One Patient at a Time
Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse affect millions of American women each year. Women with these urogynecological conditions experience a wide range of difficulties — from mild discomfort to severe pain. According to the American Medical Association, urinary incontinence, or leakage of urine, affects up to 56% of women over the age of 65 and up to 20% of women below the age of 65. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when pelvic structures, like the rectum or bladder, protrude into the vaginal wall. This can make walking, standing, sexual intercourse and/or urination problematic. These disorders may stem from a number of factors — from damage to the pelvic floor following childbirth to heavy lifting to severe constipation.
Throughout the world, countless women experience shame and embarrassment. they suffer from ailments that may be difficult to discuss with loved ones or even their physician, for many of these women, their quality of life has become profoundly impacted.
Urogynecology is the study and treatment of female pelvic medicine and pelvic floor reconstruction. Mission Hospital Laguna Beach is fortunate to have the expertise of world-renowned physician Red Alinsod, MD, FACOG, FACS, ACGE. Dr. Alinsod, a urogynecologist and aesthetic vaginal surgeon, specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. This highly sought-after surgeon is the founder of South Coast Urogynecology, Inc. — the first Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery Center and Chronic Pelvic Pain Center in South Orange County.
“We are a full-service clinical care center for women,” says Dr. Alinsod. “We are not merely a gynecology office, or a med spa or laser center. We are all of that and more. We offer impeccable medical care in a luxurious setting.”
In order for Dr. Alinsod to treat urinary incontinence, he first needs to determine the type of incontinence his patients have: Stress Incontinence, where there is abdominal pressure that comes from a laugh or sneeze; Urge Incontinence, where there is a sudden urge to urinate; Overflow Incontinence, when the person is unable to fully empty the bladder; and Functional Incontinence, when physical problems such as arthritis may delay the trip to the bathroom. Dr. Alinsod is an expert at diagnosing the specific forms of incontinence and uses a wide range of treatments, including behavioral techniques, neuromodulation, medications, and surgery.
The cutting edge development that Dr. Alinsod uses for treating incontinence involves the use of a device called a “MiniTape.” This MiniTape, which is made from ultra lightweight mesh, is placed under the mid-urethra to act as a backboard when one sneezes or coughs. This then blocks the urethral opening and either decreases or stops the leakage of urine. This procedure is called “tension-free” because the sling is not sutured into muscle, fascia or bone. Also, the construction of the sling allows for the patients’ healing tissues to grow into it and hold the mesh sling in place. Due to its thinness and very low weight, complications have been exceedingly few with results that are outstanding.
Dr. Alinsod also has a very high success rate with his treatment of pelvic organ prolapse. There are different forms of prolapse: Rectocele, the prolapse of the rectum; Cystocele, the prolapse of the bladder; Uterine Descensus, the prolapse of the uterus; and Enterocele, the prolapse of the small bowel. Dr. Alinsod is able to zero in on the different types of prolapse to treat the specific needs of each patient.
Smartmesh™
Mpathy Medical is a medical device company that develops a range of surgical solutions used to restore pelvic health to women. Dr. Alinsod uses their lightweight mesh, which is among the thinnest mesh in the world. It has revolutionized the field of urogynecology. Studies made by Dr. Alinsod, on the long-term outcomes of the mesh, found that the new erosion rate using Smartmesh is less than 1%. This is a dramatic finding compared to the 6-25% erosion rates that come from the thicker mesh materials.
If this weren’t enough, Dr. Alinsod has done something else that has made him one of the most sought-after physicians in the world: he has created custom designs out of the Smartmesh. These designs are used for vaginal surgeries, bladder and rectum prolapse repair, and the minimally invasive incontinence surgeries he performs. Whereas previously the mesh pieces were cut into square shapes, Dr. Alinsod has designed pre-cut shapes that are then tailor made for each patient. His exclusive use of Smartmesh, coupled with his custom designs, has changed the face of urogynecolgy and it’s why patients come from all over the world to see Dr. Alinsod.
Vaginal Rejuvenation
Over the past couple of decades, cosmetic surgical procedures have become more commonplace. Women throughout the United States are seeking ways to improve themselves with a wide range of procedures, including facelifts, breast augmentation and, with increasing frequency, vaginal rejuvenation. Vaginal rejuvenation, also known as aesthetic vaginal surgery or vaginoplasty, aims to tighten lax muscles and tissues and remove excess vaginal skin. This procedure narrows the diameter of the vagina, resulting in a smaller and tighter opening and vaginal canal. The first step for the decision to undergo aesthetic vaginal surgery is also the one that is the most important: choosing the right physician. Dr. Red Alinsod is that physician.
“My goal is to make each patient feel feminine again,” says Dr. Alinsod. “Women come to me because they want experienced hands they can trust. They want choices and alternatives, and a doctor who will provide the best solutions for them.”
Dr. Alinsod has refined the in-office vaginal rejuvenation surgery so that it does not require an IV and is done under mild sedation and local anesthesia. Dr. Alinsod’s vaginal rejuvenation services are unparalleled. He aims to restore patients throughout the world. “My patients become functional and beautiful,” he says. Dr. Alinsod is the National Instructor in Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery for The American Academy of Cosmetic Gynecologists. He has trained numerous gynecologists, urologists, plastic surgeons, and cosmetic surgeons.
Labial Surgery
Dr. Alinsod has developed precise techniques taught and used worldwide to recontour the labia minora and labia majora into a more aesthetically pleasing and more comfortable condition. His international preceptorship program has drawn surgeons, for training, from Belgium to Australia. He is world renowned for his “Barbie Look” labiaplasty.
About South Coast Urogynecology, Inc.
The staff at South Coast Urogynecology offers compassionate care to patients in a relaxed and professional setting. What makes this medical practice so unique is the multitude of specialties: gynecology, urology and aesthetic gynecology. Dr. Alinsod and his team have mastered the skills of each of these fields and patients benefit from this first-rate expertise. It’s widely known that Dr. Red Alinsod is an internationally recognized physician. But what some don’t know is that he is also a teacher. Throughout each year, Dr. Alinsod brings his wisdom and expertise to fellow physicians. He has founded the Alinsod Institute for Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery, which is a national surgical training center. The Institute, which is located in his offices on the Mission Hospital Laguna Beach campus, provides training to physicians seeking to learn more about pelvic prolapse reconstruction, incontinence surgeries, and vaginal rejuvenation.
The South Orange County Community
Dr. Alinsod is pleased to be part of the Mission Hospital family. He’s also happy to be a part of the South County community and works hard to bring his patients the best. “I believe we will dramatically improve the success rates with our patients, while at the same time decreasing complication rates,” he says. “It pleases me that I have the chance to make a difference in this Orange County community that I love so much.”
Dr. Alinsod has a following that reaches all over the world. Patients travel from as far away as Australia, Greece and Nigeria for the chance to be treated by him. Fortunately for the South County community, this internationally-renowned surgeon is nearby. If you are in need of the services of Dr. Red Alinsod and his team at South Coast Urogynecology, Inc., then do what thousands of satisfied patients have done and call their offices today.
About Dr. Red Alinsod
Dr. Red Alinsod graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine and completed his OB/GYN residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. His focus in those early years was pelvic surgery. He was the first Rutledge Fellow at MD Anderson Cancer and Tumor Institute and was also selected as a Galloway Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Medical Center. Dr. Alinsod was accepted to Yale’s Gynecologic Oncology fellowship but was unable to attend due to a military commitment with the US Air Force. He headed the Gynecologic Services at George Air Force Base, CA, and Nellis Air Force Base, NV, as he concentrated on benign gynecology, urogynecology, and pelvic surgery. Dr. Alinsod provides the highest quality of care to his patients in a trustworthy manner. For more information about Dr. Alinsod and his team at South Coast Urogynecology, Inc., contact their offices today.
31852 Coast Hwy, Suite 203
Laguna Beach, California 92651
p: (949) 499-5311 | f: (949) 499-5312
www.urogyn.org | www.pelvicsurgeon.com
