Until

recently, surgical treatments required major surgery.

While effective, the procedure was painful, left a

noticeable scar and patients would wear catheters for a

period of time.

Recently,

physicians at Southern Regional Medical Center began to

offer a new, safer and more effective treatment option, a

procedure called tension-free transvaginal tape. The

procedure is done by means of minimally invasive surgery,

there is no visible scar, patients can go home the same

day and there is no need to wear a catheter. The patient

stays awake during the procedure and experiences little

if any pain. Southern Regional Medical Center is one of a

very few facilities in Atlanta offering this procedure.

"This

is truly a revolutionary surgery," says James M.

Libby, MD, FACS, a board-certified urologist at Southern

Regional Medical Center. "No person should have to

live with incontinence. While surgery may not be our

first option, it's comforting to know that if other

nonsurgical methods are ineffective, we can offer a

minimally invasive procedure that quickly returns the

sufferer to a normal lifestyle.

"Patients

who could not sneeze without experiencing leakage, or go

to a park to play with their children or grandchildren

because of incontinence, are now able to do all those

things and more without fear of embarrassment," he

added.

Women are

more likely to develop incontinence than men are because

their internal organ structure is different to allow for

childbirth. Pregnancy, childbirth and decreased levels of

the female hormone estrogen can weaken pelvic floor

muscles, allowing organs such as the bladder, urethra and

uterus to shift out of place and cause leakage.

Women or

men who suffer from incontinence are encouraged to seek

medical attention.