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Viasure®
Treat the source, not just the symptom with a powerful treatment to improve men’s sexual health
Why Viasure®?
50% of men over 50 will experience sexual performance issues.
While drug therapy is the typical approach to treating inadequate blood flow, it only provides a quick-fix solution and does not address the underlying physical condition. Now there’s a new way to get back in the game safely and effectively.
With ViaSure, there are no drugs, no surgery and now downtime
Mirela Cernaianu, MD
Integrative and Holistic Women’s Health & Minimally Invasive Aesthetic Center located in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, CA
What is ViaSure?
ViaSure is a men’s sexual health device, powered by SoftWave technology. The ViaSure treatment is scientifically proven to increase blood flow and restore smooth muscle cells, effectively treating the underlying causes of vascular-related performance issues. Which means no drugs, no surgery, no downtime.
What should I expect with the Viasure procedure?
ViaSure is a quick, well-tolerated, in-office procedure that only lasts 5 to 15 minutes. A gel is applied to the surface area to be treated. The applicator is gently applied to the skin. You will hear a sound as your practitioner moves around the treatment area. Patients report minimal to no discomfort during the treatment. A short series of 4 to 6 sessions may be recommended by your physician.
- Scientifically proven to form new blood vessels and increase blood flow into the penis
- Restores the damaged smooth muscle cells that help maintain tissue elasticity
- Backed by industry-leading experts
- Acoustic shockwave technology offers a quick treatment with little to no discomfort
ViaSure is a quick, well-tolerated, in-office procedure that only lasts 5 to 15 minutes. A gel is applied to the surface area to be treated. The applicator is gently applied to the skin. You will hear a sound as your practitioner moves around the treatment area. Patients report minimal to no discomfort during the treatment. A short series of 4 to 6 sessions may be recommended by your physician.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy has multidisciplinary application that has been successfully used for decades in orthopedics, physical therapy, sports medicine, urology, dermatology and veterinary medicine.
Its main benefits are rapid pain relief, improved blood flow, restoration of mobility as well as improved tissue regeneration and wound healing. It is a non-invasive therapy with minimal to no discomfort and no known side effects, ideal for accelerating the healing of a variety of acute and chronic conditions.
In regenerative medicine, the physical energy of shockwave technology is applied to all kinds of tissues at a desired depth and with an adjustable energy flux density, depending on the respective indication and pathophysiology. With its unique wide effective treatment area, this technology delivers the highest possible amount of total biologically effective energy to the target area. This physical energy produces mechanical stimulation which is recognized by mechanoreceptors of the cell and transduced into various cellular responses. The expression and release of regeneration-associated molecules, like growth factors and other signaling molecules (chemokines and cytokines), are activated. All these factors trigger intracellular signaling cascades implicated in metabolic activation, proliferation, migration and recruitment of mesenchymal and hematopoietic progenitor cells, which finally lead to improved angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, tissue remodeling and regeneration.
Biological Function and Regenerative Potential of Stem Cells.
The ViaSure treatment has a highly beneficial effect on almost every kind of tissue. Shockwaves promote sustainable regeneration of blood vessels and skin as well as of smooth muscle cells, musculoskeletal and nervous tissues, which has been widely proven by comprehensive research and numerous clinical trials.
How Does ViaSure Work?
The ViaSure treatment creates activation of connective tissue. As men age, they may develop fibrosis or damage to the smooth muscle cells of the corpora cavernosa preventing adequate blood retention. The treatment with shockwave will initiate the activation of repairing of the scarred tissue by increasing smooth muscle cells in the area, and as an outcome, increase the ratio of smooth muscle cells to fibrotic cells to restore normal tissue function. The application of low-intensity shockwave therapy on tissue triggers the release of chemoattractant factors and numerous regeneration- and growth-associated molecular signalling factors. This in turn activates tissue-resident endogenous mesenchymal stem / progenitor cells and initiates their migration, stimulates their proliferation and differentiation, enhances their survival and intra- and intercellular signalling.
The ViaSure treatment induces a short-term increase in local blood flow. The mechanical compression and movement of the tissues during the treatment leads to improved blood flow. The treated area reddens slightly and becomes warm. In addition, blood capillaries are opened, which leads to an increase in capillary surface area.
Angiogenesis and vasculogenesis are the long-term effects of this shockwave treatment. This is the formation and remodelling of blood vessels by the therapy-induced release of growth factors and the activation of stem cells. This leads to improved blood circulation and tissue supply. The expression of transcription factors, cytokines, chemokines and growth factors is modulated by the ViaSure treatment; e. g. vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukins. As a result, angiogenesis and neovascularization increase, fibrosis and inflammatory processes decrease
ViaSure treatments require about 3 to 6 (three to six) sessions. Many conditions respond very well and require only a few treatments, while others require more. The total number of treatments is case specific. As long as the chronic condition continues to respond to the treatment, ViaSure treatment should be continued.
The healing and remodelling of tissue are processes that take months, so the full therapeutic effect of shockwave therapy naturally starts a few weeks after the treatment.
No anesthesia is required.
The ViaSure treatment may be uncomfortable in some cases. Nevertheless, pain anesthesia is usually not necessary for the treatment, as patients tolerate the therapy very well. If necessary (in a highly sensitive patient), the energy level and frequency for the initial pulses can be reduced and then gradually increased as the patient tolerates
Before the procedure
We recommend the patient shave the hair in the genital area to avoid air bubbles in the treatment area.
We will use a general-purpose probe cover or sheath should be used for each patient or treatment area to avoid contamination of the membrane or cross contamination between patients or sites.
We will apply generous amounts of ultrasound gel to the treatment site. The gel can be reapplied as required to ensure good membrane / skin coupling.
Hearing protection for patient and operator is recommended, so please bring a set of personal headphones and your favorite music.
After Therapy
No special instructions regarding shockwave therapy are necessary for the patient.
Possible side effects
- bruising of penile skin
- blood in urine
- penile skin infection
- painful erection
- pain or difficulty during sexual intercourse, due to the above
Monitoring and Follow-Up
Regular monitoring can be arranged after the sessions with personal urology physician or primary care doctor. The treatment data will be recorded in the chart.
Currently, shockwave therapy for ED does not have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means it is presently still seen as an investigational or experimental treatment.
A 2019 review of clinical studies reports positive initial results from LI-EWST, with a good safety record and an improvement in erectile function. More research is needed to determine best and optimal treatment practices.
What are the ALTERNATIVE Therapies currently available?
There are many alternative treatments for ED, including medications, lifestyle changes, and surgery. Strategies depend on the cause of ED and an individual’s medical history. People may find oral medication effective, which doctors refer to as pde5 inhibitors. These include:
- sildenafil
- tadalafil
- vardenafil
- avanafil
Other treatment options include lifestyle changes like:
- making dietary changes
- considering alternatives to certain medications that may exacerbate ED, such as beta-blockers and antidepressants
- quit smoking and decrease alcohol
- managing stress, emotional, or relationship issues, through relaxation or couples therapy
- increasing exercise cardio and weight resistance as it can improve Testosterone levels
Address low Testosterone with replacement therapy or alternative protocols, depending on age and cause for low T.
Other treatment options for ED could include:
- vacuum erection devices, or penis pumps, which are tubes that cover the penis and to create a vacuum, to sustain erections
- alprostadil, a drug that doctors can administer as a urethral suppository or inject directly into the penis
- ED rings
- surgical penile implant
Please discuss Shockwave therapy with your primary care doctor or urology specialist to determine if right for you.
Links:
https://www.healthline.com/health/shockwave-therapy-for-ed#takeaway