Physician-led care for bowel leakage, urgency, anal sphincter damage, and loss of bowel control
As a Board-Certified General Surgeon and fellowship-trained minimally invasive colon and rectal surgeon, Dr. Astha Bhatt provides personalized fecal incontinence treatment for patients throughout Broward County and South Florida. She evaluates the pattern and severity of leakage, stool consistency, anal sphincter function, previous childbirth injuries, prior surgery, pelvic-floor disorders, and other possible causes before recommending treatment. Dr. Bhatt provides:
Fecal Incontinence Consultation—Request an Appointment
Same-week Fecal Incontinence consultation. Complete the form or call our South Florida office at (954) 388-0860
UNDERSTANDING BOWEL INCONTINENCE & WHEN TO SEEK TREATMENT
Loss of bowel control is a common, treatable medical condition—not an inevitable part of aging or something you must live with silently. Led by Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD, our practice aligns with the highest clinical standards of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). to deliver discrete, dignified, and highly effective treatment. During your comprehensive Fecal Incontinence evaluation, Dr. Bhatt identifies the exact root cause of continuous or accidental stool leakage:
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Anal Sphincter Assessment Dr. Bhatt evaluates the anal sphincter for weakness, scarring, or tears. Endoanal ultrasound may be recommended when childbirth injury, trauma, or prior surgery is suspected.
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Pelvic-Floor and Nerve Function: Testing may assess muscle coordination, nerve function, and rectal sensation to determine whether pelvic-floor therapy, biofeedback, or sacral neuromodulation may help.
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Symptoms and Underlying Causes: Dr. Bhatt reviews bowel habits, urgency, diarrhea, constipation, medications, childbirth history, previous surgery, and conditions such as rectal prolapse.
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Urgent vs. Stepped Treatment Care: While most fecal incontinence treatment begins with conservative therapies or outpatient repair, severe muscle disruption or chronic issues receive fast-tracked surgical intervention.
Every treatment plan is based on the severity of symptoms, examination findings, test results, overall health, and the patient’s personal goals. Schedule a confidential fecal incontinence evaluation with Dr. Astha Bhatt in Broward County or South Florida.
Fecal Incontinence Consultation—Request an Appointment
Same-week Fecal Incontinence consultation. Complete the form or call our South Florida office at (954) 388-0860
Depending on the cause of bowel control loss, Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD performs precise surgical and interventional procedures tailored to your anatomy and lifestyle. As a efficient colorectal surgery provider for bowel incontinence in South Florida, Dr. Bhatt restores natural control using advanced, tissue-sparing techniques.
Sphincteroplasty is the most common surgical treatment for fecal incontinence caused by muscle damage (most commonly obstetric trauma during childbirth). Dr. Bhatt carefully identifies the injured, scarred edges of the external and/or internal anal sphincter, frees them from surrounding scar tissue, and overlaps the muscle ends. They are sewn together in an overlapping fashion to tighten the anal ring and restore contractile strength.
For: Patients with documented anal sphincter muscle tears, sphincter defect after obstetric delivery, or previous trauma.
A proven, minimally invasive procedure where a small implantable device delivers gentle electrical impulses to the sacral nerves controlling the rectum, sphincter, and pelvic floor muscles.
For: Patients with intact sphincter muscles who have not responded to dietary changes, medication, or biofeedback.
In rare cases where complex muscle destruction exists and all other conservative and surgical treatments have proven unsuccessful, bowel diversion reroutes stool away from the rectum. Dr. Bhatt attaches a segment of the colon to an opening (stoma) on the abdomen, where stool is safely collected in an external pouch.
For: Refractory, end-stage fecal incontinence unresponsive to sphincter repair, nerve stimulation, or bulking therapies.
Dr. Bhatt takes meticulous care during every reconstructive procedure to preserve local nerve supply, enhance blood flow, and ensure optimal tissue healing for long-term continent control.
Patients seeking a bowel control specialist near Fort Lauderdale and across Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade Counties deserve clear explanations, individualized surgical plans, and compassionate care. Backed by hundreds of verified patient reviews across Google, Healthgrades, US News Top Doctor, and WebMD, Dr. Bhatt (Board Certified General Surgeon & Fellowship Trained in Advanced Colon and Rectal Surgery) is a trusted local expert.
FECAL INCONTINENCE PATIENT GUIDE
Learn what to expect during a specialized continence evaluation, how sphincter damage is diagnosed, and when non-surgical, minimally invasive, or surgical treatments like sphincteroplasty are recommended—directly from Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD, Board-Certified General Surgeon and Fellowship-Trained Colorectal Surgery in South Florida.
Fecal Incontinence Treatment: Causes, Testing and Surgical Options
In this educational video, Dr. Astha Bhatt explains how bowel control works, what can cause accidental bowel leakage, how fecal incontinence is evaluated, and when nonsurgical or surgical treatment may be considered.
If you are dealing with accidental stool leakage, bowel urgency, or an unhealed childbirth tear, Dr. Bhatt can evaluate your anatomy, review prior treatments, and design a personalized plan to restore control.
Meet Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD
Experienced Fecal Incontinence and Bowel-Control Specialist
For patients searching for a highly trained fecal incontinence specialist near me in Broward County and South Florida, Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD, provides an exceptional blend of top-tier surgical training, extensive clinical volume, and deeply personalized care. As a board-certified general surgeon and fellowship-trained colorectal specialist, Dr. Bhatt is committed to offering state-of-the-art medical and surgical options tailored to each patient’s goals.
Advanced Surgical Training: Completed an ACGME-accredited general surgery residency at St. Agnes Hospital (a Johns Hopkins–affiliated program)—one of the nation’s top-ranked and second-oldest general surgery residency programs. Followed by a Fellowship Council-accredited Fellowship in advanced colon and rectal surgery at AdventHealth Tampa, focusing on minimally invasive, laparoscopic, and da Vinci robotic-assisted procedures.
Extensive Clinical Experience: With more than 15+ years of clinical experience, Dr. Bhatt has personally managed care for over 8,000+ patients and performed more than 2,000+ successful general and colorectal surgical procedures.
Specialized Surgical Mastery: Dr. Bhatt is an internationally recognized surgeon with da Vinci Robotic Surgery from Intuitive Surgical, specializing in complex pelvic floor reconstruction, sphincteroplasty, and transanal procedures.
Dr. Bhatt personally oversees every aspect of patient care—from the initial consultation and diagnostic testing to surgery and postoperative rehabilitation. She coordinates closely with gastroenterologists, physical therapists, and primary care physicians to achieve optimal outcomes.
Board-Certified General Surgeon
Board-Certified: Dr. Bhatt is certified by the American Board of Surgery ensuring adherence to the strictest medical and surgical standards.
Fellowship-Trained Specialist. Focused on Fecal incontinence
Completed The Fellowship Council-accredited program by the Fellowship Council, at AdventHealth Tampa, focusing on pelvic floor disorders, sphincter reconstruction, and minimally invasive techniques.
Physician-Led Care + Patient-Centered Restoration
Dr. Bhatt emphasizes precise surgical execution to minimize recovery time, reduce postoperative discomfort, and help patients rapidly regain bowel control.
Accidental bowel leakage during daily activities or exercise
Sudden, overpowering bowel urgency that is difficult to delay
Inability to control gas (flatus) or liquid stool
History of severe tears, episiotomy, or pelvic trauma during childbirth
Dr. Bhatt welcomes patients seeking bowel incontinence evaluation, anal sphincter testing, pelvic-floor treatment planning, sacral neuromodulation consultation, or fecal incontinence surgery throughout Broward County and surrounding South Florida communities.
Serving Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, and Lazy Lake with advanced sphincteroplasty and nerve stimulation evaluations.
Providing care for patients in Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Lighthouse Point, Coconut Creek, and Parkland seeking specialized bowel control solutions
Advanced pelvic floor evaluations and sphincter repair options for residents of Coral Springs, Parkland, Margate, Tamarac, Sunrise, and Weston.
Convenient access for patients in Davie, Plantation, Cooper City, Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Hollywood, Dania Beach, and Hallandale Beach.
Comprehensive second opinions and bowel incontinence surgery for patients residing in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, and surrounding communities.
Patients from Miami-Dade County and other South Florida communities may request a consultation or second opinion when seeking advanced bowel-control treatment.
Our clinic offer specialized colorectal care across Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.
Precision Bowel Control Care Through Stepped, Patient-Focused Solutions
Today, patients in South Florida have access to a full spectrum of advanced therapies for bowel control loss. Dr. Bhatt offers a full range of fecal incontinence treatments, beginning with appropriate conservative options and progressing to advanced procedures only when necessary.
Step Treatment Spectrum – Fecal Incontinence Treatment Options
PATIENT QUESTIONS
Fecal incontinence (or bowel incontinence) is the accidental loss of solid stool, liquid stool, or gas. It is caused by weakened or torn anal sphincter muscles, pelvic floor nerve damage (often from childbirth), chronic diarrhea, rectal prolapse, or age-related tissue weakening.
Because different problems can produce similar symptoms, an evaluation is needed to identify whether the main issue involves stool consistency, muscle injury, nerve function, rectal sensation, pelvic-floor coordination, or another colorectal condition.
As a Fellowship Trained Colorectal Surgeon, Dr. Bhatt explain to her patients that choosing between non-surgical and surgical bowel control treatment depends on whether the issue stems from stool consistency, muscle weakness, or physical anatomical damage.
Nonsurgical bowel-control treatment is usually the first step. It may include adjusting fiber, treating diarrhea or constipation, using antidiarrheal medication when appropriate, bowel training, and pelvic-floor therapy with biofeedback. These treatments improve stool consistency, muscle coordination, and urgency without an operation.
Procedural or surgical treatment is considered when symptoms remain significant or testing identifies a muscle or nerve problem. Sacral neuromodulation uses a small implanted device to stimulate the nerves involved in bowel control, usually after a successful temporary trial. Sphincteroplasty repairs a defined tear in the anal sphincter, often related to childbirth injury. Injectable bulking agents are minimally invasive, but they are not first-line therapy because benefits may be limited or decrease over time. The best fecal incontinence treatment is selected after a colorectal evaluation.
A colorectal surgeon is often the most appropriate specialist for fecal incontinence because this doctor is trained to evaluate disorders of the anus, rectum, pelvic floor, and bowel-control muscles. During the consultation, the surgeon reviews stool leakage, urgency, diarrhea, constipation, childbirth injuries, previous surgery, and medications. Testing may include a physical examination, anorectal manometry, or endoanal ultrasound to assess muscle strength, rectal sensation, and sphincter damage.
In our practice, Dr. Bhatt evaluate both structural causes—such as torn sphincter muscles from childbirth—and nerve-related dysfunction. This allows us to offer tailored solutions ranging from conservative therapies and pelvic rehabilitation to specialized surgeries like sphincteroplasty or sacral neuromodulation.
While primary care doctors or gastroenterologists may manage initial symptoms, a fellowship-trained colorectal surgeon possesses advanced training in the complex anatomy of the anal sphincters, pelvic floor muscles, and surrounding nerves.
Some patients also benefit from coordinated care with a gastroenterologist or pelvic-floor physical therapist. Dr. Astha Bhatt provides physician-led care for patients seeking a fecal incontinence specialist in Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, and nearby South Florida communities.
Board-certified General surgeon Dr. Astha Bhatt reassures patients that non-surgical treatments are almost always the first line of defense for bowel leakage. Surgery is rarely the starting point in our practice.
Effective non-surgical fecal incontinence treatment focuses on identifying the root cause—whether that is loose stool, chronic constipation, weakened pelvic muscles, or impaired rectal sensation. Dr. Bhatt often begins with dietary modifications, fiber supplementation, anti-motility medications, and structured bowel retraining. Additionally, specialized pelvic floor physical therapy and biofeedback help retrain and strengthen the anal muscles that control bowel continence.
These conservative therapies successfully resolve symptoms for many individuals. Surgical options—such as sphincteroplasty repair—or sacral neuromodulation therapy are typically reserved for cases where non-surgical methods do not provide adequate relief or when a clear structural muscle tear is identified.
At our clinic, Fellowship Trained Colorectal surgeon Dr. Astha Bhatt emphasizes that a colostomy for fecal incontinence is a last-resort option, never a first-line treatment. This procedure—also known as bowel diversion—is reserved for patients with severe, unmanageable bowel leakage that has not responded to dietary changes, medication, pelvic floor therapy, sacral neuromodulation, or sphincter repair surgery.
During the procedure, Dr. Bhatt redirects the colon through an opening in the abdominal wall, allowing stool to collect safely in a secure ostomy pouch. While a colostomy is a significant life change, it can dramatically improve quality of life for individuals with end-stage muscle damage or severe nerve impairment. For selected patients, it provides predictable bowel control, protects skin health, and restores independence when other treatments have failed.
When searching for specialized fecal incontinence treatment near me in South Florida, finding a fellowship-trained expert is essential. Board Certified General Surgeon and Fellowship Trained Colorectal Surgeon Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD provides comprehensive, physician-led bowel control care for patients across Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, and surrounding communities.
To schedule an evaluation at our clinic, patients can call (954) 388-0860 or complete our online appointment form. To maximize your initial consultation, Dr. Bhatt recommends bringing any available medical records, including previous colonoscopy reports, pelvic floor therapy notes, anorectal manometry testing, imaging, operative summaries, and a complete medication list. Having these documents helps our team design an accurate, personalized treatment plan quickly so you can regain bowel control, comfort, and daily confidence.
Still Have Questions About Bowel Control Treatment? Call (954) 388-0860
PERSONALIZED TREATMENT, NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL PLAN
Fecal incontinence is a symptom rather than a single disease. Two patients with similar leakage may require very different treatment because the cause, stool pattern, muscle anatomy, nerve function, and quality-of-life effects are different.The primary objective of fecal incontinence treatment is to restore the natural muscular barrier and nerve reflexes that keep the canal closed until you are ready to empty your bowel. Dr. Astha Bhatt, MD guides patients through a structured, clinical stepped pathway tailored to the severity of their symptoms:
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Stage I: Mild / Occasional Leakage or Gas Incontinence: Focuses on stool consistency regulation, dietary fiber management, anti-diarrheal medication, and targeted pelvic floor rehabilitation with biofeedback.
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Stage II: Passive Stool Leakage with Intact Muscle Structure: Evaluates minimally invasive outpatient options such as nonabsorbable anal bulking agent injections to bulk the canal tissue and improve resting closure.
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Stage III: Moderate-to-Severe Incontinence with Intact Sphincters (Nerve Miscommunication): Utilizes Sacral Neuromodulation (SNM) therapy to gently stimulate the sacral nerves and re-establish proper brain-to-bowel signaling.
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Stage IV: Severe Leakage with Structural Sphincter Muscle Defect: Requires surgical reconstruction via Sphincteroplasty (anal sphincter repair) to re-align torn sphincter muscle fibers, restore muscular tone, and eliminate leakage.
We compile and review prior pelvic ultrasound, MRI, or surgical records to ensure a productive first visit with your colorectal specialist.
Dr. Bhatt coordinates closely with primary care doctors, gastroenterologists, and pelvic floor physical therapists to align your complete treatment plan.
Dr. Bhatt reviews relevant results and explains how the findings affect treatment recommendations.
Our experienced administrative team manages pre-authorizations and insurance coverage verifications so you can focus on your recovery.
Many commercial insurance plans, Medicare, Medicaid, and self-pay options are accepted. Call our office at (954) 388-0860 or book online to verify your coverage and schedule a bowel incontinence consultation in South Florida.
