Incontinence Procedures and Surgery

At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, a highly regarded team of pelvic floor specialists performs the full range of incontinence procedures. We deliver some treatments during office visits. When surgery is necessary, we use technologically advanced methods offering better precision and a more comfortable recovery. Our commitment to the best care and outcomes has earned our program national recognition.

Pelvic health specialists with advanced fellowship training perform your procedure for urinary or bowel incontinence. As leaders in the field, we are often among the first teams in the country to offer new treatment methods. These efforts give you additional options for healing. Our expertise draws patients from across the Puget Sound region and beyond.

Highlights of our program include: 

• National recognition: We hold ourselves to the highest care standards and use evidence-based guidelines to inform your care. This commitment has helped some locations earn National Association for Continence Center of Excellence designation. We are the only program in the Pacific Northwest with this designation.

• High volume: The experts at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health regularly perform incontinence surgery—from gold-standard procedures, like urethral slings, to neuromodulation device implantation. This depth of experience translates to procedures that consistently help patients regain bladder control.

• Gentler surgical care: We use minimally invasive techniques with small incisions and specialized technologies to carefully navigate delicate tissue. Surgeons frequently use robot-assisted technologies, which enable them to perform procedures with the highest degree of precision. You can expect exceptional care and a quicker return to daily activities. 

• Customized treatment plans: Sophisticated studies pinpoint the source of your symptoms so you receive the incontinence procedure that’s best for your needs. Your evaluation may include an in-office cystoscopy or video urodynamic study. Find out more about diagnostic testing for pelvic floor disorders.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health offers every type of urinary incontinence procedure, including:

Urethral (bladder) sling procedures treat stress incontinence. They create an additional layer of support for the urethra, making it less likely to leak. The sling may be made of approved medical-grade mesh or tissue from your abdominal wall. There are many types of urethral sling surgery. We select the most appropriate option for your needs based on your diagnosis and overall health.

This treatment uses a small implantable device, also known as a bladder or bowel pacemaker. It delivers gentle electrical impulses to the sacral nerves, which control bladder and bowel function. In addition to urinary incontinence, sacral neuromodulation can treat overactive bladder, urinary retention and fecal incontinence.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health performs the highest volume of sacral neuromodulation procedures in Washington (more than 100 procedures per year). This depth of experience, in combination with consistently positive outcomes, has earned our program multiple center of excellence designations.

Surgeons permanently expand bladder capacity using tissue from your intestines. With a larger bladder, you'll be less likely to experience muscle contractions that cause leaks and sudden urination urges.

The anal sphincter is a ring of two muscles that helps control bowel movements. If one or both muscles are weakened or damaged, a repair procedure may help. Sphincteroplasty reconnects the damaged muscles and improves how well the sphincter can close, helping reduce leakage.

Offerings include:

Our experts inject a bulking agent into the urethra, which thickens the tissue and helps it form a tighter seal to prevent stress incontinence leaks. We maintain center of excellence designation from a leading bladder and bowel care company in recognition of our depth of experience and track record for positive patient experience.

Injecting botulinum toxin into the bladder relaxes muscles, reducing spasms that cause urge incontinence.

An electrode inserted at the ankle delivers mild electrical pulses to the nerve that controls bladder function. The stimulation reduces overactive bladder symptoms, such as urination urgency and frequency.

Our multidisciplinary team cares for patients across the Puget Sound area and beyond. Contact us to learn more or to schedule an appointment.