Traveling to Utah for HoLEP Surgery

The HoLEP you've been looking for — even if it's not in your state.

Fewer than 200 urologists nationwide perform HoLEP at high volume. If there isn't one near you, it's often worth the trip. A coordinated travel pathway, same-day catheter removal, and nearly 1,000 HoLEP cases performed.

Three reasons to consider the trip.

HoLEP is not something every urologist performs. It has a steep learning curve — most experts agree that a surgeon needs around 40–50 cases before reaching competency, and ideally several hundred to reach true expertise. That creates a real access problem in many markets.

Volume matters more than you'd think.

Surgical outcomes in HoLEP scale strongly with volume. A surgeon who does 10 HoLEPs a year and one who does 200 a year are doing fundamentally different levels of procedure. Durability, continence outcomes, and complication rates all improve significantly with volume.

Your prostate may be too large for what's available locally.

Many minimally-invasive BPH procedures (UroLift, Rezūm, Aquablation) have size limits. For prostates over 80–100 grams, HoLEP is often the only durable option. Some patients are told they need open simple prostatectomy when HoLEP would work better with no incision and faster recovery.

You've already tried and want a durable fix.

Patients who've already had TURP, UroLift, Rezūm, or years on medications often come to HoLEP for durability. <5% of HoLEP patients ever need another BPH procedure — the lowest retreatment rate of any BPH surgery.

From first call to flying home — the coordinated process.

Travel for surgery only works if the logistics are handled. Here's exactly how a typical out-of-state HoLEP patient goes from first phone call to post-op — most of which doesn't require being in Utah.

Weeks 4–8 before surgery

Initial phone or video consultation

A 20–30 minute consult with Dr. Childs by phone or video. We discuss your symptoms, prior evaluations, medications, prostate size (if you have recent imaging), and whether HoLEP is likely to be the right answer. No travel needed for this step.

Weeks 2–6 before surgery

Record review and preoperative planning

Our office requests records from your local urologist or PCP — recent labs, prior imaging, and any previous procedure reports. If anything is missing (most commonly a recent prostate size on MRI or ultrasound), we coordinate with your local team to get it done near home rather than making you fly in early.

Weeks 1–3 before surgery

Insurance verification and cost estimate

Our team verifies your benefits. Because the surgery happens in Utah, your in-network status depends on your specific plan — we check that for you and give you a clear estimate in writing before you commit. Medicare and most major commercial plans work; some narrow-network HMOs don't. We tell you either way, honestly, up front.

1–2 days before surgery

Arrival in Salt Lake City

You fly into Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and check into a hotel near the surgical facility. Same-day or next-day in-person pre-op visit with Dr. Childs to review the plan and perform any final examination.

Day of surgery

HoLEP performed at an Intermountain Health facility

The procedure takes 60–120 minutes depending on prostate size. You'll recover in PACU, have the catheter removed before discharge in most cases, urinate successfully, and return to your hotel the same day. A travel companion is required to drive you for the first 24 hours.

Day 2–3 post-op

Post-operative check

A brief in-office visit confirming you're urinating well, not retaining, and ready to travel. Most patients fly home on day 2 or 3. We provide detailed written discharge instructions plus Dr. Childs's direct line for any questions that come up after you're home.

Weeks 4–8 after surgery

Follow-up via telehealth

Your 4–6 week follow-up is done by video. We coordinate with your local urologist or PCP for any bloodwork or in-person exams you need. Most patients never need to return to Utah after their initial trip.

What the 3–4 days in Utah actually look like.

The most common concern among travel patients is simply: "how long do I actually need to be there?" Here's the realistic timeline, assuming routine surgery and recovery.

Day 0Travel In

Fly into SLC. Check into hotel. Light dinner, early bed. No food or drink after midnight if surgery is first thing in the morning.

Day 1Surgery

Arrive at the surgical facility 2 hours before procedure. Surgery itself takes 60–120 minutes. Recovery in PACU. Catheter typically removed before discharge. Home to hotel by afternoon. Rest, hydrate, eat light.

Day 2Recovery

Low-key day. Walk a little. Expect mild burning with urination and pink-tinged urine — both completely normal. Often a brief post-op visit in the afternoon.

Day 3Fly Home

Most patients fly home on day 3. Middle-aisle seat, compression socks, stand up during the flight. A car ride to the airport is typically very tolerable. Wear loose pants.

Day 4+Home Recovery

Continue the recovery plan from home. Pink-tinged urine and mild urgency for 4–6 weeks are normal. Back to desk work most commonly within 3–7 days.

Where to stay, how to get around, who to bring.

A few practical details that make the trip easier. Our front desk can help with any of this when you call.

Flying in

Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is the closest major airport, 20–25 minutes from the office and surgical facilities. Delta's largest hub outside Atlanta, with direct flights from most major U.S. cities.

Rental cars are easy. Uber and Lyft are widely available. Some patients arrive by private vehicle — especially those within a day's drive (Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico).

Where to stay

Several good hotel options near the surgical facilities:

Hyatt Place West Jordan — closest to the office
Hampton Inn Sandy / Hampton Inn South Jordan
Homewood Suites by Hilton — longer stays
Marriott properties in South Jordan

We recommend booking something with an elevator, continental breakfast, and proximity to a grocery store. Drive time to the surgical facility should be under 20 minutes.

Travel companion

Bring a spouse, adult child, or trusted friend. You'll need someone to drive you home from surgery, help the first 24 hours, and be available during the procedure itself. This isn't optional — most anesthesia providers won't discharge you without a named driver.

If you absolutely must travel alone, arrangements can be made with local medical transport services — but we strongly recommend bringing someone.

Insurance and cost

Most patients use Medicare or major commercial insurance. We verify benefits before your trip and provide a written cost estimate. Common scenarios:

Medicare patients: usually straightforward — Medicare is portable and accepted.
Commercial PPO plans: usually work; we confirm before you commit.
Narrow-network HMOs: may not cover out-of-network. We tell you before you travel.
Cash-pay option: available for patients who prefer to pay directly.

Questions we hear most from travel patients.

Is it really safe to fly 2–3 days after prostate surgery?

Yes, for routine HoLEP with uncomplicated recovery. The main concerns with air travel post-surgery are blood clots (mitigated by compression socks and moving in the aisle) and catheter management (usually not an issue since the catheter is typically out before you leave Utah). Thousands of HoLEP travel patients do this without issue every year. We'll give you specific guidance based on your case.

What if I have a problem after I get home?

You'll have Dr. Childs's direct line for the first 30 days. For issues that can be handled from Utah — medication questions, recovery concerns, most non-emergencies — we manage it directly by phone or video. For anything urgent requiring in-person care, we coordinate with your local urologist or PCP and, if needed, find a local specialist who can see you. Serious post-op complications after HoLEP are uncommon, but we build a safety net ahead of time so you're not scrambling if something comes up.

Can my local urologist stay involved in my care?

Absolutely — and we encourage it. We send your local urologist a complete consult note, procedure note, and post-op plan. They handle your ongoing BPH follow-up and PSA surveillance after you return home. The goal is a seamless handoff, not a competing relationship.

How much does the whole trip actually cost beyond the surgery?

Budget roughly $1,000–$2,500 for travel expenses depending on distance, accommodations, and meals, for a 3–4 day trip for two. Flights from most U.S. cities to SLC are $300–$600 round-trip. Hotels run $130–$220 per night. Rental car optional. Meals modest. Most patients report the total out-of-pocket travel cost being a small fraction of what they'd spend annually on BPH medication — and HoLEP is one-and-done.

My local urologist said I should have TURP instead. Why would HoLEP be better?

TURP is a good procedure performed by thousands of urologists. The data favoring HoLEP over TURP is strongest for larger prostates (over about 80 grams), men on blood thinners, and patients who want the most durable result. If your local urologist is high-volume with TURP and your prostate is moderate in size (40–70g), staying local for TURP is a reasonable choice. If your prostate is larger, or if durability and the lowest retreatment rate matter to you, HoLEP is worth the trip. We give you an honest answer on the initial phone consult.

I'm on blood thinners (Eliquis, Xarelto, warfarin). Am I still a candidate?

Yes, and this is actually an area where HoLEP has a real advantage. HoLEP can be performed safely on patients who need to stay on anticoagulation, or with shorter interruptions than other prostate procedures require. We coordinate the anticoagulation plan with your cardiologist or hematologist ahead of time.

I already had a TURP / UroLift / Rezūm that didn't work. Can HoLEP still help?

Yes. HoLEP is one of the best options for salvage BPH surgery after a failed first procedure. In fact, a meaningful portion of our volume consists of men who've had something else first. The surgery is slightly more complex in these cases but the durability and outcomes are excellent.

What if I'm flying in from somewhere that isn't the continental US?

We see a steady flow of patients traveling from Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and occasionally further. The logistics are a bit more involved but the pathway is the same. Build in an extra day on each end for travel. International patients should confirm US entry eligibility and insurance coverage for medical travel ahead of time.

The HoLEP you've been looking for — even if it's not in your state.