones)
• How they break the stone (laser vs ultrasound/pneumatic tool)
• Whether a catheter is expected after, and for how long

Outcomes and safety

Ask for practical, real‑world numbers:

• How often patients need a second procedure for leftover fragments
• Infection/ER return rates in their recent cases
• Their plan for antibiotics if your urine culture isn’t clear

Facility quality

• Prefer an accredited surgical centre (Accreditation Canada, CAAASF, or provincial equivalent).
• Confirm they have proper sterile processing, modern scopes, and clear emergency backup/transfer pathways.

Aftercare and follow‑through

The best clinics don’t just remove the stone—they connect the dots:

• Will they send the stone for analysis?
• Will they address likely causes (for example, BPH treatment, catheter strategy, or bladder emptying issues)?
• Is follow‑up imaging included to confirm the bladder is clear?

Questions to ask at your consult

• How many bladder stone removals do you do each year?
• Based on my imaging, what’s the plan (scope vs incision), and why?
• Will I likely need a catheter? How is removal handled and is it included?
• How do you reduce infection risk (urine testing, antibiotics plan)?
• What’s included in the quote, and what is not included?

A high‑quality bladder stone program is organized, transparent, high‑volume with scopes, and has a clear plan to remove the stone and deal with the reason it formed.