California urologists promote minimally invasive prostate treatment

Prestige Medical Group in Orange County is highlighting prostate artery embolization as an option for men with urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate. The practice says coordinated urology and interventional radiology care can help patients avoid or delay more invasive surgery.

Why it matters: - Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, can disrupt sleep, travel, daily routines and overall quality of life. - Prostate artery embolization, or PAE, gives men another treatment path beyond long-term medication or traditional prostate surgery. - Prestige Medical Group is positioning coordinated evaluation and treatment as a way to match therapy to each patient’s symptoms, anatomy and priorities.

What happened: - Dr. Lamia Gabal, founder and medical director of Prestige Medical Group, and Dr. Hari Sawkar are raising awareness of PAE for men with urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate. - Prestige Medical Group says men in Orange County can receive a urologic evaluation and access to minimally invasive PAE treatment for BPH. - The practice is directing interested patients to OCBPH.com and to call (949) 825-7650 for more information.

The details: - BPH is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that can cause frequent urination, nighttime bathroom trips, urinary urgency, weak urine flow and difficulty emptying the bladder. - PAE is an image-guided procedure performed by an interventional radiologist. - During PAE, a small catheter is guided into the arteries that supply the prostate. - Microscopic particles are delivered to reduce blood flow to enlarged prostate tissue, which allows the tissue to shrink over time and relieve pressure on the urinary tract. - The procedure does not require an open surgical incision. - PAE is generally performed on an outpatient basis. - For appropriately selected patients, PAE may offer symptom relief with a shorter recovery period than traditional prostate surgery. - The American Urological Association states that PAE may be offered for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH when performed by properly trained physicians after discussion of risks and benefits. - Prestige Medical Group starts with a comprehensive urologic evaluation before recommending a procedure. - The practice considers symptoms, prostate size, medical history and treatment priorities in that evaluation. - Patients are evaluated by Dr. Gabal and Dr. Sawkar, who the practice says bring more than three decades of combined experience in urologic care. - Dr. Sawkar is a board-certified urologic surgeon trained at Northwestern University and the University of Southern California. - Dr. Sawkar specializes in robotic and minimally invasive treatment of BPH, kidney stones, prostate conditions and voiding dysfunction. - PAE procedures for Prestige Medical Group patients are performed by Dr. Theodore Bryan, a dual board-certified diagnostic and interventional radiologist with clinical and published research experience in PAE. - Dr. Gabal said a complete urologic evaluation can help patients understand all appropriate options, including minimally invasive treatments such as PAE. - Dr. Gabal said the practice’s collaborative approach is designed to evaluate the whole patient and recommend treatment based on health, symptoms, anatomy and personal priorities. - Dr. Gabal is board-certified in urology and holds subspecialty certification in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. - Dr. Gabal has more than 25 years of experience in pelvic medicine, minimally invasive procedures, sexual wellness and regenerative medicine. - Dr. Gabal has been named a Top Doctor by the Orange County Medical Association for 17 consecutive years. - Dr. Gabal is also a Principal Investigator for multiple clinical trials. - Dr. Sawkar joined Prestige Medical Group in 2025. - Dr. Sawkar graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed his urology residency at the University of Southern California. - Prestige Medical Group provides comprehensive urology, pelvic health and sexual wellness care to men and women throughout Orange County and Southern California. - The practice offers diagnostic evaluations, minimally invasive procedures, advanced surgery, regenerative therapies and access to clinical research. - The press release lists social media accounts for Prestige Medical Group on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X.

Between the lines: - The announcement blends patient education with practice marketing, but the central clinical message is that enlarged-prostate symptoms do not automatically require surgery. - By pairing urology evaluation with interventional radiology, Prestige Medical Group is emphasizing a team-based pathway for patients who may be candidates for PAE. - The reference to AUA guidance helps place PAE within a mainstream urology discussion rather than a niche offering.

What's next: - Men with frequent urination, nighttime urination, weak urine flow, urinary urgency or other symptoms of an enlarged prostate can request an evaluation at Prestige Medical Group. - Patients who are appropriate candidates may be referred into the practice’s coordinated PAE care model. - More information is available at OCBPH.com or by calling (949) 825-7650.

The bottom line: - Prestige Medical Group is using PAE awareness to steer men toward less invasive, individualized options for BPH symptoms.