Posts By Julie Blacklock
A Q&A about the MonaLisa Touch
When I first learned about the MonaLisa Touch laser, I wondered if it was too good to be true. Could a vaginal laser really help post-menopausal women and breast cancer patients experience healthy regrowth of their thinning vaginal walls? I had to see it to believe it. I traveled to California in November 2015 to watch other doctors perform the treatment. To my amazement, many women reported back with noticeable changes after only one session.
I had to bring the MonaLisa Touch to Houston Female Urology – and the response has been amazing. Not only are the treatment sessions approximately five minutes, my patients say that the laser is virtually painless and they can continue on with their day as soon as they leave the office.
I want to share some honest answers with you. I asked one of my patients, Sharon S., to answer a few questions and share her real experience with the MonaLisa Touch. See what she said:
What was life like before your first MonaLisa Touch treatment?
I had age-related symptoms of dryness, burning and pressure resulting in frequent trips to the bathroom. I also experienced drips when sneezing and coughing. I thought I was going to have to learn to live with these problems; however, after my first MonaLisa Touch treatment, I saw improvements in all areas, and I couldn’t wait for my second and third treatments.
Tell me about the day you had the treatment…
On the day of my first treatment, I left the office and continued with what I had scheduled without a problem. The procedure was no worse than having a pap smear. Within the first week of my first treatment I saw a difference in each of the symptoms I was experiencing. I was actually pleasantly surprised that I had improvements so soon.
How did your MonaLisa Touch treatment impact your life?
I have had all three of my treatments, and I can say there has been an even bigger difference with the symptoms I was experiencing. I stopped using my estrogen cream because the problem with dryness was gone, the burning is not a problem, and the pressure when needing to urinate is gone. I am making less trips to the bathroom at night (unless I drink an unusual amount of water before bed), and experiencing no drips. Not only have I experienced a difference, but my husband said that he could tell a difference during intimacy. I also have been able to tell a difference. It is worth it, and I would do the procedure again without question.
This really works. My patients and other women throughout the world are seeing results. Are you ready to learn more? Join me for a free seminar at my office about the treatment. Give us a call! (281) 717-4003
-Dr. P
Bladder Botox: bringing relief to my patients
Botox is well known for its cosmetic purposes. If we’re honest, the first thing that comes to mind for most people is a procedure that targets and relaxes facial wrinkles. Fortunately for those suffering with urinary incontinence, Botox can also provide a powerful answer for this problem. This can be treated with an injection in the muscle of the bladder to ease the symptoms of an overactive bladder.
The New York Times recently conducted an in-depth report on incontinence. The study found that, “About 20 million American women … have urinary incontinence or have experienced it at some time in their lives. The number, however, may actually be higher because most patients are reluctant to discuss incontinence with their doctors. In fact, research indicates that many patients will not admit to having the problem even when questioned directly.”
As a urologist who exclusively treats females, the last thing I want is for my patients to feel like they have to stay quiet and learn to live with this condition. I’m always pleased to tell women about bladder Botox and the relief and freedom it provides. I understand that this is a tough topic to approach for many, but my team at Houston Female Urology handles this discussion with empathy, care and kindness.
Bladder Botox is a quick in-office procedure that is well tolerated by our patients. The treatment begins by flushing the bladder with a local anesthesia through a catheter to numb the bladder. Then a scope is passed up the urethra into the bladder, and a small needle is placed through the scope where several injections are made to spread the Botox throughout the muscle of the bladder. This significantly relaxes the bladder, and my patients are able to return home on the same day of the procedure.
The Botox begins to work at about one week with its full effects beginning at two weeks. While this procedure is not permanent, it lasts approximately six to eight months when injected in the bladder. There are no limitations to the extent of use, and my patients are so happy with the results I tend to see them once or twice each year for Botox injections.
One of the best parts of my job is bringing hope to women who often silently struggle with urology issues. It’s so rewarding to see my patients’ faces when they see the light at the end of the tunnel after Botox – they have their lives back.
Dr. P
One Year in Practice!
“Tomorrow morning at 8:00 we will have the ribbon-cutting and then start the actual business of seeing patients, ready or not! At this point, I can only pray that God will bless this practice, as I use the gifts, talents and passion that He has given me to bless the people that walk through our door. Tomorrow starts the next chapter of my life!”
This excerpt is from my first blog entry. I wrote this the day before I prepared to open the doors and welcome patients into my brand new practice. I was feeling so many emotions! Excitement, stress, peace, fatigue, joy.
I took a big leap of faith, and looking back on the past year in private practice, I see God’s blessings in every area of my personal and professional life.
This month marks a huge milestone for me. I’ve successfully made it through one year in this new chapter of my life. It is important for me to stop and reflect on my influencers and supporters and share my thankfulness to so many people who have made this year possible:
MY STAFF
I’ve built such a wonderful, thoughtful and knowledgeable team of women around me! They have supported me every step of the way and have truly caught the vision for what we are doing here. Patients truly see a difference when they come to the office. I get comments from patients almost daily that they have never been to such a great doctor’s office where everyone is helpful and cares about them. I’m so proud of each one of them.
MY REFERRING DOCTORS
I am so thankful every day for the valuable relationships I’ve fostered throughout the years with Houston-area doctors. These colleagues have supported my practice and believed in my team to provide quality urological care as they refer their own patients for us to take care of. We do not take it for granted and strive to provide great service at all times.
MY MENTORS
I have learned so much from other physicians who are further down the path than I am. They have been so generous to share their wisdom and insight. There are many pieces that have to fit together when you start a new practice, and my mentors have been great to help me put it all together.
MY PATIENTS
I owe so much to my loyal patients. These women have trusted me and my team to provide solutions for their urological needs, and I am always blessed by their kind words, success stories and commitment to Houston Female Urology. You are the reason I am here, and I hope to continue to earn your trust and loyalty for many more years to come.
MY FAMILY
Most importantly, my family has stood beside me through thick and thin. They have shared in my successes and encouraged my spirit. None of this would be possible without my amazing husband and two children! They have been great cheerleaders while I have embarked on this endeavor.
This journey is only beginning…I have so much to look forward to throughout the coming years! I can’t wait to continue to develop and grow Houston Female Urology as we seek to provide expert medical advice, life-changing procedures and uncompromised personal care to every woman who walks through my door.
From the bottom of my heart – thank you.
Dr. P
It’s World Continence Week! Reach out for help
Yes, there is a day or a week for just about everyone and every cause these days! But this one is near and dear to my heart, because I see women every day whose lives are affected negatively by incontinence. Fortunately, I also get to see how their lives are greatly improved by our treatments. World Continence Week is an annual initiative with a primary goal of raising awareness about issues related to bladder control. You probably know that incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine, but did you realize that bladder control problems are preventable, and they can be managed and often cured?
This is a hard topic for many people to talk about, and believe me, I completely understand. Of all the medical issues that women talk about with their friends, for some reason, they do not want to talk about this issue. Some of my patients even hide it from their husbands. Incontinence is a sensitive subject, and it affects an estimated 400 million people around the world.
Because this sometimes feels too taboo to discuss, World Continence Week has stepped in to draw attention to the problems and increase awareness about the condition. At the end of the day, this week is about giving a voice to those who suffer while boosting their confidence to seek help from a doctor and improve quality of life.
I want you to know that if you are suffering with incontinence issues, or you know someone who suffers, you can start the process today to begin changing your life for the better. Here are three easy steps that you can begin right now. I have found these to actually be curative in some cases.
- Reduce your intake of caffeine. Think coffee, tea and sodas.
- Make diet modifications. Spicy and acidic foods can trigger an overactive bladder.
- Establish a bathroom schedule. Urinate before you have the urge.
There are many other options to consider in your journey to treat and cure incontinence. I have created a bladder treatment pathway to make it easy to see the various treatment options and guide you most quickly to the therapy that will work for you. We can discuss the best route for you during a visit to my office. My staff and I talk about this every day, so leave your embarrassment at the door! We are here to care for you and walk beside you as we tackle this issue.
We can discuss:
- Pelvic Floor exercises, either at home or through our pelvic muscle toning program
- Bladder neurostimulators that retrain the bladder nerves and is often a permanent solution
- Bladder Botox, administered easily in the office to relax the bladder muscle
- Medications
- Surgery, such as a simple outpatient 15 minute procedure with 95% success rates
Take action this week! I promise it’s worth it. It can literally change your life.
Dr. P
Looking Back at 2015
As 2015 draws to a close, I can’t help but look back on this year and think about how far Houston Female Urology has come since we first opened in July 2014. This year we celebrated our one-year anniversary. That’s one year in the books as the only urology practice in Texas that exclusively serves women. This is something that makes my team so proud. It’s an honor to help our patients get their lives back and say goodbye to urological issues every day.
This year we also added the MonaLisa Touch laser – a leading edge treatment that resolves gynecologic health issues often caused by menopause. I offer this as an in-office procedure that is virtually painless and requires no anesthesia. I am excited to be one of the first physicians in Houston to offering this treatment to help postmenopausal women and breast cancer survivors. (We are also thrilled that the Houston Chronicle covered our story!)
I love interacting with my patients. One way I did this in 2015 was through free seminars. My team organized two amazing events where our patients (and their friends!) were able to gather and learn more about urological issues and treatment options. We had drinks, snacks, door prizes – the events were so successful that I’m already planning more free events for 2016!
Giving back is something that is really important to my practice. This year we gave new athletic clothing wear and monetary donations to Houston Area Women’s Center. We prayed that these donations would bless the women who receive them as they break free from domestic abuse and start a new life.
So as the year winds down and Christmas approaches, I pray for real joy and peace for the whole world. So much heartache has happened in 2015, and it reminds me of the poignant lyrics of the Christmas song, Oh Holy Night – “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” Take time to rest and not get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season. This is a time for joy – God reached down to touch mankind.
Enjoy your fresh start to a new year, and come see me in 2016! I can’t wait to continue providing the same great care to my patients.
Dr. P