What is the MonaLisa Touch?

MonaLisa Touch is a fractional CO2 laser treatment that is specifically designed to treat vaginal atrophy (also called vaginal dryness) and other conditions related to vaginal health. It is a non-surgical, minimally invasive procedure that uses a laser to promote collagen production and restore vaginal tissue health. The treatment is FDA-cleared for vaginal atrophy, particularly for postmenopausal women, but it has also shown promise in treating other gynecological concerns such as incontinence.

MonaLisa Touch: For Vaginal Dryness or Pain

If your post-menopausal vagina hurts when you have intercourse, you have probably been told to use an estrogen cream to help heal the tissue and mucosa. Because the vagina is so sensitive to hormone shifts, when your natural level of estrogen drops, your vagina can be the first part of your body to feel the difference. The pain you are experiencing with intercourse is probably burning, chafing or irritation because the mucosa in the vagina has gotten thin and irritated and tears easily.

Using hormone creams can help alleviate the problem, but some women can’t use estrogen because of a history of breast cancer and some women just don’t like using daily creams.

MonaLisa Touch: For Urinary Incontinence

The MonaLisa Touch laser gently improves the tissues of the vaginal canal by stimulating collagen production and improving elasticity and lubrication.  This process leads to thicker, more robust tissue that can better support the urinary tract reducing episodes of incontinence.

Relieve painful, dry vaginal discomfort without hormones with MonaLisa Touch.

  • Non-surgical procedure 
  • Clinically proven to bring long lasting relief
  • No anesthesia required 
  • No hormones
  • 3 treatments of less than 5 minutes each
  • Virtually no pain or side effects
  • No downtime

Benefits of MonaLisa Touch

The primary use of the MonaLisa Touch is for Vaginal Atrophy.

The benefits include:

  • Improved vaginal lubrication and moisture.
  • Enhanced vaginal elasticity, reducing vaginal dryness and discomfort.
  • Reduced pain during intercourse.
  • Improved vaginal tone and tightening.
  • Stimulated collagen production in the vaginal tissues for a more youthful appearance.
  • Non-hormonal, non-invasive solution for postmenopausal women or women who cannot use estrogen-based therapies.

Off-Label Uses of MonaLisa Touch

While the primary use of MonaLisa Touch is for treating vaginal atrophy, some gynecologists and providers use the treatment for off-label purposes to address additional concerns, such as:

1. Urinary Incontinence

  • What It Is: MonaLisa Touch has been used to improve urinary incontinence (especially stress urinary incontinence), which often coexists with vaginal atrophy.
  • How It Helps: The laser energy can improve the strength of pelvic floor muscles, enhance urethral support, and promote tissue regeneration, reducing urinary leakage.

2. Vaginal Laxity (Loose Vaginal Walls)

  • What It Is: MonaLisa Touch can be used for women experiencing vaginal laxity after childbirth or aging, where the vaginal muscles and tissues become less firm.
  • How It Helps: The treatment stimulates collagen production, possibly improving vaginal tightness and muscle tone, leading to enhanced vaginal firmness and overall sexual satisfaction.

3. Postpartum Healing

  • What It Is: After childbirth, women may experience vaginal discomfort, tears, or scarring that affects their sexual health and comfort.
  • How It Helps: MonaLisa Touch can help improve healing, reduce scarring, and restore elasticity to vaginal tissues.

4. Enhancement of Sexual Function and Orgasm

  • What It Is: Some women use MonaLisa Touch to improve overall sexual health and orgasmic function, particularly if they experience reduced sensation due to aging, menopause, or childbirth.
  • How It Helps: By stimulating blood flow and enhancing the elasticity of vaginal tissue, it may improve sensation and sexual satisfaction, potentially aiding in achieving orgasm.

5. Chronic Vaginal Infections or Atrophic Vaginitis

  • What It Is: Women suffering from frequent chronic vaginal infections or atrophic vaginitis (vaginal inflammation) may find relief from MonaLisa Touch.
  • How It Helps: The procedure can help restore healthy tissue by stimulating collagen and enhancing the vaginal environment, potentially reducing inflammation and infections.

6. Painful Intercourse (Dyspareunia)

  • What It Is: Some women experience persistent pain during intercourse, often due to vaginal atrophy or vaginal dryness.
  • How It Helps: By improving vaginal moisture, tone, and lubrication, MonaLisa Touch can reduce the discomfort associated with painful intercourse, helping to restore sexual function.

How does the MonaLisa Touch work?

MonaLisa Touch treats the symptoms of vaginal atrophy 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.

This energy:

• Stimulates collagen production.
• Improves blood flow.
• Helps improve the elasticity of the vaginal walls and increase vaginal lubrication.

The process encourages regeneration of the vaginal lining and improves the health and elasticity of the vaginal tissues, addressing common symptoms of vaginal atrophy.

What is Vaginal Atrophy?
Vaginal atrophy refers to the thinning, drying, and inflammation of the vaginal walls, often caused by a decrease in estrogen levels, commonly due to:

• Menopause.
• Postpartum changes.
• Chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
• Breastfeeding.

Symptoms of vaginal atrophy can include:

• Vaginal dryness.
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia).
• Urinary issues (e.g., urinary urgency, incontinence).
• Decreased vaginal lubrication.

Although significant improvement is noted even after the initial treatment, we recommend 3 procedures performed at 6 week intervals. Each treatment lasts about 5 minutes.

Who is a Candidate for MonaLisa Touch?

MonaLisa Touch is particularly beneficial for women who experience:

• Vaginal atrophy associated with menopause or other estrogen-related issues.
• Pain during intercourse due to vaginal dryness or thinning of vaginal tissues.
• Reduced vaginal elasticity and lubrication.

It is also beneficial for:

• Women who experience vaginal dryness from breastfeeding, chemotherapy, or radiation.
• Women looking for non-hormonal solutions for vaginal health.

MonaLisa Touch can be an option for women who do not want to use systemic or local hormone therapy or for those who have not found relief from topical treatments like creams or lubricants.

What to Expect During the MonaLisa Touch Treatment

Procedure Duration: The treatment typically lasts about 5 to 10 minutes.

Treatment Sessions: Most women require three treatments spaced about 6 weeks apart. After the initial series, maintenance treatments are often recommended every 12-18 months.

Anesthesia: The treatment is painless for most women, a local numbing cream is applied to the vaginal area as needed for comfort.

Post-Treatment Care: There is minimal downtime, and most women can return to normal activities immediately. Some women may experience mild discomfort or spotting, but these side effects are typically short-lived.

Who does the treatment? / Where is the treatment done?

The MonaLisa Touch is a quick, simple and safe procedure that doesn’t require anesthesia. Performed by one of our highly-trained Nurse Practitioners, or Physician Assistants, the procedure is done at our office in Harrison, NY.