GreenLight Laser Center of Excellence

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Center of Excellence

Recognized by Boston Scientific for outstanding expertise

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Minimally Invasive

Outpatient procedure with quick recovery

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Expert Experience

Leading international courses since 2011

GreenLight Laser Center of Excellence

In September of 2020 David Robbins, MD received the distinction of a Center of Excellence for GreenLight laser from Boston Scientific. The Center of Excellence designation is awarded to urologists that Boston Scientific, the manufacturer of GreenLight Laser, recognizes as having a high degree of experience with GreenLight and a commitment to delivering long-lasting effective therapy to men suffering from Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).

Dr. Robbins has been leading conferences and teaching physicians advanced techniques using GreenLight laser throughout the United States and around the world since 2011. Among the select group of physicians awarded a Center of Excellence for GreenLight laser, Dr. Robbins was the first in the state of Florida and the second in the United States to receive this prestigious distinction.

Watch: GreenLight Laser Technology Overview

Learn about GreenLight Laser technology and benefits

GreenLight Laser Therapy for Enlarged Prostate

Miami urologists Dr. David Robbins is proud to offer his patients the option of GreenLight Laser Surgery for the treatment of BPH (enlarged prostate).

How It Works

GreenLight Laser Surgery is a minimally invasive outpatient surgical option for BPH (enlarged prostate) that is performed using a video camera placed in the urethra without the need for a surgical incision. GreenLight Laser surgery combines the effectiveness of the traditional surgical procedure known as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), but with fewer side effects, shorter catheterization, and a quicker, less painful recovery. GreenLight Laser for enlarged prostate is currently considered the most advanced and minimally invasive surgical option for the definitive surgical treatment of BPH or enlarged prostate.

Advanced Treatment Benefits

GreenLight Laser surgery uses laser energy introduced via a laser fiber placed through a small camera introduced into the patient's urethra. The GreenLight Laser energy is used to vaporize and remove enlarged prostate tissue that is obstructing urine flow thereby resulting in an open and unobstructed channel for urine to flow through. Patients are able to go home the same day of the procedure and will only require a Foley catheter for a day or two after the procedure. Patients can then return to a life that's free of BPH symptoms without the need for daily prostate medications.

GreenLight Laser Therapy is typically an outpatient procedure; meaning you can return home hours after the procedure and can return to normal, non-strenuous activities within days. The GreenLight Laser system delivers the ultimate in BPH treatment — freedom from urinary symptoms, freedom from compromise, freedom to live life the way you choose.

Miami urologists Dr. Robbins and Dr. Wirtshafter have extensive experience with Green Light laser therapy for enlarged prostate and have been providing this therapy to patients in Miami and the surrounding region for years with outstanding results.

David Robbins, MD Leads International Courses for Boston Scientific Teaching GreenLight Laser Surgery for Enlarged Prostate

GreenLight laser is considered to be the most modern and minimally invasive surgical option for BPH / enlarged prostate. David Robbins, MD is among a select group of urologists in the United States that have been requested by Boston Scientific, the manufacturer of GreenLight Laser, to be part of the teaching faculty for the GreenLight Laser technology.

Dr. Robbins is the only certified instructor for GreenLight laser in South Florida. Dr. Robbins routinely leads courses teaching other urologists about the benefits of GreenLight Laser surgery for enlarged prostate. Dr. Robbins has lead lecture series and taught GreenLight Laser surgery throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and South America including Lima, Peru, Santiago, Chile, as well as Cali, Medellin, and Bogota Colombia. Dr. Robbins additionally lead one of the surgical technique courses at the American Urological Association annual meeting in San Francisco in 2018. The surgical technique developed by Dr. Robbins and his colleagues on the teaching staff at Boston Scientific is currently being used to create an international standard of care for minimally invasive GreenLight Laser BPH treatment. Dr. Robbins is also involved in the development of preoperative standard workup recommendations and a teaching curriculum for Green Light that will be used around the world.

Dr. Robbins is able to treat patients with advanced and difficult to treat BPH conditions such as those with enlarged prostates greater than 150 grams, patients in urinary retention, patients with obstruction and bladder stones, and even patients who are required to remain on blood thinners. Dr. Robbins is routinely referred patients by other urologists to handle more complex BPH patients that otherwise may have needed more invasive open surgical procedures. When choosing a surgeon to help you with your symptoms for enlarged prostate, experience does matter when it comes to optimal outcomes. Please contact us and allow us to help you relieve your bothersome symptoms of BPH / enlarged prostate.

Watch: GreenLight Laser Surgery Procedure

See the GreenLight Laser procedure in action

GreenLight Laser Technology

Advanced Laser Technology

Green Light laser vaporization photoselective vaporization therapy for BPH can be considered the most important surgical advancement in the treatment of BPH for the past three decades. The GreenLight Laser PVP system is unique in its utilization of the latest generation of high energy potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser energy delivered through a fiber optic cable. It is specifically designed for the vaporization of prostate tissue. The concept of Green Light laser vaporization is to completely eliminate prostate tissue while simultaneously photo-coagulating prostate blood vessels thereby creating an open prostatic channel without any bleeding.

How GreenLight Laser Works

The mechanism of action of the Green Light laser is through the production of laser energy with a wavelength of 532 nanometers which has a specific affinity for the pigment of hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells. When the laser energy interacts with tissue, it is converted to vapor and is then eliminated through a system of continuous irrigation through the surgeon's camera. Simultaneously, the blood vessels of the prostate are sealed by the laser because of its affinity for hemoglobin thereby virtually eliminating all bleeding and permitting the patient to go home the same day as the surgery with a catheter for as short as 1-2 days prior to being able to void spontaneously with significantly improved flow.

Superior to Traditional Methods

Another advantage to the Green Light laser is the ability to continue prostate vaporization on larger prostate glands for a prolonged period of time without having to worry about the electrolyte disturbances common to the TURP procedure. This is because the Green Light laser procedure is performed using saline irrigation as opposed to the glycine irrigation required to conduct the electrical energy used during a TURP.

Why Choose GreenLight Laser?

Therefore, according to contemporary literature and certainly urologist personal testimonial, there is no procedure better than Green Light laser to treat BPH by virtue of many significant advantages including:

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Outpatient Procedure

Ability to deliver therapy in an ambulatory care setting without the need for hospitalization

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Virtually Bloodless

Ideal for patients that are high risk or on antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy

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Rapid Recovery

Rapid improvement in symptoms and rapid recuperation and return to normal activities

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Short Catheterization

Catheterization time as short as 24-28 hours

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Proven Efficacy

Proven clinical efficacy through peer-reviewed literature and meta-analysis

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Safe & Effective

Lack of association with impotence or stress incontinence

Additional Benefits

GreenLight Laser can result in a low incidence of urethral stricture disease and bladder neck contracture which seems to be lower than that with TURP. Retrograde ejaculation (dry orgasm) is common after TURP and GreenLight Laser surgery due to the absence of antegrade propulsion of semen off the backstop of the bladder neck. This may be an important factor for young men considering GreenLight Laser and is important to discuss preoperatively.

Patient Expectations After GreenLight Laser for Enlarged Prostate

Immediate Post-Procedure

Immediately following a minimally invasive GreenLight Laser procedure, patients will have a catheter in place to drain the bladder. Patients are discharged to home following the procedure and then can follow up in the office in 1-3 days to have the catheter removed. The length of time with the catheter following the procedure is typically dictated by the size of the prostate, with extremely large prostates requiring longer postoperative catheter times.

Recovery Process

After the catheter is removed, patients should immediately notice that the strength of their urinary stream is improved given their more open prostate channel as demonstrated in the images below. Patients, however, will commonly experience mild burning with urination and frequency that may last several days. Soon after the GreenLight Laser procedure patients will begin to notice a decrease in urinary frequency and need to wake up at night to urinate as the bladder begins to relax and accommodate to a more open prostate channel without obstruction.

Before and After GreenLight Laser Vaporization of the Prostate

Results of GreenLight Laser Treatment for BPH - Before — Before: Enlarged prostate tissue obstructing urinary flow

Results of GreenLight Laser Treatment for BPH - After — After: Clear passage created by GreenLight Laser vaporization

GreenLight Laser XPS

Miami urologists Dr. David Robbins and Dr. Amery Wirtshafter are now among a select group of urologists in Miami who are able to offer their patients treatment with the GreenLight Laser XPS system. GreenLight Laser XPS is the latest cutting-edge laser therapy for the treatment of BPH with nearly twice the power output of the traditional GreenLight Laser HPS system providing for significantly improved vaporization of prostate tissue and better patient outcomes.

GreenLight Laser XPS International Patient Program

Miami urologists David Robbins MD and Amery Wirtshafter MD are recognized worldwide for their expertise in treating the most complex cases of BPH or enlarged prostate using the GreenLight Laser XPS system. Our Miami urologists have been performing GreenLight Laser surgery since the technology was first introduced and because of this long-term commitment and expertise with GreenLight Laser technology Dr. Robbins and Dr. Wirtshafter have a close relationship with American Medical Systems, the parent company of GreenLight Laser technology.

Global Patient Care

As a result of our expertise and knowledge of GreenLight Laser surgery, we have had the unique opportunity to treat patients from all around the globe. Patients have traveled to Miami for GreenLight Laser surgery with Dr. Robbins and Dr. Wirtshafter from Colombia, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Uruguay, Trinidad, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas. Our international GreenLight Laser program welcomes patients from all additional regional countries including Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and Costa Rica. Please feel free to contact us to inquire about our international program for GreenLight Laser XPS procedures.

Dr. Robbins Teaching GreenLight Laser Surgery In Peru and Chile 2015

Inside Health GreenLight Laser for Prostate

GreenLight Patient Testimonials

Remarkable Patient Success Story

We're proud to share an extraordinary outcome from one of our GreenLight Laser procedures. A patient who had been dependent on catheterization five times daily for 25 years experienced complete resolution of their symptoms following GreenLight Laser Vaporization of the Prostate.

This remarkable transformation demonstrates the life-changing potential of GreenLight Laser therapy for BPH patients. The patient now enjoys normal urinary function and significantly improved quality of life.

Dr. Robbins' extensive experience as an international instructor for GreenLight Laser procedures, combined with our Center of Excellence designation, ensures patients receive the highest standard of care and optimal outcomes.

Watch Full Testimonial on Instagram

"Dr. Robbins, just a little note to express to you my gratitude and admiration for the excellent results on the Green Laser Light surgery you performed on me due to my BPH problem about eleven months ago. After the surgery, I followed all your instructions and after approximately one and half months of my surgery, I was completely recuperated. I feel very good, never get up at night for any reason and all my BPH problems are gone. Thank you very much for your knowledge and professionalism, you are great."

"Dr. Robbins: six hundred characters are not nearly enough to express my deep appreciation for your help. Putting aside your undeniable expertise, I found that for me your most valuable asset is your ability to project your own confidence in your knowledge and talents onto your patient and help him face what is a rather traumatic experience with less of the fear that any surgical procedure usually inspires."

"I really can't say enough good things about the laser procedures performed as an outpatient at Aventura Hospital by Dr. David Robbins. After just about a week from having the procedures, I am completely free of any pain or discomfort, being able to do my normal work and perform my usual routine. I am a very active 76-year-old male."

"Wow, what a difference. I doubt I could have put out a cigarette before, now I can extinguish a forest fire. I went from being one of those crappy leaky squirt guns to a super soaker. Racehorses are jealous of the way I pee now. Wish I done it sooner. The anticipation was way worse than the reality of the surgery."

"Dear Dr. Robbins - I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for such a positive experience this past week when my husband had surgery to remove his bladder stones and treat his enlarged prostate. We dreaded the whole thing and had postponed the inevitable long past the time when he should have dealt with it."

"Le escribo desde Uruguay para contarle que la evolución de la cirugía ha sido muy satisfactoria. He mejorado mucho los síntomas previos y siento que sigue mejorando. Aprovecho para darle nuevamente las gracias, no solo por su calidad técnica, sino también por habernos hecho sentir en todo momento muy tranquilos y contenidos."