Articles · Bladder and leaks
What is Altaviva tibial nerve stimulation?
Altaviva is a small device placed under the skin near the ankle. It quietly stimulates the tibial nerve that helps regulate bladder signaling, which can ease a sudden need to go and leakage. Placement is a brief outpatient procedure, and the device then works on its own. If bladder medicines have not settled those symptoms, you can ask our urologists at the Alpharetta / Roswell office whether this implant is a reasonable next step.
What is an Altaviva implant?
Altaviva is a small implant placed under the skin near the ankle. It gently stimulates the tibial nerve, which connects to the nerves that control the bladder.
How does it help urgency and leaks?
That can calm urgency and leaks. It's placed in a short outpatient procedure and works in the background.
Who should ask about Altaviva?
Ask about Altaviva if urgency or leaks have not settled with bladder medicines or pelvic floor therapy. Altaviva is a small implant placed under the skin near the ankle that stimulates the tibial nerve, and it is one of the options Advanced Urology offers. A visit at this office reviews the pattern of symptoms and whether that implant is a reasonable next step.
Request an appointment at Advanced Urology.
Questions to bring to your visit
- Is Altaviva a fit if bladder medicine has not been enough for my urgency?
- What does the outpatient placement involve?
What happens at your visit with us?
If you are already on an overactive-bladder medicine, bring the name and how long you have taken it. Our urologists can talk through whether an ankle implant like Altaviva is a reasonable next step, and what the short outpatient placement involves at our surgery center in the same Roswell building.
When should I call us?
Call us if bladder medicines have not settled your urgency or leakage, or if you would rather talk through a treatment that works on its own in the background. Fever, inability to urinate, or heavy bleeding should go to an emergency room.
How do our urologists approach this?
Altaviva acts on the tibial nerve near the ankle, a pathway that helps the bladder hold and empty on a more regular schedule. Our urologists explain how the implant sits under the skin and whether that approach fits the pattern of urgency or leaks you describe.
Our urologists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners see adults from Alpharetta, Roswell, Milton, Crabapple and Mountain Park at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Related video
An official Advanced Urology video on Altaviva, and one on sacral neuromodulation for overactive bladder:
Related reading from our team
Related care: overactive bladder care at our Alpharetta / Roswell office.
Read more from Advanced Urology: Altaviva tibial nerve stimulation · Overactive bladder
For education, not medical advice. Every treatment has risks and benefits. Emergency? Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Whenever you’re ready, our Alpharetta / Roswell team would be glad to hear from you.