Introduction
When Surgery is Recommended
If non-surgical options have not solved your urinary incontinence symptoms, we may suggest a more permanent surgical solution. Our physicians are specially trained in Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS) and in minimally-invasive surgical techniques. This means we strive to correct the issue using procedures that encourage less post-surgical pain and faster healing. We want to help you get back to your busy life as soon as possible.
Here are some of the surgical procedures that have made a huge difference in the lives of our patients.
A Sling
A sling corrects bladder leakage, or stress incontinence, by providing support to the bladder neck and urethra. After a sling procedure, most women can regain better control of their bladder. The operation is a minimally invasive outpatient surgery.
There are different types of sling procedures. Because of its minimally invasive insertion procedure and faster recovery, our urogynecologists will often recommend Altis®.
Altis: A New and Safer Incontinence Sling
Altis offers a unique placement system that's accomplished with just one small incision. This means a good chance at a faster recovery with less pain. Here's how it works:
Neuromodulation Therapy
When pelvic floor physical therapy and other similar non-surgical treatments have not provided relief, our team may recommend neuromodulation therapy. This therapy targets the communication problem between the brain and the nerves that control the bladder. If those nerves are not communicating correctly, the bladder will not function properly.
For this therapy, a small transmitter is implanted that provides gentle stimulation to the nerves that control the bladder.
There are two systems we typically recommend.
InterStim Therapy
InterStim Therapy was created by Minnesota-based Medtronic. Over 100,000 people worldwide have received InterStim Therapy and it has been FDA-approved for more than 20 years for urge incontinence, urinary retention, and urgency-frequency. Read about InterStim here.
Axonics Therapy
Axonics Therapy is a clinically proven solution for treating symptoms of overactive bladder (including urinary urgency incontinence), bowel (fecal) incontinence, and urinary retention. The Axonics device has been proven to provide long term therapy – with proven sustained symptom relief for more than 3 years. Read about Axonics here.
