Sleep through the night again. No surgery.
PAE shrinks an enlarged prostate through a pinhole in the wrist or groin. It’s an outpatient procedure, you go home the same day, and there’s no cutting or hospital stay.
Sound familiar?
These are common signs of an enlarged prostate, also called BPH. It isn’t cancer, and you don’t have to just live with it.
to use the bathroom
that takes forever
that can’t wait
even right after you go
around where the restrooms are
or side effects you don’t like
Shrink the prostate, open the flow
As the prostate grows, it squeezes the tube that carries urine out of your body. PAE cuts back its blood supply, so it shrinks and softens and that pressure is relieved.
How PAE compares
Medication and surgery both help many men. PAE is an option in between: it’s less invasive than surgery and doesn’t mean taking pills every day.
Daily medication
- Commitment
- Pills every day, usually for life
- Possible side effects
- Dizziness, fatigue, sexual and ejaculation changes
- Downtime
- None
- Good for
- Milder symptoms
PAE
Offered at EMIS- Commitment
- One outpatient procedure
- Anesthesia
- Local numbing and moderate sedation, with no general anesthesia
- Sexual side effects
- Rare
- Downtime
- Home the same day, and most men are back to normal activity within a few days
Surgery (TURP)
- Commitment
- Operating room procedure
- Anesthesia
- General or spinal
- Sexual side effects
- Changes in ejaculation are common
- Downtime
- Often an overnight stay and a urinary catheter afterward
Every patient is different. Dr. Patel will go over your options with you at your consultation, and PAE is included in the American Urological Association’s guidelines as a treatment option for BPH.
From first call to feeling better
Dr. Lincoln Patel, MD
Dr. Patel founded EMIS and is its Chief Interventional Radiologist. Interventional radiologists are specialists who use imaging to treat conditions through a pinhole instead of an incision.
Dr. Patel is board certified in radiology and completed his fellowship in interventional radiology at UT Southwestern. In more than 20 years of practice he has performed hundreds of embolizations throughout the body, making him one of the most experienced interventional radiologists in the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
I offer PAE because it is truly life-changing. A man shouldn’t have to choose between living his life and keeping his sexual health, and with PAE there’s no long recovery and no catheter afterward. In my opinion, this is the procedure that will lead prostate care into the future. It has the fewest side effects, it’s extremely effective, and recovery is minimal.
What sets us apart from other vascular centers
In their own words
“Dr. Patel, I looked over and the clock said 6:30 in the morning. I cannot remember the last time I slept through the night. Does it really keep getting better?”
“I had been self-cathing for 19 years, six times a day. Now I only have to self-cath once at night, so I don’t have to wake up to go to the bathroom.”
Individual results vary. Patients shared their experiences voluntarily.
Common questions
Does PAE hurt?+
You’re given moderate sedation to keep you comfortable, without general anesthesia, and the entry site is numbed. Most men describe a small pinch at the start. Afterward, some have mild pelvic discomfort or burning for a few days, which usually settles with simple medication.
Will it affect my sex life?+
Protecting sexual function is one of the main reasons men choose PAE. Nothing is cut or removed, and erectile or ejaculation problems after PAE are uncommon.
Is it covered by insurance?+
Most insurance plans cover PAE, and our team will verify your benefits and get authorization before scheduling. If insurance isn’t an option, we offer a cash price.
How soon will I notice a difference?+
Many men notice changes within the first few weeks, and improvement continues over the following months as the prostate shrinks.
Do I need a referral from my urologist?+
No referral is required. You can call us directly to schedule your free consultation, and we’re happy to coordinate with your urologist or primary care doctor.
Who is a good candidate?+
Men with bothersome urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate, especially if medication hasn’t helped or caused side effects, or who want to avoid surgery. If you’ve been told you’re too old or too high-risk for surgery, you may be an excellent candidate, because PAE is minimally invasive and needs no general anesthesia. A consultation and imaging confirm whether PAE fits you.
