In another study, no ILC patient became incontinent or impotent, and only one developed retrograde ejaculation. And because the fiber is designed to treat a specific area of prostate tissue, the risk of damage to surrounding tissue of the prostate and urethra may be minimized, reducing your risk of complications. The ILC procedure The ILC procedure can be performed in an outpatient setting or in the hospital, whichever your doctor feels is best. Before treatment begins, you'll receive an anesthetic. One benefit of ILC is that it can be performed under a variety of anesthetics - an option you should discuss with your doctor.
Some patients require only local anesthesia.
The urologist will then insert a cystoscope, with which he or she can view the prostate using a direct telescopic view. The cystoscope is inserted through the urethra. Once the doctor determines the area for coagulation, the special fiber is inserted directly into the prostate through the cystoscope. The laser is then switched on and energy is delivered to a precise area of prostate tissue for about three minutes. The process is repeated several times to several different areas of the prostate.