Optilume® Urethral Stricture Treatment in NYC

What it is

Break the cycle of repeat procedures.

A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra caused by scar tissue, and it tends to return. Traditional endoscopic treatments — dilation and direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) — stretch or cut the narrowed segment, but the scar frequently grows back, leading to repeat procedures with diminishing results.

Optilume® takes a different approach. It is a small balloon coated with paclitaxel, a well-established anti-scarring medication. During a short in-office procedure the balloon opens the stricture and, at the same time, delivers the medication into the urethral wall — designed to slow or stop new scar tissue from forming. It treats the narrowing and the reason it keeps coming back in a single step.

Because there is no incision and no reconstruction, most men go home the same day with a mild recovery — and for the right stricture, Optilume can break the recurrence cycle and spare or delay major open surgery.

At a glance

TreatsAnterior urethral stricture, esp. recurrent

SettingIn-office, outpatient — home the same day

ApproachDrug-coated balloon — no incision

RecoveryMild, quick return to normal activity

Designed toPreserve erectile function

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Confident man after a minimally invasive Optilume urethral stricture procedure

Proven results

Built to last, tested head-to-head.

In the randomized ROBUST III trial, Optilume was compared directly against standard dilation and urethrotomy. At two years, roughly 78% of Optilume patients remained free of a repeat procedure, versus about 24% treated the traditional way — close to a threefold difference in durable success.

Longer-term follow-up from the ROBUST I study showed roughly 72% of men still free of re-treatment at five years, with large, sustained gains in urine flow and symptom scores — and no meaningful effect on erectile function.

Data from the ROBUST I (J Urol, 2025) and ROBUST III (J Endourology, 2025) clinical trials. Individual results vary.

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Is it right for you?

The right stricture, treated by an experienced hand.

Optilume is designed for adult men with shorter anterior urethral strictures, and it is especially valuable for recurrent strictures — the ones that keep returning after dilation or urethrotomy. Whether it is the right choice depends on the length and location of the stricture and a proper work-up, which is where care begins: flow testing, in-office imaging, and cystoscopy to see the narrowing directly.

It is an honest middle path — more durable than repeat endoscopic treatment, less invasive than open reconstruction. Longer or more complex strictures may still be best served by urethroplasty, and part of a good consultation is being told plainly which category you fall into.

At Modern Urologist, Optilume is performed by Dr. David Shusterman, a board-certified urologist and an early adopter and high-volume provider of the drug-coated balloon in New York — with the diagnostic work-up, the procedure, and follow-up handled in one place.

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions.

How is Optilume different from a standard urethral dilation or DVIU?

A standard dilation or internal urethrotomy (DVIU) only stretches or cuts the narrowed area, and the scar often grows back. Optilume opens the stricture with a balloon and also delivers paclitaxel to the urethral wall, which is designed to slow or stop the scar from reforming — addressing the recurrence that limits older endoscopic treatments.

Does Optilume reduce the need for repeat procedures?

That is the goal. In the randomized ROBUST III trial, men treated with Optilume stayed free of a repeat procedure at markedly higher rates than men treated with standard dilation or urethrotomy at two years, and five-year data from the ROBUST I study showed durable results. Individual outcomes vary and are reviewed at consultation.

Will Optilume affect my erectile function?

In the clinical trials, Optilume did not have a meaningful negative effect on erectile function. Preserving sexual function is one of the reasons many men choose it over more invasive options.

Am I a candidate for Optilume?

Optilume is designed for adult men with shorter anterior urethral strictures, and it is especially useful for recurrent strictures that keep coming back after dilation or urethrotomy. A proper work-up — flow testing, imaging, and cystoscopy — determines whether it fits your stricture. Longer or more complex strictures may still be best treated with reconstructive surgery (urethroplasty).

Is there anything to know about paclitaxel and fertility?

Paclitaxel, the medication on the balloon, may be present in semen after treatment. As a precaution, men are advised to use contraception for a period afterward and to avoid fathering a child for six months. This is reviewed in detail during your consultation so the plan fits your situation.

Urethral Stricture Treatment with Optilume®

Break the cycle of repeat procedures.

At a glance

Built to last, tested head-to-head.

The right stricture, treated by an experienced hand.

Frequently asked questions.

A urologist who tests thoroughly and treats gently.

Break the cycle of repeat procedures.

At a glance

Built to last, tested head-to-head.

The right stricture, treated by an experienced hand.

Frequently asked questions.

Related treatments & conditions.

In-Office Cystoscopy

In-Office Imaging

The UroLift® System

A urologist who tests thoroughly and treats gently.