Botox injection into the bladder is a brief in-office procedure that is usually done with light sedation. It involves placing a cystoscope in the bladder and injecting Botox into numerous sites of the bladder through a needle that passes through the cystoscope. A urologist can inject Botox into the bladder to treat urge incontinence or overactive bladder, helping the muscles relax and giving you more time to go to the bathroom when you feel the need to urinate. Injections are done in the clinic, and most patients tolerate them well.
They don't hurt as expected, but you may feel some discomfort in the short term. Many patients have compared it to a menstrual cramp. One of the most common mistakes untrained professionals make is not injecting Botox deep enough or injecting it too superficially. Botox should be injected into the superficial layers of the skin in some areas, while in others, it must be injected deeply.
An example is the masseter muscle near the mouth. If a doctor does not inject this muscle deep enough, patients may end up with an uneven or unbalanced smile. That's why it's so important to choose a clinic with excellent safety standards and trained staff who know how deep botox should be injected. It is necessary to inject Botox into the bladder muscle. This is done in the clinic or in the operating room.
First, the bladder is rinsed with local anesthesia, through a catheter, which is allowed to completely numb the bladder. An endoscope is then inserted through the urethra (urinary canal) into the bladder. A small needle is placed through the endoscope and several injections are made into the bladder designed to spread Botox throughout the bladder muscle. Most patients tolerate this procedure well. At Urology Associates, Botox is given under general anesthesia or sedation in an outpatient surgical center.
The doctor performs a cystoscopy by inserting a cystoscope through the urethra, the opening where urine comes out of the body. Botox is administered through the cystoscope through a series of rapid injections into specific areas of the patient's bladder muscle. It may take between 24 and 72 hours before Botox takes effect, but in rare cases it may take longer. Botox should only be used under the care of a doctor. It is important that the injections are placed accurately to avoid side effects. Botox therapy can be dangerous if administered incorrectly.
Ask your primary care doctor for a referral or find a doctor who specializes in your condition and who has experience administering Botox treatments. Botox in the bladder usually lasts six months, at which time you can schedule an appointment to redo the procedure. The doctor can see the inside of the bladder with the cystoscope and give Botox injections through it. If you have trouble urinating after Botox injections into the bladder, you should contact your doctor. You don't need general anesthesia for Botox injections into the bladder, but your doctor will give you a local anesthetic to temporarily numb your bladder so you don't feel the injections, similar to how a dentist numbs your mouth before filling a cavity. The good news is that urinary incontinence is a treatable medical condition, and one of the most effective treatments is Botox.
Botox bladder injections cost comparable to most insurance plans for oral medications, InterStim, or percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS).Botox is known for its popular use in cosmetics, but it actually has far-reaching medical applications. Most major health insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover the cost of Botox medical treatments. Botox (Botulinum Toxin A) is a potent drug that acts by temporarily paralyzing muscles when injected locally.
