Smarter Relief for Enlarged Prostate—Without Surgery
Discover Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) at South Florida Vascular Associates
If you’re a man struggling with frequent urination, a weak stream, or sleepless nights, you may be living with BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)—an enlarged prostate that affects more than 50% of men over the age 50.
At South Florida Vascular Associates (SFVA), Dr. William Julien, a nationally recognized Interventional Radiologist, offers a cutting-edge, minimally invasive solution: Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE).
What Is PAE—and How Is It Performed?
Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE) is a non-surgical, image-guided procedure designed to shrink the prostate and relieve urinary symptoms caused by BPH.
Using advanced imaging technology, Dr. Julien inserts a tiny catheter through an artery in the wrist or groin and navigates it to the arteries supplying blood to the prostate. Once positioned, microscopic particles are injected to block blood flow, causing the prostate to gradually shrink over the following weeks.
- No general anesthesia
- No incision or cutting and nothing through the penis.
- No hospital stay
- Preserves sexual function and continence
Patients go home the same day and return to normal activities within a few days.
Why Choose PAE Over Surgery?
| Treatment | How It Works | Key Drawbacks |
| TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate) | Surgical removal of prostate tissue | Surgery performed through the penis. Requires general anesthesia, hospital stay, risk of retrograde ejaculation or incontinence. Longer recovery. |
| Laser or Microwave Therapies | Heat to destroy excess prostate tissue | Surgery performed through the penis. May cause burning, recurrence, or sexual side effects. Long recovery (weeks) |
| PAE (Prostate Artery Embolization) | Blocks blood supply to the prostate to shrink it | Not performed through the penis. Minimally invasive, preserves sexual function, shorter recovery (a few days), no cutting or catheterization |
Experience Matters — Precision Is Everything
PAE is a technically complex procedure that requires exceptional skill and advanced imaging expertise. The arteries supplying the prostate are tiny, variable, and intricate—so experience makes all the difference.
Dr. William Julien, a board-certified vascular interventional radiologist, has performed over 40, 000 minimally invasive procedures and thousands embolization procedures throughout his 30 year career. His proficiency has made South Florida Vascular Associates a national training site, where doctors from across the country come to learn this advanced technique.
Considering PAE? Choose Your Doctor Wisely
While some centers now offer PAE, only a few physicians nationwide are highly experienced in performing it successfully. When performed by less experienced operators, the risks of complications or incomplete results rise significantly.
Before choosing a provider, always research the physician’s experience, credentials, and case volume.
The SFVA Advantage
- One of the first centers in Florida to perform PAE
- National teaching site for advanced embolization procedures
- Comprehensive care team focused on men’s health and minimally invasive innovation
- State-of-the-art office-based lab with cutting-edge imaging technology
Dr. Willian Julien
Dr. Julien has performed more than 40,000 vascular procedures across a 30-year career. Double board-certified in Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology by the American Board of Radiology, he is the co-founder and past president of the Outpatient Endovascular & Interventional Society, a national faculty speaker at SIR, TCT, VIVA, and the Southeastern Angiographic Society, and a published author. Named a Boca Magazine Top Doctor 2025.
