Many women are bothered by how their feminine parts have changed since having children or growing older. Some women have embarrassing urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, jogging or jumping.
The prevalence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women under 50 is much higher in those who had a vaginal delivery vs. cesarean section. The prevalence of SUI in women over 50 is similar among those who had vaginal or cesarean deliveries, implying that both aging and childbirth contribute equally to symptom development.
Kegel exercises and muscle stimulation have been tried, but those therapies will not improve the vaginal skin and tissue laxity that contribute to the problem. Until recently, the only option for treating female urinary stress incontinence was with complicated and risky surgery.
We now have lasers that heat gently at precisely the correct depth to stimulate growth of new tissue-strengthening collagen and elastin. This newly strengthened vaginal tissue can eliminate or at least improve symptoms of stress urinary incontinence, as well as return some of the vaginal tissue strength present in a woman prior to having babies. These same lasers are also used to safely and non-invasively treat face, neck, arm, leg, and abdomen skin laxity.
The treatment for stress incontinence can be combined in one treatment with cosmetic treatment to tighten the surrounding vaginal tissue for either improved sexual pleasure or improved appearance. This treatment will beneft women who have SUI due to bladder prolapse as well.
This laser treatment only takes 45 minutes, and is virtually pain-free. No general anesthesia is needed, and only a small quantity of topical numbing spray is used on the external skin. Patients describe just mild sensations of pressure and warmth during treatment. Recovery is simple and involves abstaining from sexual activity and swimming for one week.
There is no signifcant discomfort during recovery, except for some mild external warmth and sensitivity lasting just 24 hours. Symptoms tend to start improving right away, and full improvement is seen within six to eight weeks. Some women need a second and rarely a third treatment to see improvement.
Source by:
Karen R. Stolman, M.D. is a board-certifed dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at the Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center. She specializes in cosmetic and aesthetic medicine and surgery.
The Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center is located at 440 West 200 South, Suite 250, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. Their phone number is 801-595-1600.
