Urogynecology · Charlotte, NC

Stress Urinary
Incontinence,
Reimagined.

You deserve more than a pamphlet on Kegel exercises. We offer a full continuum — from targeted VTone muscle rehabilitation to surgical sling options and laparoscopic Burch colposuspension for patients who prefer to avoid synthetic mesh.

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Dr. Kevin Stepp, board-certified Urogynecologist, consulting with a stress incontinence patient in Charlotte, NC
Continuum
of Care

Early Intervention to Surgery & Beyond

Double
Board Certified — URPS & OB/GYN
< 10
Surgeons in the US with Dual-Fellowship (URPS & MIGS)
3 Phases
Restoration · Longevity · Surgical Precision
Rare
Laparoscopic Burch — Non-Mesh Expertise

Understanding Your Incontinence. Before We Treat It.

Effective care begins with distinguishing the type of leakage. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurs when the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues supporting the urethra weaken — often a consequence of childbirth, pelvic trauma, or perimenopausal tissue changes — resulting in leakage during physical exertion, coughing, or sneezing. Conversely, urge incontinence is characterized by a sudden, intense need to void, typically driven by overactive bladder contractions. Many women present with both, called mixed incontinence.

Most practices hand a patient a Kegel pamphlet and schedule a follow-up only once her anatomy has failed enough for surgery to be necessary. This approach overlooks a critical window. Many women seeking help for mild to moderate stress leakage are excellent candidates for powerful, targeted non-surgical muscle rehabilitation — performed correctly, not as an afterthought.

Dr. Kevin Stepp's approach at Advanced Pelvic Surgery and Urogynecology of Charlotte focuses on anatomic precision. We intervene early using targeted VTone therapy to rehabilitate the specific pelvic floor muscles required for continence. We sustain those results through our Signature Vitality Membership. When surgical intervention is indicated, we offer the widely used mid-urethral sling as well as the technical expertise required to repair the anatomy using your own native tissue for patients who prefer to avoid synthetic mesh.

Patients addressing stress incontinence alongside cosmetic or reconstructive concerns may also wish to explore the pelvic restoration procedures available through our Aesthetic Institute

A Pathway Built Around Your Goals

No two patients are the same. We build a treatment plan that respects where you are — not a protocol designed for the average patient.

Phase I: Restoration

Non-Surgical Optimization

Designed for the active patient or those who wish to delay or avoid surgery. We focus on reversing early-stage stress incontinence and vaginal laxity simultaneously — not just managing symptoms.

  • Targeted VTone Therapy: FDA-cleared intravaginal electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) that delivers energy directly to the continence musculature. More specific and effective than external magnetic chairs or unmonitored home Kegel programs.
  • Tissue Scaffolding: Morpheus8V and FormaV to stimulate deep submucosal collagen, restoring the structural integrity of the vaginal wall that supports the urethra.
  • Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: We partner with expert pelvic floor PTs in the Charlotte region, integrating clinical therapies with targeted functional movement to support restorative outcomes.
  • Medical Management: Targeted pharmaceutical options for urge incontinence or overactive bladder where indicated.
Phase II: Longevity

Signature Vitality Membership

A longitudinal program designed to protect your pelvic health across your lifetime — whether you are delaying surgery or maintaining a post-operative result.

  • Annual Pelvic Assessment: A comprehensive physical exam and structural evaluation of your pelvic support to identify early signs of weakness before they become symptomatic.
  • Proactive Maintenance: Structured, ongoing access to VTone and FormaV, alongside annual Morpheus8V maintenance, to preserve pelvic floor strength and tissue vitality over time.
  • Regenerative Protocols: We integrate advanced regenerative compounds — including peptides and anti-inflammatory biologics — to support local tissue vitality and optimize natural continence function.
Phase III: Surgical Precision

Anatomic Repair

When anatomical failure requires surgical intervention, we offer advanced, minimally invasive solutions tailored to your specific anatomy, clinical needs, and personal preferences regarding mesh.

  • Mid-Urethral Sling: A widely used surgical stress incontinence treatment, executed with meticulous anatomic precision and biological optimization of surrounding tissue.
  • Laparoscopic Burch Colposuspension: A classical, non-mesh native-tissue repair using permanent sutures to elevate the vaginal wall to Cooper's ligament — available from select surgeons with advanced pelvic reconstruction training.
  • Urethral Bulking: A low-downtime office procedure using specialized bulking agents to create a soft-tissue seal at the urethra for patients who prefer to avoid surgery.
Diagram of female urethral anatomy and pelvic floor support structures for stress incontinence surgery in Charlotte, NC

Anatomical Precision

Delivering immediate, durable support to the urethra without compromising the surrounding neuromuscular architecture.

The Mid-Urethral Sling

A Widely Used Surgical Continence Option

For many patients requiring surgical intervention for stress incontinence, the mid-urethral sling remains an established treatment option. This outpatient procedure involves the precise placement of a small supportive sling beneath the urethra.

This sling acts as a backstop — when you run, cough, or sneeze, the urethra compresses against this support, preventing involuntary urine loss. While expert anatomic precision is required for tension-free placement, surgical skill is only part of the equation.

Long-term success with a sling depends on precise placement, healthy surrounding tissue, and your body's natural healing response. This is exactly why we invest in optimizing your pelvic tissue both before and after surgery.

"A great surgeon is only a partner in the body's ability to heal itself."

The Lost Art of the Burch

The Laparoscopic Burch Colposuspension

The mid-urethral sling has become the default of convenience in modern urology — favored for its efficiency and ease of training, not always for its suitability to every patient's anatomy or preferences. For the woman who prefers to avoid the placement of synthetic mesh, the Burch colposuspension offers a classical, highly effective alternative.

This technical procedure utilizes your body's native tissue and permanent sutures to elevate and secure the vaginal wall to Cooper's ligament — providing durable anatomic support without the introduction of synthetic materials. The procedure has decades of clinical evidence behind it.

This procedure requires significant anatomical dissection and is offered by a select group of practicing surgeons today. Dr. Stepp is a dual-fellowship trained robotic surgeon who preserves this classical skill — executing the Burch colposuspension minimally invasively to provide mesh-free continence care in Charlotte, NC.

Native Tissue Expertise

Sophisticated anatomic reconstructive options tailored to your anatomy, your preferences, and your long-term health goals — not the path of least resistance.

The Concierge Model

Time Your Case Actually Deserves

Advanced Pelvic Surgery and Urogynecology of Charlotte is an out-of-network, concierge surgical practice — with no monthly or yearly membership fees. You pay for the surgical expertise and dedicated time you receive. Superbill documentation is provided for potential out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance carrier.

There are no required membership fees — the Signature Vitality Membership is available for patients who want ongoing longitudinal pelvic care, but it is never a prerequisite for treatment. Superbill documentation is provided for potential out-of-network reimbursement from your insurance carrier.

Learn About the Concierge Model
Conservative Management

At-Home Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation

For patients seeking early intervention, non-surgical options, or post-operative maintenance for stress incontinence and GSM symptoms.

The vFit® PLUS Intimate Health Device

As a first-line or rehabilitative tool, Dr. Stepp recommends the vFit® PLUS. This medical-grade device integrates therapeutic red light (662 nm), gentle thermal energy, and restorative vibration to actively engage and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles from the comfort of home.

Shop the vFit PLUS Protocol

Determine Your Pathway

You may be an early-intervention candidate. You may be surgical. You may want to avoid mesh entirely. You deserve a specialist who can tell you the difference — and execute whichever path your anatomy and goals require.

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Located at 11210 Golf Links Dr North, #100 · Charlotte, NC 28277