If you have ever leaked when laughing, sneezing, or working out, you are not alone. If your bladder gives you almost no warning and suddenly you are rushing to the bathroom, counting seconds, hoping you make it, you are not alone. If you wake up multiple times a night to go to the bathroom, mentally map every bathroom before committing to plans, or have stopped drinking water after dinner, you are not alone either.
Urinary incontinence takes more than one form. For some it is the leak during a workout. For others it is a bladder that feels constantly in charge, demanding attention at the worst moments, overriding plans, and making simple things like a long dinner, a car ride, or a full night of sleep feel uncertain. All of it, the leaking, the urgency, the constant trips to the bathroom, often comes down to one thing — a pelvic floor that has lost its strength. When these muscles weaken, they can no longer fully support the bladder, control urgency, or hold back leakage under pressure. The result shows up differently for every person. The root cause is the same. The good news is that it is treatable.
Urinary incontinence and pelvic floor weakness affect an estimated one in three women and one in twelve men. Most people wait years before seeking help not because solutions do not exist but because the conversation feels too personal to start.
At Bissell Clinic in Montecito, we want to make that conversation easier. Pelvic floor health is not something you have to accept as your new normal. Emsella is one of the most clinically effective tools we have to restore that foundation and it is available right here in Santa Barbara.
Ready to learn more?
The Pelvic Floor: Why It Matters More Than Most People Realize
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues spanning the base of the pelvis. These muscles support the bladder, bowel, and pelvic organs. They play a direct role in bladder control, core stability, balance, sexual health, and everyday movement, standing, walking, lifting, and getting in and out of bed.
When they are strong, they give you control. When they weaken, that control slips away gradually and quietly.
Pelvic floor weakness develops for many reasons:
In women: Pregnancy, vaginal delivery, perimenopause, menopause, and the natural muscle changes of aging are the most common triggers.
In men: Prostate surgery, age-related muscle weakening, and changes in prostate size and function are among the most common causes. Male incontinence is both common and consistently undertreated.
In active adults of any age: High-impact exercise like running, cycling, and lifting, core weakness, and the physical demands of an active life over time can all play a role.
The result is urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine that happens when the pelvic floor muscles can no longer fully support the bladder. It affects comfort, confidence, and quality of life in ways that are significant but rarely discussed openly.
The Two Main Types of Urinary Incontinence Emsella Treats
Not all incontinence is the same. There are two main types and the good news is that Emsella can treat both. Knowing which one you are experiencing is the first step.
Stress Urinary Incontinence The most common type of urinary incontinence. Leaking happens when physical pressure is placed on the bladder through coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercising, or lifting. This is the leak during a run on the beach, during a reformer class, or in the middle of a spin session. It is caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles that can no longer support the bladder under pressure.
Urge Urinary Incontinence Also called overactive bladder. A sudden, intense urge to urinate that is difficult to control and sometimes results in leakage before you reach the bathroom. This is the bladder that runs your schedule, sends you rushing the moment you walk in the door, and has you mapping bathrooms before every outing. It is caused by involuntary bladder muscle contractions that the pelvic floor can no longer moderate or control.
Many people experience both. The leak during exercise and the urgency throughout the day are often two expressions of the same underlying problem. If you nodded reading both descriptions above, this is likely where you fall. At Bissell Clinic, your consultation is where we identify exactly what you are experiencing and build a plan around it.
What Is Emsella and How Does It Work?
Emsella is an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment that uses High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic technology, known as HIFEM, to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and treat urinary incontinence in both men and women.
During a comfortable 28-minute session, Emsella uses breakthrough electromagnetic technology to stimulate deep pelvic floor muscle contractions that are impossible to achieve on your own.
Here is what happens during each session:
Deep Stimulation: HIFEM energy penetrates deep into pelvic floor tissues, reaching muscle layers that voluntary exercise cannot access.
Full Muscle Activation: Each session forces supramaximal muscle contractions, the equivalent of 11,000 Kegel exercises, at an intensity that manual Kegels simply cannot replicate.
Strength Building: These contractions create new muscle fibers and strengthen existing ones, rebuilding the pelvic floor from the inside out.
Improved Bladder Control: As the pelvic floor strengthens, it provides better support to the bladder, reducing leakage, urgency, and frequency over time.
The session is comfortable and completely non-invasive. You sit comfortably on the Emsella chair, fully clothed. The technology does the work. There is no pain, no needles, no surgery, and no downtime. You leave and go directly about your day.
What the Clinical Research Shows
BTL’s published clinical data shows:
- 95% of patients reported significant improvement in quality of life
- 87% of patients reported a reduction in pad use
- 68% improvement in urinary incontinence symptoms at six months
- Women seek professional help only after living with symptoms for six or more years on average
This data is from real people who were managing the same symptoms you may be experiencing right now and who found meaningful, lasting relief.
If you have been managing your symptoms quietly for longer than you would like to admit, you are exactly who Emsella was designed for.
Ready to take the next step?
Emsella for Women in Santa Barbara
Pelvic floor weakness in women is most commonly triggered by pregnancy, vaginal delivery, perimenopause, menopause, and the natural muscle changes that come with age. These are normal parts of life. The pelvic floor weakness they cause is not something you have to live with.
Whether it shows up during a run on the beach, a yoga class, or simply going about your day, pelvic floor weakness affects how freely you move and how confidently you live. Emsella treats the root cause directly, with no surgery, no needles, and no downtime.
Emsella for Men in Santa Barbara
Male urinary incontinence is most commonly triggered by prostate surgery, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) procedures, changes in prostate size and function, and the natural weakening of pelvic floor muscles that comes with age.
These are common parts of life for many men. The pelvic floor weakness they cause is not something you have to live with.
Whether it shows up as leakage after surgery, difficulty with stream control, or an urgency that is hard to manage, pelvic floor weakness affects how freely you move and how confidently you live. Emsella provides an effective solution that works just as well for men as it does for women, with no surgery, no needles, and no downtime.
At Bissell Clinic, your care is personal. Your plan is built around you.
Pelvic Floor Health and Longevity and Why It Matters More Than You Think
The pelvic floor is part of your core. When it is weak, the entire core is affected. Core weakness contributes to balance problems, postural changes, lower back strain, and reduced physical confidence over time. Pelvic floor weakness may be quietly undermining the progress you are making in every other area of your health.
The goal is not just to feel better today. It is to keep doing the things you love most for as long as possible. Hiking, traveling, playing with your grandchildren, staying active and independent well into the years ahead. A strong pelvic floor is part of that foundation. At Bissell Clinic, we help you build it.
What to Expect During Emsella Treatment at Bissell Clinic
The session. You sit comfortably on the Emsella chair, fully clothed, for 28 minutes. The sensation is strong muscle contractions with a gentle tingling. It is not painful.
The schedule. Six sessions over three weeks, two per week. Improvement may be noticed after the first session. Results continue to build over time.
After your session. No downtime. No recovery. No restrictions. You leave and go directly about your day.
Is Emsella Right for You?
Emsella at Bissell Clinic is for people who are ready to stop managing their symptoms and start treating the cause.
You may be a strong candidate if you:
- Leak when sneezing, coughing, laughing, or exercising
- Feel a sudden urge to urinate and do not always make it in time
- Wake up multiple times a night or go to the bathroom frequently throughout the day
- Plan your life around bathroom access
- Are postpartum, perimenopausal, or menopausal and experiencing bladder changes
- Are a man experiencing incontinence after prostate surgery or age-related pelvic changes
- Have tried Kegel exercises without results
- Want to strengthen your pelvic floor as part of a proactive longevity health plan
- Want a non-surgical, non-invasive solution with no downtime
Frequently Asked Questions About Emsella in Santa Barbara
Does Emsella actually work?
Yes. BTL’s published clinical data shows 95% of patients report improved quality of life, 87% of patients reported a reduction in pad use, and 68% improvement in urinary incontinence symptoms at six months. Results are real, measurable, and long lasting.
How many Emsella sessions do I need?
Most patients complete six sessions over approximately three weeks, scheduled two times per week. At Bissell Clinic, we assess your specific situation during your consultation and build a plan tailored to your body and your goals. Some patients benefit from additional sessions depending on the severity of their symptoms.
How quickly will I see results?
Improvements may be noticed after the first session. Results continue to develop and strengthen over time as the pelvic floor muscles rebuild.
Can Emsella help with more than incontinence?
Yes. Emsella also improves core stability, balance, overall pelvic floor function, and intimate health. At Bissell Clinic, Emsella is frequently combined with Emsculpt NEO as part of our Core to Floor Solution for patients who want comprehensive core and pelvic floor rehabilitation.
Can Emsella help with overactive bladder and frequent urination?
Yes. Emsella treats both stress urinary incontinence and urge urinary incontinence, including the overactive bladder symptoms that cause frequent, sudden, and hard-to-control urges to urinate. Many people who come to Bissell Clinic primarily because of urgency and frequency report significant improvement in how often they need to go and how much warning they get.
If you are ready to strengthen your pelvic floor, restore bladder control, and get back to living fully, this is where you start.
Bissell Clinic is located in Montecito and has been serving the Santa Barbara community for nearly 30 years. Every treatment plan is thoughtfully tailored to meet your specific needs and goals. Our team takes the time to understand your condition and recommends only what is truly beneficial to your goals. Fill out the form below and we will reach out personally to answer your questions and build a plan designed specifically for you.
