Bladder Health

Slings n' Things

The sling implant is one of the latest less-invasive procedures used to treat incontinence and requires less time to heal. Urethral sling surgeries to treat urinary incontinence involve placing a sling around the urethra to lift it back into a normal position and to exert pressure on the urethra to aid urine retention. The sling is then attached to the abdominal wall.

The sling material may be muscle, ligament, or tendon tissue taken from the woman or from an animal, such as a pig. It may also be composed of synthetic material such as plastic that is compatible with body tissues or of absorbable polymer that eventually disintegrates

Sling implants work like a hammock to support the neck of your bladder and help control leakage that is associated with stress urinary incontinence.

Two reasons why this might be the right treatment for you:

Leakage control is improved because the tightness of the sling can be adjusted after the procedure while the patient is awake and can recreate the activities (coughing, laughing) that cause you to leak urine.
The tightness of the sling can also be readjusted months or years later without additional surgery.

So what can you expect if you and your doctor decide that the sling is right for you? The sling implant, which is slightly bigger than a grape, takes about an hour and a half to put in. After implanted, the device is adjusted the next day to ensure that it fits just right.

“The adjustable sling procedure may be the best option for women who have had other surgical procedures to treat incontinence without satisfactory result,” says Dr. Paul Pettit, a urogynecologist at the Mayo Clinic.

Just remember, it is important to remember that every woman is different and so different treatment options may work best for different people. So if you’re experiencing incontinence symptoms, make sure that you talk to your health care provider today to find the right treatment for you!