Monalisa Touch

Menopause is a natural life-changing event for women. It is defined as the end of menstruation or more specifically, an entire year without menstruation. When menopause will occur is difficult to predict and varies greatly by individual. Most women experience menopause between the ages of 40 and 60 with the average age being 51.  Menopause symptoms may occur during this transition. Some women experience medically, or surgically induced menopause, caused by either a hysterectomy, chemo, radiation or hormonal therapy which are common treatments for breast cancer.

Is the MonaLisa Touch™the treatment options for you? To answer your questions and get detailed insight about the MonaLisa Touch you can download a FREE copy of our Patient Guide.

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The symptoms of menopause can be unpleasant and life changing. By the time a woman reaches 40 or 50 she experiences a decrease in estrogen which can affect tissues including the vagina, vulva, uterus, breasts, bones, brain, skin, hair, heart, blood vessels, bladder, urethra and mucous membranes. Menopause symptoms include:

• hot flashes
• night sweats
• insomnia
• mood swings/irritability
• memory or concentration problems
• dryness or atrophy
• itching and burning
• heavy bleeding
• fatigue
• depression
• hair changes
• headaches
• heart palpitations
• sexual disinterest
• urinary changes
• weight gain
• dyspareunia (painful intimacy)

Atrophy or dryness is one of the most common conditions resulting from menopause and breast cancer survival. Now it can be treated with the MonaLisa Touch™ fractional C0₂ laser. Individual results may vary.

The cause of atrophy (dryness) and dyspareunia (painful intimacy) is a decline in estrogen. Without estrogen, mucosal elasticity is lost and the tissue dries out becoming fragile and susceptible to injury. The patient can experience urinary incontinence, dyspareunia, dryness, itchiness, burning, prolapse and laxity or looseness will occur.

Menopause symptoms are often ignored due to sensitivity and lack of non-invasive treatments. Patients can easily and conveniently treated in their physician’s office in just a few minutes of application. With the gentle action the MonaLisa Touch™, the procedure is well tolerated by the vulva with no risk to the surrounding tissue and organs. The laser has been clinically tested and found to be effective with most treated patients claiming substantial relief from menopause symptoms, dryness and dyspareunia. Patient’s claim the MonaLisa Touch improved hydration and comfort during intimacy. As women continue to age symptoms gradually return. An annual touch up is recommended to maintain results. Individual results may vary.

Atrophy or dryness is caused by a decline in estrogen, which can occur:

• During breast feeding
• After the removal of ovaries (surgical menopause)
• After chemotherapy for cancer
• Following pelvic radiation for cancer
• After hormonal therapy for breast cancer
• Medications indicated for hormone receptive breast cancer
• Menopause (most common)

HRT, Hormone Replacement Therapy, can relieve the symptoms of dryness and dyspareunia (painful intimacy) by boosting the estrogen levels enough to suppress symptoms. Short-term use of HRT carries little risk; however, studies have shown that long-term use (over 5 years) of HRT’s may increase a women’s risk of breast cancer. Some alternatives to HRT include the use of lubricants, birth control pills, testosterone, herbs, exercise, and acupuncture.

Alternatively, the MonaLisa Touch™ laser has been FDA approved as a safe an effective treatment for relieving symptoms. This is a hormone free alternative for women who have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation and/or hormonal therapy for breast cancer. The laser has shown improvements greater than traditional HRT, Hormone Replacement Therapy. As with any anti-aging treatment, individual results may vary.

Treatment with the MonaLisa Touch™ is non-invasive and requires no anesthesia. With the gentle action that the laser, patients can now be treated on an in-patient basis with a qualified provider. A probe is inserted delivering thermal heat to the deep layers of skin. This increases blood flow and stimulates collagen growth improving moisture and hydration without the use of lubricants and hormones. Patients can return to normal activity following a treatment session.

Noticeable results occur after only 1 session but to be fully effective a series of 3 sessions are necessary. Some patients may require 4-5 treatments depending on the severity of their condition. Each treatment session is 30 minutes and scheduled 6 weeks apart. Maintenance includes an annual MonaLisa Touch UP. As the aging process continues symptoms will gradually return. An annual touch up will protect your initial investment by avoiding repeating all 3 treatments. Individual results may vary.

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Candidates for the MonaLisa Touch™ laser treatment include the following:

• Women who wish to avoid the risks associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
• Atrophy, dryness – usually menopausal
• Dyspareunia (pain during intimacy)
• A history of breast cancer, thrombophlebitis, or other contraindications to estrogen
• Poor responders to estrogen treatment
• Patients with the goal of returning to premenopausal health

There are very few contraindications for the MonaLisa Touch™. Laser treatment is not recommended for the following:

• women who have active infections (candidiasis, herpes genitalis, etc.)
• undiagnosed lesions
• pregnancy or the 3 months following pregnancy
• a history of radiation to the treatment area
• patients who have had reconstructive pelvic surgery with “mesh kits”

Caution is currently recommended for women with a history of “TVT” type sling for incontinence. However, it this is not a contraindication.

• painful intimacy (Dyspareunia)
• dryness and discomfort
• burning itching
• weakness and laxity
• stress or mild urinary incontinence

At WA Urology we offer a package rate for 3 treatments or patients can elect to pay for individual treatments.  The MonaLisa Touch^TM can cost anywhere from $900 per treatment to $1,200 per treatment depending on location. Our rate is $2,700 for 3 treatments or $1,000 each. Check out our blog post “How much does the MonaLisa Touch Cost and other FAQ’s“.

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Lichen Sclerosus is an autoimmune disease with unknown cause.  It presents in females 7 years old to 60 as white patches on the skin around the vulva resulting in itching contributing to dyspareunia.  Lichen Sclerosus is NOT contagious.  Although the exact cause of Lichen Sclerosus is unknown risk factors may include:

• Genetics
• Autoimmunity
• Infection
• Hormones
• Skin changes

Our doctor has been treating women with Lichen Sclerosus, a vulvar autoimmune disorder.  The only current effective mode of treatment is daily vulvar steroid creams.  Flare-ups can be devastating for women.  There is evidence that MonaLisa Touch laser therapy used externally on the vulvar tissue can improve and relieve symptoms.  Patients should expect to need 5 or more sessions to see results, but may experience some improvements as early as the third treatment.  Just as with any chronic condition, regular laser treatments will be necessary to manage symptoms. Individual results may vary.

Pre-Treatment Instructions MonaLisa Touch:

• Refrain from sexual intimacy 24 hours prior to your treatment.
• Avoid the use of lubricants or creams 48 hours prior to treatment.

Post-Treatment Instructions MonaLisa Touch:

• Refrain from sexual intimacy for 48 hours following treatment.
• Most patients resume normal activity as tolerated immediately after the procedure.

We were the first clinic in the Pacific Northwest with the MonaLisa Touch™ laser.  The first treatment was performed in February 2015. Since then our doctors have successfully treated hundreds of women.

Histological study on the effects of microablative fractional CO₂ laser on atrophic vaginal tissue: an ex vivo study. S. Salvatore et al.Menopause 2015 Jan 20. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000401. [Epub ahead of print]

Vulvo-vaginal atrophy: A new treatment modality using thermo-ablative fractional CO₂ laser. A. Perino et al. Maturitas. 2015 Mar; 80(3):296-301. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.12.006. Epub 2014 Dec 25

Sexual function after fractional microablative CO₂ laser in women with vulvovaginal atrophy. S. Salvatore et al. Climacteric 2014 Dec 16. doi:10.3109/13697137.2014.975197 [Epub ahead of print]

Microscopic and ultrastructural modifications of postmenopausal atrophic vaginal mucosa after fractional carbon dioxide laser treatment. N. Zerbinati et al. Lasers Med Sci 2015 Jan, Vol. 30, No. 1:429-36. doi: 10.1007/s10103-014-1677-2. Epub 2014 Nov 20.

Microablative fractional CO₂ laser improves dyspareunia related to vulvovaginal atrophy: a pilot study. S. Salvatore et al. Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders 2014. DOI:10.5301/je.5000184. Epub 2014 Jun 20.

A 12-week treatment with fractional CO₂ laser for vulvovaginal atrophy: a pilot study. S. Salvatore et al. Climacteric Aug 2014, Vol. 17, No. 4:363-369. doi: 10.3109/13697137.2014.899347. Epub 2014 Jun 5.