MonaLisa Touch is a fractional CO2 laser shaped like a thin cylinder and used in the vagina. It’s used to treat Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). This GYN disorder can be caused by various factors that decrease estrogen such as menopause, breast cancer treatment
What Is MonaLisa Touch?
MonaLisa Touch is a fractional CO2 laser shaped like a thin cylinder and used in the vagina. It’s used to treat Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA). This GYN disorder can be caused by various factors that decrease estrogen such as menopause, breast cancer treatment, and removal of ovaries. Symptoms include vaginal dryness, burning, or itching; vaginal thinning or laxity (looseness); pain or decreased lubrication during intercourse; and urinary symptoms like painful urination and frequent UTIs.
How Does MonaLisa Touch Work?
The laser works by concentrating tiny beams of light that penetrate small portions of vaginal tissue. This creates pinprick holes in the aged tissue. This may sound a little scary, but have no fear–MonaLisa Touch is painless and has a very low chance of long-term side effects.
This damage to unhealthy tissue stimulates your fibroblasts (cells that play a major role in healing wounds) to replace injured cells with new, younger, healthier cells. Fibroblasts pump out proteins like collagen and elastin to build stronger and thicker vaginal tissue. These new cells bring increased moisture and blood flow to the rest of your vaginal tissue. As a result, most patients experience an 85-90% improvement in symptoms within a week or two.
What Is the Procedure Like?
Several OB-GYN doctors in The Woodlands, TX, can administer MonaLisa Touch quickly and comfortably in their own offices near you. The procedure takes only a few minutes. First, you will lay on an exam table and put your feet in stirrups. The doctor will place a small ring into your vaginal opening so the laser can be easily moved. The laser will be fired and moved a few times until all the tissue is treated. This process is painless and often described as a slight vibration.
After the MonaLisa Touch procedure, you should not put anything in your vagina for a few days. Most gynecologists recommend a few treatments in the first few weeks with follow-up appointments once a year.
Next time you get a gynecological checkup, ask your doctor if MonaLisa Touch could relieve your symptoms of vulvovaginal atrophy. This simple procedure can help you feel comfortable and confident about your vaginal health again.