Surgery for female urinary incontinence is usually done by placing a surgical tape called the TVT - TensionFree Vaginal Tape or TOV - also known as Sling Surgery, which is placed under the urethra to support it, ability to hold the pee. The type of surgery is usually selected with the doctor, according to the symptoms, age and history of each woman.
The surgery is performed under local or epidural anesthesia and has a 80% chance of success, being indicated for cases of stress urinary incontinence that have not had the expected result after more than 6 months of treatment with Kegel exercises and physiotherapy.
Surgery for urinary incontinence in men can be done by injecting substances into the sphincter region or placing an artificial sphincter to help close the urethra, avoiding unintended passage of urine. In more rare cases, male urinary incontinence can also be treated with Sling placement.
How is recovery from surgery?
Recovery after surgery for urinary incontinence is relatively quick and painless. In most cases, it is only necessary to stay hospitalized for 1 to 2 days in the hospital and then you can return home, just taking care to follow some care such as:
- Avoid making efforts for 15 days, not being able to exercise, lower, pick up weight or get up sharply;
- Eat high-fiber foods to avoid constipation;
- Avoid coughing or sneezing in the first month;
- Wash the genital area with water and neutral soap always after urinating and evacuating;
- Wear cotton panties to prevent infections from appearing;
- Do not use inner absorbent;
- Not having intimate relationships for at least 40 days;
- Do not take bath, pool or sea bath to avoid contact with contaminated water.
These postoperative care should be followed strictly to prevent the risk of complications, but depending on the type of surgery the doctor may give other indications, which should also be followed.
After 2 weeks, Kegel exercises can be started that help strengthen the muscles around the bladder, accelerating recovery and ensuring better results. However, before beginning this type of exercises it is very important to talk to the doctor, since, depending on the degree of healing, it may be recommended to wait a few more days. Check out how to do Kegel exercises correctly.
How Food Can Help
Drinking water the right way and avoiding coffee are some tips that can help control pee even after surgery, see what else can be done in that video:
Possible risks of surgery
While it is relatively safe, surgery for incontinence can cause some complications such as:
- Difficulty in urinating or emptying the bladder completely;
- Increased urge to urinate;
- Most recurrent urinary tract infections;
- Pain during intercourse.
Thus, before deciding to undergo surgery, it is important to try the other options for treating urinary incontinence, so it is important to talk to a urologist. See all treatment options.
