Can Geneveve procedure help with a prolapsed bladder, stage 2?

Geneveve (Viveve) treatment is not intended for any stage of prolapsed bladder. This radiofrequency vaginal device may help with urinary incontinence and vaginal tightness.

Viveve treatment uses radio frequency and cryogen cooling to regenerate normal tissue.  The Viveve treatment treats tissue much further than other modalities, but it is still only max 8mm.  Bladder prolapse occurs due to issues with tissue that is much deeper than this.  Therefore, a stage 2 prolapse can not be treated with the Viveve treatment, you will need a surgical correction.

Geneveve will not correct a prolapsed bladder.  Surgery is the only option for this condition.  Geneveve helps rejuvenating the vagina by creating new collagen, which helps tighten the vagina and improves or corrects urinary stress incontinence.  Depending on the severity of the prolapse, Geneveve may not be an option to treat urinary stress incontinence.  That is why a pelvic examination done by an expert provider, preferrably a gynecologist, is important before proceding with this or any other treatments.
Cordially,
Luis J. Lopez-Benitez, MD, FACOG
Gynecologist, Las Vegas, NV

The gold standard of treatment for symptomatic prolapse is still surgery but with what appears to be relatively mild prolapse Geneveve is very likely to resolve your symptoms. I have had great success with radiofrequency treatments for mild to moderate symptoms of prolapse and find that I have been doing less surgery as a result. 
This technology as employed by Geneveve seems to have the ability to penetrate deep into the tissues allowing a comfortable and effective single treatment although as with all of the non-surgical procedures available, annual treatments may be necessary.

Hi and thank you for your question! 

Given your history, it is best to have your GYN assess this and advise you accordingly. That said, we have had many patients who have either had prolapses repaired and do the non-surgical vaginal tightening devices to maintain the results or boost the result of surgical procedures. Additionally, it has been effective to help postpone surgical procedures, if this is been cleared with your GYN. We have tested four types of these devices and, by far, our treatment of choice is the Viveve. It requires only one, comfortable, 30-45 minute treatment, with one maintenance treatment once per year. Some information which makes Viveve stand out from the other non-surgical options: It is the only device to have received indications for sexual improvement and laxity in 58 countries and is also the only device to an indication for treatment of stress urinary incontinence in the world! It is also the only device that the US FDA gave approval to conduct an study on stress urinary incontinence. Our three female providers perform the treatment in our office (Nurse Practitioner and PA's). There is no downtime, nor is there any need for any type of anesthesia. Patients report significant improvements in overall vaginal tightening, as well as dramatic improvements in urinary incontinence, sexual experience/sensation and lubrication. I highly recommend anyone desiring vaginal rejuvenation consider this treatment! 
Best, Dr. Grant Stevens

Thank you for that question. Although Geneveve helps with vaginal tightening and increased collagen growth, it will not help significantly with prolapse. Prolapse is essentially like a hernia, the muscle layer of the vagina becomes weak allowing the bladder to “prolapse” or push down through a thinned out muscle. I would need to do an examination for further evaluation, of course. I hope this helps. 

While the Viveve treatment helps to restore the normal architecture of the vagina, it may not be helpful for more severe stages of  pelvic organ prolapse.  Once the bladder, located at the front of the vagina, has protruded out of the vaginal opening, the Viveve is less likely to be successful.  This degree of pelvic organ prolapse may require surgical intervention, but sometimes can respond to medical therapies such as vaginal estrogen. 
I encourage anyone with this degree of pelvic organ prolapse to seek evaluation by a gynecologist so the extent of the problem can be completely assessed, and solutions can be discussed. . 

What are your symptoms from the bladder prolapse?The Viveve ( Geneveve) is a combination of cryo (cooling) and radiofrequency (RF) technologies. It is a 30 minute procedure which is performed on the first  2/3 of the vaginal canal. It produces a deep, powerful thermal effect causing a cascade of reaction so that new collagen, elastin and blood vessels form. Over several weeks the new collagen helps tighten the  vaginal canal and supports the urethra to improve incontinence. As a urologist with certification in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, I try and focus on the patients symptoms prior to recommending treatment options. Women with prolapse stage II experience a vaginal bulge/pressure and have feeling of incomplete bladder emptying or incontinence. These type of patients do better with reconstructive surgery. If the symptoms are mild or there is a stage I prolapse I have seen an improvement with the Viveve. Therefore, it is important to find an expert who can perform a proper medical history and exam that can offer ALL the available non invasive and surgical options for your condition.