Private Rezūm

Rezūm commonly takes about 10–30 minutes, although total time at the clinic is longer for check-in, preparation, anaesthesia or sedation, recovery, and catheter teaching.

Basic steps

Assessment and confirmation

• The team confirms your symptoms, medications, urine results, prostate anatomy, treatment goals, and consent. Active urinary infection should be treated before the procedure.

Anaesthesia and comfort plan

• Depending on the clinic, you may receive local freezing around the prostate, medication to reduce anxiety, light intravenous sedation, or another anaesthetic plan. General anaesthesia is usually not required but may be used in selected settings.

Positioning and sterile preparation

• You lie on your back with your legs supported. The genital area is cleaned, and numbing gel may be placed in the urethra.

Device insertion

• The urologist gently passes the Rezūm instrument through the urethra to view the prostate and bladder outlet.

Water vapour treatments

• A small needle delivers brief doses of vapour into targeted areas of enlarged tissue. The number of treatments depends on prostate anatomy, including whether a median lobe is present.

Final check

• The device is removed. The urologist checks for bleeding and confirms the catheter plan.

Catheter placement

• Many people leave with a temporary urinary catheter because swelling can make urination difficult. A common plan is several days, but the duration may be longer with a larger prostate, urinary retention, weak bladder function, or significant swelling.

Recovery and discharge

• You are observed until it is safe to leave. The team reviews catheter care, medications, activity limits, expected urinary symptoms, and warning signs. Arrange a ride if you received sedation.

Every recovery is different. Follow your urologist’s instructions if they differ from this general guide. Rezūm works gradually, so early irritation does not mean the treatment has failed.

First 24–72 hours

What it may feel like

• Burning or stinging with urination
• Urgency, frequency, or bladder spasms
• Pelvic, perineal, or penile discomfort
• Pink urine or a small amount of blood
• Tiredness after sedation
• Catheter discomfort or urine leaking around the catheter

Goals

• Keep urine draining
• Control discomfort
• Rest and walk gently
• Prevent constipation and straining

Drink fluids as directed. More is not always better for people with heart or kidney conditions, so follow your care team’s plan.

Week 1

Symptoms may be temporarily worse because the prostate is swollen. Many people have a catheter for part of this period.

• Take prescribed medicines as directed.
• Walk several short times each day.
• Avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, cycling, and activities that put pressure on the perineum.
• Limit caffeine, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and spicy or acidic foods if they worsen urgency.
• Keep the catheter bag below bladder level and prevent kinks in the tubing.
• Do not pull on or remove the catheter unless instructed.

Ask when sexual activity can resume. Many clinicians recommend waiting until bleeding and significant discomfort have settled.

Weeks 2–4

Burning, urgency, frequency, and small amounts of blood may come and go. Some people notice early improvement, while others still feel irritated.

Goals: Resume light routines, keep bowel movements easy, and avoid activities that trigger bleeding or pelvic discomfort.

Many people can return to desk work within several days, but catheter use, sleep disruption, or urinary urgency may make a longer break more comfortable.

Weeks 5–12

Urine flow and bladder emptying often improve as treated tissue shrinks. Nighttime urination and urgency may take longer to settle because the bladder has adapted to obstruction over time.

Your urologist may repeat:

• International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)
• Urine-flow testing
• Post-void residual measurement
• Urinalysis or urine culture if symptoms suggest infection

Months 3–6

Improvement may continue for several months. Not every urinary symptom comes from the prostate, so urgency, frequency, or nighttime urination may persist if overactive bladder, diabetes, sleep apnea, excess evening fluids, or another condition is contributing.

Helpful tips

• Plan for the catheter: Use loose clothing and ask for written instructions before leaving.
• Prevent constipation: Fluids, fibre, walking, and a stool softener may help if approved.
• Track symptoms: Note stream strength, nighttime trips, urgency, discomfort, and medication use.
• Ease bladder irritation: Reduce caffeine and alcohol while symptoms are active.
• Avoid cycling early: A bicycle seat places pressure on the healing area.
• Keep follow-up: Catheter removal and a voiding trial should happen on schedule.

Red flags—call your care team or seek urgent care

• You cannot urinate after catheter removal
• The catheter stops draining and your lower abdomen becomes painful or swollen
• Fever of 38°C or higher, chills, or feeling acutely unwell
• Heavy bleeding, large clots, or bright-red urine that does not improve
• Severe pain not controlled by the recommended medication
• Foul-smelling or cloudy urine with worsening symptoms
• Chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, or another medical emergency

Exact fees depend on the clinic, province, anaesthesia plan, testing, catheter care, and follow-up. Ask for a written, itemized quote and confirm what happens if the procedure is postponed because of infection or another finding.

Cost in Canada (private)

Typical range: $4,000 – $9,000+

Cost in the United States

Typical self-pay range: US$3,000 –$8,000+

U.S. costs vary widely by office versus hospital setting, anaesthesia, insurance, and deductible. A low advertised office price may exclude consultation, cystoscopy, ultrasound, laboratory tests, anaesthesia, catheter supplies, or follow-up. Confirm the total expected cost in writing.

What is usually included

• Urologist’s procedure fee
• Rezūm single-use device and equipment
• Procedure room or facility fee
• Nursing and monitoring
• Local anaesthesia or the clinic’s standard sedation plan
• Immediate recovery care
• Catheter insertion and basic supplies
• A standard follow-up or catheter-removal visit

What may not be included

• Initial consultation
• Urinalysis, urine culture, blood work, or ECG
• PSA testing or prostate-cancer assessment
• Ultrasound, uroflowmetry, post-void residual testing, or cystoscopy
• Anesthesiologist-administered sedation
• Prescriptions after discharge
• Additional catheter supplies or an extra voiding trial
• Emergency care, hospital transfer, or unplanned admission
• Extra follow-up visits
• Travel and accommodation

Tips for comparing quotes

Ask whether the quote includes:

• Consultation and all pre-procedure testing
• Anaesthesia or sedation
• The Rezūm device
• Facility and nursing fees
• Catheter, drainage bags, and removal
• Medications provided at the clinic
• Follow-up visits and urine-flow testing
• After-hours support
• Management of urinary retention or infection
• Taxes, if applicable to any non-medical component

Insurance and financing options

• Private health insurance: Generally do not cover this procedure. Confirm directly with the insurer before booking.
• Financing plans: Some clinics use third-party payment plans. Review interest, fees, cancellation terms, and the total amount payable.
• Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC): Eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses may qualify for a non-refundable Canadian tax credit. Learn more about how to claim the METC for private surgery and confirm eligibility with the Canada Revenue Agency or a tax professional.

Choosing a clinician is an important part of private care. Look beyond a general claim of “BPH experience” and ask about Rezūm-specific assessment, technique, catheter management, and outcomes.

Rezūm-specific experience and volume

Ask how many Rezūm procedures the urologist performs each year and how often they treat:

• Prostates similar in size to yours
• Median-lobe obstruction
• People already using a catheter
• Larger glands or anatomy outside the pivotal-trial range
• People with previous BPH procedures
• Patients travelling from another province

Volume alone does not guarantee quality. The urologist should also explain how patient selection and treatment placement affect results.

Credentials and training

• Verify active licensure with the relevant provincial college.
• Look for an FRCSC-certified urologist or an appropriately qualified urologist with training in lower urinary tract and BPH procedures.
• Ask about device-specific Rezūm training.
• Confirm hospital privileges and the clinic’s emergency-transfer pathway.

For more detail, read How to understand surgeon credentials in Canada.

Outcomes and safety

Ask for recent clinic-specific information where available:

• Change in IPSS symptom scores
• Change in urinary flow and residual urine
• Typical catheter duration
• Urinary retention after catheter removal
• Urinary tract infection rate
• Emergency visits or unplanned hospital transfers
• Stricture or bladder-neck narrowing
• New ejaculatory or erectile symptoms
• Need to restart BPH medication
• Repeat Rezūm or another BPH procedure

Published trial results provide context, but a clinic should not present them as guaranteed personal outcomes.

A careful diagnosis before treatment

A high-quality assessment should confirm that prostate obstruction is the main cause of symptoms. Depending on your history, this may include:

• Symptom score and quality-of-life discussion
• Digital rectal examination
• Urinalysis and urine culture
• PSA testing when appropriate
• Prostate size measurement by ultrasound or other imaging
• Uroflowmetry
• Post-void residual measurement
• Cystoscopy in selected cases
• Bladder-function testing when the diagnosis is unclear

The clinician should consider infection, prostate cancer, urethral stricture, bladder stones, overactive bladder, medication effects, diabetes, neurologic disease, and sleep disorders.

Candidacy and alternatives

The pivotal five-year Rezūm trial involved adults over 50 with moderate-to-severe symptoms and prostate volumes of 30–80 cc. Real-world practice may include different patients, but evidence is not equally strong for every situation.

Your urologist should compare:

• Continued monitoring and lifestyle changes
• Alpha-blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, tadalafil, or combination therapy
• UroLift or another minimally invasive option
• Aquablation
• TURP
• GreenLight laser treatment
• HoLEP or another enucleation procedure
• Simple prostatectomy for very large glands in selected cases

Ask why Rezūm fits your prostate size, shape, symptom severity, bladder function, and priorities better than these alternatives.

Treatment plan

Ask:

• How many treatment sites are expected?
• Is there a median lobe, and will it be treated?
• What anaesthesia or sedation will be used?
• Will I go home with a catheter?
• How long is the catheter expected to stay?
• What is the plan if I cannot urinate after removal?
• When should I expect early and full improvement?
• Which BPH medicines should I continue and when might they stop?

Facility and safety systems

Choose an appropriately accredited facility with:

• Sterile cystoscopy equipment and trained nursing staff
• Appropriate monitoring for the anaesthesia level used
• A clear plan for urinary retention, bleeding, infection, or an allergic reaction
• Written catheter education
• After-hours contact instructions
• A defined pathway for emergency transfer to hospital

Aftercare for out-of-province patients

Before travelling, confirm:

• How long you should remain near the clinic
• Where and when the catheter will be removed
• Who will perform a repeat voiding trial if needed
• Whether follow-up is virtual or in person
• Who manages infection, retention, or bleeding after you return home
• Whether the clinic sends an operative note and follow-up plan to your local clinician

Transparent pricing

Request an itemized quote showing the urologist, facility, device, anaesthesia, catheter, follow-up, and testing fees. Ask what could increase the total and what happens if treatment is cancelled or delayed.

Questions to ask at your Rezūm consultation

Experience and results

• How many Rezūm procedures do you perform each year?
• How often do you treat a prostate like mine?
• What are your catheter, infection, retention, and retreatment rates?

Diagnosis and fit

• What is causing my symptoms, and how confident are you that the prostate is the main problem?
• What is my prostate volume? Do I have a median lobe?
• Would medication, UroLift, Aquablation, TURP, HoLEP, or another option fit me better?

Procedure and safety

• What anaesthesia will I receive?
• How many vapour treatments do you expect to deliver?
• What is the plan if cystoscopy shows a stricture, stone, or unexpected anatomy?
• How do you manage urgent complications after hours?

Catheter and recovery

• Will I leave with a catheter, and for how long?
• Where will it be removed?
• What happens if I cannot urinate afterward?
• When can I drive, work, exercise, cycle, travel, and have sex?

Sexual and urinary outcomes

• What changes to ejaculation, erections, orgasm, urgency, or leakage are possible?
• How long should I wait before deciding whether treatment worked?
• When would you recommend medication or another procedure?

Cost and logistics

• What is included in the quote?
• Are testing, sedation, catheter supplies, removal, and follow-up included?
• What costs could arise from retention, infection, or additional visits?

Signals of a high-quality Rezūm program

• Confirms BPH and rules out other causes of urinary symptoms
• Measures prostate size and assesses median-lobe anatomy
• Explains why Rezūm fits your goals—and when it does not
• Shares realistic benefits, limitations, and retreatment possibilities
• Has a written catheter and failed-voiding-trial plan
• Operates in an appropriately accredited facility
• Provides clear after-hours support and hospital-transfer protocols
• Gives transparent, itemized pricing