Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Incontinence Treatment
You may be experiencing involuntary urine leakage while playing with your grandchildren, lifting weights at the gym, or having a good laugh with a friend and we're here to tell you that you are not alone.
At our clinic, the majority of women that come through our doors experience urinary incontinence too. We believe that you deserve the best quality of life without worrying about a leak during the moments that mean the most.
If you have ever considered having surgery for urinary incontinence (leaking), you should first consider laser. It is safer, equally effective for many women, and is painless, with no downtime and with almost no risk.
Our Fotona IncontiLase laser treatment is designed to relieve urinary incontinence, helping to restore your confidence and your quality of life. Please give our clinic a call or book an online, free appointment to discuss.
Laser or Surgery?
Treatment for urinary incontinence depends on the type of incontinence. The discussion below mostly pertains to ‘stress (pressure) urinary incontinence’. This is the type of leaking that happens with a cough, sneeze, or lifting, bending or standing up.
This is NOT the type of leaking happening with a sudden urge to void and complete loss of control immediately thereafter. Laser can sometimes be helpful for this type, but surgery usually is not. I advise that you get a full assessment if you have this type of ‘overactive bladder’ symptoms and it would be a good idea to see your primary caregiver first. If you have seen blood in your urine, have pain when you urinate or have difficulty urinating, I strongly advise you to get an urgent assessment.
Before our laser system was developed, potential treatments included at-home Kegel exercises which are largely ineffective unless you are working with a trained pelvic floor physiotherapist or, surgical implantation of a mesh urethral sling or pessaries which act as a temporary fix but doesn’t cure the problem. We are thrilled to provide our clients with truly revolutionary laser technology that delivers better results using less invasive practices. For truly premium results, we recommend pelvic floor physiotherapy as part of your holistic program.
Our procedures are designed to be gentle and relatively painless. As an extra precaution, we offer local freezing ointment to all our patients. You may feel some degree of warmth or heat, but most patients can easily tolerate the slight discomfort.
As a result of the specific effect of the laser energy, new collagen will form, and the pelvic floor will be strengthened. It’s simple, non-surgical, requires no special preparation, and only takes about 30 minutes to complete.
About three years ago, we introduced intra-urethral Erbium laser for patients where it was considered to offer further benefit. Dr Murphy was at the forefront of this developing field, which is now globally accepted and routinely applied in many countries. We are one of the very few clinics offering this in Canada. It is completely painless and adds a minimum extra cost.
If you are interested in, or really require surgery, you can find out more about your options on our Urinary Incontinence Surgery page.
Recovery
The Laser procedure is virtually painless, with no bleeding, or stitches.
Recovery is extremely quick – without the need for painkillers or antibiotics – which means you can immediately resume your normal activities. We often have patients come for their laser session in their gym clothes – because that is where they go after they’re done. Others go directly back to the office, go do shopping. You get the point.
Results
Studies have shown that the Fotona IncontiLase laser treatment is just as effective for stress urinary incontinence as a mesh sling surgery but without any of the surgical complications or risks. Our laser treatments are approved by Health Canada and backed by research to be effective and safe.
Surgery for stress incontinence has been shown to be highly effective. Dr. Murphy can discuss this in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but we will provide a letter that you can submit to your insurance provider or Health Benefits account manager. We do not submit to insurance companies directly.
However, you may be eligible for a medical expense tax deduction. Be sure to check with your accountant to see if you qualify.
Short-term incontinence can happen for many reasons, but when incontinence lasts longer, it may be due to a weak bladder or pelvic floor muscles, which often can be treated by laser.
For laser, an initial series of three sessions is $2,600.00 plus tax (total for the three sessions.)
Annual follow-up treatment is $700.00 plus tax.
Surgical options are more expensive, and vary depending upon your specific needs.
Our team will discuss options with you and come up with an individualized care plan based on your needs. Reach out to us today to get started.
This is not covered by Medicare and is an out-of-pocket expense for patients. We will provide a letter you can submit to your insurance provider or Health Benefits account manager – we do not submit to insurance companies directly. You may be eligible for a medical expense tax deduction, be sure to check with your accountant to see if you qualify.
Patients can call our office directly for a free discussion and consultation with Dr. Murphy, or book online directly through the website.
Unfortunately, not everyone will be an appropriate candidate for private surgery and Dr. Murphy will only be able to assess whether you are a candidate after having information about your specific problem and a personal medical history.
If surgery may be appropriate for you, Dr Murphy can advise on public and private options, as he has extensive experience practising and teaching in the field.