Specialties

Dr. Hellerstein specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of urologic diseases with an emphasis on minimally invasive techniques for all urologic conditions. His practice includes the full range of male and female urologic health and wellness issues, from physical fitness to sexual health, from general strategies to specific tactics to enable patients to get the most appropriate care. His urology practice is open to adult patients over 18 years of age.

Dr. Hellerstein also specializes in offering medical and surgical treatments for the following:

• Bladder control
• Bladder cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Prostate cancer
  Treatment options include Lupron injections, radiation seeds and surgery.
• BPH/ enlarged prostate
  Prostatron is one of the advanced treatment options.
• Kidney stones
• Infections
• Impotence/ erectile dysfunction
• Reconstruction
• Male infertility
  Sperm aspiration and microscopic vasectomy reversals are offered in concert with reproductive endocrinologists and advanced reproductive techniques such as IVF and ICSI (Ik'see).

Second Opinion

Second opinions on complex urological cases are available. Some patients have found re-assurance in their first urologist, while others value Dr. Hellerstein's comprehensive and informative consultation.

Prostatron

Medicare approved, Prostatron reduces extra prostate tissue and helps restore normal urination--without medication or surgery. If you or your loved one has an enlarged prostate, then you know it can cause discomfort and affect your quality of life. The prostate is shaped similar to a doughnut and the tube that drains the bladder goes through the hole of the doughnut. As the prostate grows, it squeezes on the tube causing a slow stream, incomplete emptying, straining to get the stream started, dribbling and getting up at night to urinate.

Before Prostatron, many patients have surgery for BPH. Prostate surgery involves general or spinal anesthesia, a hospital stay, possible blood transfusion and the risk of causing incontinence and impotence.

Prostate medications and herbal remedies may have side effects or may not work consistently. Until now, there were no alternatives.

At St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, Dr. Hellerstein personally performs the Prostatron treatment, which takes about an hour, on an outpatient basis with a computer-controlled medical system that delivers microwave energy to targeted areas of the enlarged prostate. This energy heats excess prostate tissue under careful monitoring and surrounding tissue is protected by a patented cooling system.

Dr. Hellerstein is a national leader in the field of Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT).

Non-Incision Vasectomy

Over 1/2 million vasectomy procedures are done in the US each year as a safe and permanent birth control method. The tube (called a vas) which drains sperm from the testicle is cut, thus interrupting the flow of sperm from the testicle to the outside. Hormone function is unchanged and sex drive and potency are NOT affected. The non-incision vasectomy technique was first performed in the 1970s by Dr. Li in China and introduced to the United States in the late 1980s. While at the Population Council of Rockefeller University in New York in 1989, Dr. Li taught this technique to Dr. Hellerstein. This elegant "No-Scalpel" technique uses one small stretched needle hole and represents a significant improvement over older techniques. A comparative study at the King of Thailand's Annual Birthday Vasectomy Festival showed that it is less traumatic and shortens the recovery time.

Two important items to remember when considering a non-scalpel vasectomy are:

• The testes continue to make sperm that are then re-absorbed.
• A man is not considered sterile until 2 semen samples are sperm free.

Dr. Hellerstein performs no-scalpel vasectomy as well as microscopic vasectomy reversal.

Medication Tips

The American Society of Anesthesiologists now recommends that herbal and home remedy products (drugs) now be stopped 1-2 weeks before surgery. Serious changes in heart rate or blood pressure have been seen in some patients who were taking herbal drugs such as St. John's wort, gingko biloba and ginseng. Special care is needed in adjusting some physician prescribed drugs that have a narrow safety range. Patients must tell their doctor of herbals when they are also on digoxin, hypoglycemic agents, lithium, and theophylline and blood thinner coumadin/warfarin. For example, serious interactions may occur if you use digoxin with aloe, hawthorn, licorice, psyllium, quinine, Siberian ginseng. Hypoglycemic drugs and lithium adversely interact with herbals that have diuretic like properties such as broom, buchu, dandelion and juniper. Theophylline overdose has been reported with Ma huang. Coumadin interacts with cayenne, feverfew, garlic, gingo biloba, ginger, ginseng, quinine, and alfalfa-like herbs containing high amounts of vitamin K.