If you’ve ever crossed your legs to sneeze, planned bathroom stops on every road trip, or avoided trampolines with the kids, you’re not alone. Stress and urge urinary incontinence affect about 30% of women over 30 and increase with age. The good news: there’s now a non-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment that works for most patients in 6 sessions.
What EMSELLA Is
EMSELLA is a chair-based device that uses HIFEM (High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic) technology to stimulate pelvic floor muscle contractions. During each 28-minute session, the chair induces approximately 11,000 supramaximal pelvic floor contractions — the equivalent of 11,000 Kegels you couldn’t physically do on your own.
The treatment is FDA-cleared for urinary incontinence and is used in dermatology, urology, and primary care practices around the world. We offer it under our CoreLift Pelvic Health service at Garcia Family Medicine.
What a Session Actually Feels Like
You sit on the EMSELLA chair fully clothed. No gowns, no anesthesia, no preparation needed. The device starts at a low intensity and gradually ramps up over the first few minutes. You’ll feel rhythmic muscle contractions in your pelvic floor — not painful, but distinctly different from anything you can do voluntarily. Most patients describe it as “intense” or “interesting” rather than uncomfortable.
You can read, scroll your phone, or just relax during the 28 minutes. No downtime after. You drive yourself home.
How Many Sessions You’ll Need
Standard protocol is 6 sessions over 3 weeks (2 per week). Most patients notice improvement after 2-3 sessions and significant improvement by session 6. Some patients benefit from a maintenance session every 6-12 months thereafter.
Results
Clinical studies show approximately 95% of patients report significant improvement in bladder control after the full 6-session series. Specifically:
- 67% reduction in daily pads used
- 75% improvement in quality of life scores
- Significant reduction in stress incontinence episodes
Beyond incontinence, many patients report unexpected benefits like improved sexual sensation and easier core engagement during exercise.
Who EMSELLA Works Best For
Best candidates include:
- Women with mild to moderate stress incontinence
- Post-partum patients (we recommend waiting at least 6 weeks post-delivery)
- Peri- and post-menopausal women
- Men with mild post-prostatectomy incontinence
- Anyone seeking a non-surgical alternative to incontinence surgery
EMSELLA is not appropriate if you have a pacemaker, certain metal implants in the pelvic area, or are pregnant.
What It Costs
Package pricing for the standard 6-session series is available — contact us for current rates. The treatment is HSA/FSA eligible at most plans. CareCredit financing is available with 0% interest options.
Book a Consultation
EMSELLA isn’t right for everyone, and the right starting point is a consultation with Dr. Tess. Call (816) 330-7575 to schedule a 30-minute pelvic health consultation at Garcia Family Medicine in Blue Springs.