Bladder Lift Surgery

Bladder “lift” surgery is an operation that supports a sagging bladder so urine control is easier. The bladder sits above the vagina. When the tissues that hold it up (fascia and ligaments) get stretched or weakened, part of the bladder can bulge down (called cystocele), causing leaks, pressure, or a heavy feeling. In a bladder lift, a surgeon reaches the vaginal side of the bladder and tightens or reinforces those support tissues, sometimes adding a strip of surgical material (mesh or your own tissue) like a sling to hold the bladder and urethra in a better position.

The goal isn’t to change the bladder itself, but to restore the “hammock” it rests on so the urethra stays closed when you cough, laugh, or exercise. Different techniques exist—native tissue repair, mid‑urethral sling, or colporrhaphy—and your anatomy and symptoms guide the choice. It’s focused on structure: re‑support the bladder so the urine pathway works more like it’s supposed to.

Shorter wait times

• Public queues for urogynecology can be long depending on the province you live in, ranging between 1-6 months (sometimes longer). Private centres often book consults and surgery within weeks—cutting months of leaks, pelvic pressure, and pad costs, and helping you get back to work, exercise, and travel sooner.

Choice and control

• Choose a surgeon with high-volume experience in your exact procedure (anterior repair, mid‑urethral sling, sacrocolpopexy).
• Pick clinic location and dates that fit childcare, caregiving, or job schedules; many offer virtual consults.

Peace of mind

• Clear, confirmed dates and an itemized quote reduce uncertainty. You know who operates, the anesthesia plan, and the post‑op pathway—easier for organizing help at home.

Preventing further decline

• Function: Earlier support can reduce ongoing leaks and pelvic heaviness that limit activity and sleep.
• Tissue health: Ongoing prolapse and straining may worsen support defects, sometimes making later surgery more extensive.
• Mental load: Less time living with embarrassment, pad changes, and bathroom mapping.

Practical extras

• Access to techniques or tools not widely available locally.
• Streamlined pre‑op testing and direct post‑op contact.
• Coordinated pelvic‑floor physio and follow-ups close to home.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that hemorrhoid surgery is advisable, but your urologist/ urogynecologist can also confirm if needed

1. Research. Explore urogynecologists who specialize in bladder lifts.
   • You can find urologists in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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2. Schedule an initial consultation. Most urogynecologists offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
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3. Consultation. The urogynecologist will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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4. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
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5. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Operating time takes about 30–90 minutes, depending on the type (anterior repair/colporrhaphy, mid‑urethral sling, or laparoscopic/robotic sacrocolpopexy). Plan on a few extra hours for check‑in, anesthesia, and recovery before you go home (some cases stay overnight).

Basic steps

Check-in and planning

• You meet the team, review the plan, sign consent, and confirm what procedure you’re having (support repair, sling, or sacrocolpopexy).

Anesthesia

• You’ll get general anesthesia (asleep) or spinal with sedation. The team places monitors and an IV.

Position and prep

• You’re positioned safely; the vagina and lower abdomen are cleaned and draped in sterile sheets. A bladder catheter is placed to keep it empty during surgery.

Access

• Vaginal repair/sling: Small vaginal incisions.
• Sacrocolpopexy: 3–5 tiny cuts on the belly for laparoscopic/robotic instruments.

Fix the problem

• Vaginal repair (anterior colporrhaphy): The surgeon lifts the vaginal wall off the bladder, tightens/repairs the support tissue (fascia), and may add stitches to reinforce weak spots.
• Mid‑urethral sling: A narrow tape is placed under the urethra like a hammock, then adjusted for support.
• Sacrocolpopexy: A mesh strip is attached to the vagina and anchored to the sacrum inside the pelvis to resuspend the organs.

Rinse and check

• The surgeon checks support and urethral function, controls any bleeding, and ensures the bladder and urethra are unharmed (often with a quick scope).

Close up

• Incisions are closed with stitches or skin glue. A light dressing is placed; the vaginal area may have absorbent packing (removed per instructions).

Wake‑up and instructions

• You recover in the PACU, get bathroom and activity instructions, pain meds plan, and follow‑up dates. You go home the same day or after an overnight stay, depending on the procedure and your surgeon’s plan.

Every body is different—follow your surgeon’s plan. Taking instructions seriously usually means better results. Many clinics offer virtual follow-ups and pelvic-floor physio.

In general, here's what to expect

Week 1

• Reality check: pelvic pressure, crampy pain, spotting, fatigue, and bathroom urgency. Not fun.
• Goals: control pain and swelling, protect the repair, keep bowels soft.
• Activities: keep dressings clean/dry; short walks a few times daily; avoid straining/coughing if you can; use prescribed stool softeners; no lifting >5–10 lb; no vaginal insertion. You may have a catheter briefly.

Weeks 2–4

• Still annoying but improving.
• Goals: ease back into light daily tasks without straining; let tissues knit.
• Activities: longer walks, gentle mobility, light house tasks; no heavy lifting, running, core workouts, or sex. Stitch removal if needed. Spotting should taper.

Weeks 5–8

• The work phase.
• Goals: rebuild endurance and core/pelvic coordination.
• Activities: increase walking pace/time; start guided pelvic‑floor exercises if cleared; gradual return to desk work fully; still avoid high‑impact activity and heavy lifting until approved.

Weeks 9–12

• Refining confidence and activity.
• Goals: return toward normal routines.
• Activities: add low‑impact cardio and light strength per clearance; many can resume intercourse and more vigorous activities around this window (only when your surgeon says it’s okay).

Month 3+

• Most people feel “normal‑ish,” but keep good habits (bowel care, pelvic‑floor conditioning, sensible lifting).
• Return to heavy work or high‑impact exercise only when cleared.

Red flags anytime:

Fever, worsening pelvic pain, foul discharge, heavy bleeding (soaking pads), painful/swollen calf, chest pain/shortness of breath, inability to pee, or rapidly growing vaginal bulge—call your care team.

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In Canada, private clinics charge between $5,000 and $20,000.

In the United States, the cost of bladder lift surgery is CA$7,100 - $35,000.

The costs vary considerably for bladder lift surgery depending on the province/clinic, anesthesia, and procedure type (anterior repair, mid‑urethral sling, sacrocolpopexy)—always request a written, itemized quote.

What’s included

• Surgeon and anesthesiologist fees
• Hospital/ambulatory surgery centre facility fees
• Standard disposables and implants (e.g., a specified sling or mesh), if the bundle lists them
• Immediate post‑op nursing and recovery room care
• Basic follow‑up visit(s) shortly after surgery (varies by clinic)

What’s usually not included

• Pre‑op imaging/labs done outside the clinic
• Non‑standard or premium implants beyond the quoted device
• Extra OR time beyond the booked block, or admission/overnight stay fees (if unplanned)
• Prescription medications after discharge, pads/underwear, home supplies
• Pelvic‑floor physiotherapy beyond early advice
• Travel and accommodation (if out‑of‑province/state)

Choosing your surgeon is one of the biggest benefits of going private—use it to your advantage.

What to look for

Experience and volume

• Ask how many bladder lift procedures they do yearly and their case mix:
  • Anterior colporrhaphy (native‑tissue repair), mid‑urethral sling (retropubic/transobturator), laparoscopic/robotic sacrocolpopexy, uterosacral/sacrospinous suspensions.
• Ask for numbers in patients like you (degree of prolapse, prior pelvic surgery, childbirth history).
• Higher volume and standardized pathways usually correlate with smoother care and fewer complications.

Credentials and training

• Verify licensure with your provincial college (CPSO Ontario, CPSBC BC, CPSA Alberta, CMQ Québec, etc.).
• Look for FRCSC‑certified urogynecologists or urologists/gynecologic surgeons with fellowship training in Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS).

Outcomes and safety

• Request 12–24 month data: symptom scores, anatomic success, pad use, unplanned ER/OR returns, UTI rates, urinary retention, mesh exposure (if applicable), readmissions.
• Ask about catheter‑management protocols and pain‑control strategies.

Indications and alternatives

• Ensure non‑operative care was considered (pelvic‑floor physio, pessary, lifestyle changes).
• Clear indications and goal‑setting reduce disappointment.

Surgical plan and techniques

• Which operation and why? (native tissue vs mesh‑augmented; sling vs no sling)
• Approach for associated issues: urethral hypermobility, apical support, posterior wall problems.
• Intra‑op cystoscopy to check bladder/urethra; plan if unexpected findings (e.g., urethral diverticulum, strictures).

Imaging and planning

• Use of pelvic exam staging (POP‑Q), urodynamics when indicated, ultrasound or MRI if needed.
• How results change the plan (e.g., add sling, choose sacrocolpopexy).

Facility accreditation

• Confirm clinic/OR accreditation (Accreditation Canada, CAAASF, or provincial non‑hospital program) and hospital transfer agreements.
• Anesthesia coverage and on‑site recovery standards.

Rehab integration

• Written aftercare with activity/lifting guidance, bowel plan, and return‑to‑work timeline.
• Coordination with pelvic‑floor physiotherapy near your home and options for virtual follow‑ups.

Questions to ask during your bladder lift consultation

Surgeon and surgery plan

• How many bladder lift/sling/sacrocolpopexy procedures do you perform yearly, and in patients with prolapse like mine?
• What are your recent (last 12–24 months) rates for infection, urinary retention requiring catheter, mesh exposure (if using mesh), unplanned readmissions, and return to OR?
• Which procedure do you recommend for me and why? What are the trade‑offs between native tissue repair, sling, and sacrocolpopexy?
• Will you check the bladder/urethra with cystoscopy during surgery? What would change the plan?

Recovery and aftercare

• Expected timeline to: void without a catheter, return to desk work, resume exercise/sex, and lift normally?
• What activity limits will I have early on (lifting, straining, intercourse, high‑impact cardio)?
• Do you provide a written aftercare plan and coordinate pelvic‑floor physio? What red flags should trigger a call/ER visit?
• Who is my post‑op contact (direct phone/email)? How many follow‑ups are included, and can some be virtual?

Costs and logistics

• What exactly is included in my quote (surgeon, anesthesia, facility, mesh/sling device, cystoscopy, immediate post‑op care, first follow‑ups)?
• What could add cost (longer OR time, additional repairs, overnight stay, unexpected imaging, device upgrades)?
• If you need to add a sling or change the plan mid‑surgery, how is consent and pricing handled?
• If complications occur, how are they managed and billed? Do you have a hospital transfer agreement?

Signals of a high‑quality private program

• Shares outcomes and complication rates transparently, stratified by procedure.
• Uses evidence‑based techniques, standardized safety checklists, and intra‑operative cystoscopy.
• Provides itemized pricing with clear inclusions/exclusions.
• Coordinates pelvic‑floor physio and offers direct post‑op contact with timely responses.