The new laser therapy for vaginal and vulvar atrophy
Simple and Safe
- - Three <5 minute treatments at 6 week intervals
- - No anesthesia and virtually no pain
- - In-office procedure
- - Annual follow up treatment once a year
How MonaLisa Touch Works
MonaLisa Touch treats the symptoms of vaginal health by generating new collagen, elastin and vascularization of the vaginal mucosa. The procedure is safe, virtually painless and uses proven methods similar to those used to treat aging facial skin.
It does this using a gentle fractional CO2 laser with a vaginal probe. The laser energy is virtually painless. Similar to your annual exam, the physician will insert the probe into your vagina and deliver laser energy pulses. The entire procedure is less than 5 minutes.
A unique pulse targets surface epithelial tissue and deep lamina propria tissue to stimulate the synthesis of new collagen and the components of the ground substance of the matrix.
Fractionated beams of light penetrate small areas of tissue. This creates small injuries in the epithelial layer of the vaginal mucosa which triggers fibroblast activity which stimulates new collagen production.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is vaginal and Vulvar atrophy?
Atrophy is a condition in which the walls of the vagina and vulva become thinner and dryer due to a decrease in estrogen. It affects around 40 percent of women, particularly after menopause, and can cause painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, burning and decreased urinary tract health resulting in pain with urinary frequency and even recurrent urinary tract infection.
What treatments are available for vaginal atrophy?
Until recently, traditional therapies for vaginal atrophy included administration of hormones such as estrogen, an oral medication called Osphenia, as well as a variety of vaginal moisturizers and/or lubricants. Many women, such as breast cancer survivors, cannot take hormones or have previously tried hormone therapy with minimal to no success. Fortunately, there is now a new non-hormonal treatment called MonaLisa Touch™ that has been shown to be very successful in treating this problem.
What is MonaLisa Touch Theraphy?
MonaLisa Touch™ is a minimally-invasive treatment utilized to improve the health and pliability of the vaginal mucosa or innerlining of the vagina. A specially designed CO2 fractional laser is used in an office setting to treat an atrophic or thin and sensitive vaginal wall. The laser has unique characteristics of penetrating light or laser energy deep into the layers of the vaginal wall in such a way that it stimulates collagen and returns the vaginal tissue to a state that was present prior to the changes induced by menopause or other conditions.
How successful is the therapy?
Studies from Europe note that there is a significant improvement in the symptoms which can occur as early as a few weeks after the first treatment. A recent study performed at the Christ Hospital in conjunction with Stanford University (which is the only U.S. trial to date) confirms these results.
How many treatments are necessary?
The treatment cycle that is recommended is three treatments, six weeks apart. This usually allows a significant or complete relief of symptoms for approximately one year, after which another treatment session is usually required.
Is the treatment painful?
No anesthesia has been necessary for any patient prior to or during treatment. The procedure is done in a simple fashion by placing a small probe in the vagina with minimal to no discomfort. The treatment session lasts approximately five minutes and no post treatment pain medicine is required.
Are there any post-treatment restrictions?
As mentioned, most women have minimal to no pain with the therapy; however, a few women may note some slight localized discomfort. Full activity is usually resumed within 24 to 48 hours, however you will need to refrain from sexual intercourse for seven days.
Are there any side effects or complications?
Even though this therapy is relatively new to the United States, patients in Europe have experienced no long-term side effects. Also to date, no patients treated at Quality Women’s Care of Florida have reported any serious side effects or adverse events.