A method for implanting an artificial sphincter to control urinary incontinence in a patient includes two implantation procedures and an intervening interval of testing and healing. The first procedure employs a trocar or laparoscope to insert and position an inflatable compression balloon 66 in the patient's space of Retzuis between the patients's posterior pubic symphysis and bladder neck/urethra 12,14 with a fluid conduit 26 extending transcutaneously through the abdominal wall. Using a trocar and Foley catheter, the patient's anterior bladder is elevated and connected to the patient's abdominal wall by a felt matrix or mesh patch 32 to effectively lengthen and stabilize the urethra. The conduit is used externally to determine respective first and second fluid pressures needed to occlude the urethra and to permit voiding. The second procedure is to implant a fluid reservoir 22 and manually-actuable valve 46 subcutaneously ofer the patient's anterior pubis 16 or abdomen and to connect them to the compression balloon via the conduit in a closed system. The system is filled with a quantity of fluid just sufficient to inflate the balloon to the first pressure occlude the urethra when the reservoir is manually compressed by the patient and to equilibrate to the second pressure to permit voiding when the valve is actuated.