We usually think it will never happen to us! Until the first time it does...

​

Suddenly, seemingly without reason, we find ourselves in a frantic search for a bathroom... Or we shoot up like a rocket from just finishing a meeting and rush to the restroom... Or we suddenly stop our walk, hurry home, and rush straight to the bathroom... Or, simply, we sneeze and, horrified, realize that what we never imagined in our wildest dreams has happened...

​

The realization that we can no longer control things, that the urge to empty our bladder is no longer "in our hands," can be devastating and may even become a serious psychological issue. But it doesn’t have to be, if we don’t hide the problem of incontinence, but rather seek an appropriate solution.

​

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary and uncontrollable leakage of urine. It occurs more frequently in women. Statistics show that one in four women between the ages of 30 and 59 has experienced at least one episode of involuntary urination in their lifetime, and around 40 percent of women suffer from some form of incontinence after childbirth. As time passes, the incidence increases: for younger women, it is 20 to 30 percent, for middle-aged women it is 30 to 40 percent, and for older women, it exceeds 50 percent.

​

"Some women experience urinary incontinence during pregnancy or after childbirth, especially if there were multiple births," says dermatologist and laser expert Dr. Jasmina Kozarev, "while for others, it appears as part of the aging process. However, what they all have in common is hiding the problem. Women typically don't talk about it, are even embarrassed to mention it to their gynecologist or doctor, enduring discomfort and reducing their social interactions."

​

Dr. Kozarev explains that there are three types of incontinence, each with its own characteristics. Stress incontinence is defined as involuntary urination during physical exertion, lifting weights, sneezing, or coughing. It occurs when pressure on the abdomen becomes high, which is then transferred to the bladder. This, in combination with weakened pelvic floor muscles, leads to urinary leakage. It places the patient in an awkward position in social situations, as it happens suddenly. Urgency incontinence represents the inability to hold urine when necessary, occurring as an urgent and uncontrollable need to empty the bladder. Mixed incontinence is a combination of stress and urgency incontinence.

​

Traditional treatments for incontinence have typically included pelvic floor muscle exercises (so-called Kegel exercises), electrostimulation, the use of estrogen, and/or the last option—surgical intervention.

​

Laser treatment has brought a true revolution in the treatment of incontinence. The use of laser systems is completely painless, comfortable, does not require special preparation, is performed on an outpatient basis, and after the treatment, the patient can immediately return to their daily activities. The most important part—this technique avoids cutting tissues, anesthesia, the use of antibiotics or analgesics, as well as potential postoperative complications.

​

LASER TREATMENT OF INCONTINENCE

​

"At our Clinic, we treat incontinence using the most advanced laser systems with a high degree of efficiency," explains Dr. Jasmina Kozarev. "The reason lies in the fact that we perform the treatment not with manual manipulation, but with a non-ablative laser and scanned laser beam, for which we are the only ones in Serbia to have a scanner. This increases the treatment’s effectiveness and ensures even distribution of laser energy. Laser treatment is a completely non-invasive technique based on the action of the laser beam, i.e., heat and light. Their synergy stimulates the contraction of old collagen fibers, the creation of new collagen, and its remodeling. These effects lead to the tightening of the vaginal mucosa and the pelvic floor mucosa, which is rich in collagen. The result is the hardening of the vaginal wall, which then provides better support for the bladder and, consequently, prevents involuntary urination. Clinical studies show a high efficacy of this treatment for mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence—almost 70% of patients show no symptoms after three months, and over 90% experience significant improvement."

 

What makes the treatment at our Clinic also unique is that here, in the same session, both the perigenital region, the area around the urethral opening, and around the vaginal introitus are treated with two laser systems. Thanks to this, not only does collagen and elastic fiber shortening occur, but also the creation of all normally present cell structures that disappear with age, along with shortened connections between the urinary tract and vagina.

​

The therapy typically requires two treatments (each lasting about 30 minutes) to successfully resolve or alleviate stress urinary incontinence. The patient does not need any prior preparation, except for a regular Papanicolaou smear and vaginal discharge test.

​

GYNECOLOGICAL TREATMENT

​

It should also be emphasized that the use of laser systems leads to the normalization of nerve function, i.e., the normalization of sensations during sexual intercourse, solving the problem of vaginal dryness and painful intercourse. The reduced concentration of estrogen during menopause is the main cause of significant morphological and functional changes in the vaginal mucosa. This causes vulvovaginal atrophy and vaginal dryness, leading to painful sexual intercourse. By applying laser beams to the soft tissues of the vagina, collagen synthesis and deep remodeling are stimulated. Exposed to laser beams of a specific wavelength, collagen fibers contract and shorten, while the applied temperature prolongs its effect even after the laser treatment, leading to new synthesis and remodeling of collagen. The ultimate effects are tightening of the vaginal wall, a reduction in its diameter, restoration of tissue elasticity, and improved sensation.

​

Similar laser treatment principles are also used to correct unsightly and non-elastic scars in the genital region (especially episiotomy). In addition to rejuvenating the labia majora and minora, laser treatment, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and glutathione help solve the problem of hyperpigmentation in the genital region.

​

The application of laser systems also successfully treats vaginal prolapse and the syndrome of vaginal wall descent (the uterus and/or vaginal walls move from their normal position towards the vaginal opening or descend in front of the vulva).