Stress incontinence is the most common type of urinary incontinence, affecting as many as a third of women at some point and becoming more common with age. Fortunately, treatments are available that can help.
At Starkey Medical Esthetics, Michele Meinhart, FNP, helps women in Salem, Virginia, manage stress urinary incontinence with EmpowerRF®, a state-of-the-art system that uses targeted bursts of radiofrequency energy. If you suffer from stress incontinence, here’s how EmpowerRF could help you.
Stress incontinence happens when pressure on the bladder causes urine to leak out — sometimes just a few drops and sometimes more. Pressure can be caused by lots of things: a sneeze, a cough, laughing, physical activity — even sex.
Stress incontinence is much more common in women than in men, and it’s also more common among older women. In fact, it’s estimated that by age 65, about half of women have some symptoms of stress incontinence. It’s not surprising, then, that many risk factors for stress incontinence are also unique to women, including:
All these risk factors contribute to a weakening of the pelvic floor, a group of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the bladder and other organs. Obesity can also weaken the pelvic floor and contribute to stress incontinence.
EmpowerRF uses Morpheus8® technology by innovator InMode. The energy is emitted from a special device that’s designed to be gently inserted into the vagina.
Once in place, the applicator emits controlled bursts of radiofrequency energy. The energy penetrates to deeper layers of tissue where a strong protein called collagen is produced. Collagen forms supportive networks that improve vaginal tone and increase support to the pelvic floor.
Each treatment session takes about a half hour, and most women need from two to five treatments spaced out over a few weeks to achieve maximum benefits. After your treatment, there’s no downtime — you can go back to your regular activities.
You’ll begin to notice improvements soon after your initial treatment, with improvements continuing throughout the course of your treatment sessions. One of the best things about EmpowerRF is that your treatment plan can be completely customized based on your needs and goals.
Urinary incontinence isn’t just a nuisance — it can take a toll on your self-confidence, too. To learn more about EmpowerRF and whether it’s a good treatment for your symptoms, call 540-389-0909, or book an appointment online at Starkey Medical Esthetics today.
