Collagen and elastin are two of the most essential proteins in the body. Collagen gives our cells strength and support, while elastin gives our cells resilience, flexibility and elasticity. You may be most familiar with these proteins in the context of skin, but that is far from the only place where they play a critical role.

As women age, the vaginal cells lose both collagen and elastin. This leads to vaginal atrophy and dryness, which can dramatically decrease your ability to enjoy sex or maintain bladder control. The MonaLisa Laser is able to painlessly reverse this condition and help you feel like yourself again.

What Is MonaLisa Touch?

MonaLisa Touch is an innovative CO2 laser that can restore vaginal health. Using carbon dioxide-based technology, the laser creates small wounds in the vaginal mucosa. The body reacts by forming more collagen and elastin, which leads to improved tissue elasticity and lubrication during intercourse. It can also improve support for the bladder to reduce urinary incontinence.

For women experiencing various pelvic health conditions, MonaLisa Touch offers a hormone-free, medication-free solution. Three treatments of only five minutes each can produce long-lasting improvements in health, comfort and quality of life.

How Does MonaLisa Touch Work?

MonaLisa Touch works in a similar fashion to lasers used for skin rejuvenation. A medical laser produces a concentrated beam of light energy that converts into heat energy when it reaches the body. Depending on the type of laser, that heat energy will either remove the top layer of skin (an ablative laser) or stimulate a deeper layer of the skin to trigger collagen and elastin growth (a nonablative laser)

MonaLisa Touch causes a controlled injury to the cells lining the vagina. In an effort to heal this injury, the body sends in growth factors and stem cells, which increase both collagen and elastin production. This helps restore the vaginal cells to a healthy state to reduce pain during sex and urinary incontinence issues.

What Is SmartXide Touch?

SmartXide Touch (with V2LR Configuration) is a CO2 laser system purposely designed for MonaLisa Touch treatments. MonaLisa Touch acts on the vaginal mucosa, improving its elasticity, menopause and pelvic floor support. The SmartXide V2LR laser acts directly on the mucosal walls, tightening, reshaping, toning and stimulating tissue and regenerating collagen.

Am I a Candidate for MonaLisa Touch?

Treatment with MonaLisa Touch can help improve vaginal changes related to menopause and aging, and for younger women, it can help reverse the changes that result after childbirth. This treatment can be an especially appealing option as an alternative hormone therapy or lubricants and other messy products.

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may be a candidate for MonaLisa Touch:

• painful intercourse
• inability to have intercourse
• vaginal dryness or irritation
• loss of urine with lifting, coughing, laughing or sneezing
• persistent urge to urinate
• vaginal tearing or bleeding with sex

If you feel like you may benefit from MonaLisa Touch treatments, please contact Nouveau MedSpas for a consultation. Our compassionate, experienced team of women’s aesthetics and wellness providers will help you decide whether MonaLisa Touch is right for you.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE TREATMENTS?

The MonaLisa Touch procedure is quick and convenient. We begin the treatment by applying a topical numbing cream that is very effective and produces complete anesthesia in five minutes. We then use a small probe to treat both the inner vagina and the labia minora. The probe delivers gentle laser energy to the tissues to stimulate collagen and elastin renewal. This part of the treatment also lasts about five minutes.

Is MonaLisa Touch Painful?

Patients report little to no discomfort during the MonaLisa Touch procedure. If anything, they report feeling small vibrations as the laser emits the energy and stimulates the collagen and elastin within the vaginal wall. We apply a numbing cream on the vaginal opening and vulva before the treatment begins to ensure your comfort.

Does MonaLisa Touch Require Downtime?

Once your procedure is complete,you are free to return to your normal daily routine. There is no required downtime after a MonaLisa Touch treatment, although we do advise our patients to refrain from sexual activity for two to three days. Your provider will inform you of any personalized restrictions or recommendations.

Are There Any Side Effects?

Some women experience minor, temporary side effects after their MonaLisa Touch treatment. Possible side effects include swelling, vaginal discharge, tenderness, itching, burning, spotting or mild vaginal bleeding.

What Can I Expect From the Results?

MonaLisa Touch produces both immediate and long-term improvements. Some patients report noticing benefits soon after their first treatment. For most patients, we recommend a series of treatments for optimal results. The standard treatment protocol is three sessions spaced six weeks apart (approximately a three-month period).

Your provider will determine if follow-up sessions would be beneficial after this initial series. Many patients return every 12 to 18 months for maintenance treatments.

What Other Women’s Wellness Treatments Are Available at Nouveau MedSpas?

We have several treatment options for female sexual dysfunction and stress incontinence. In addition to MonaLisa Touch, Nouveau MedSpas offers:

TempSure Vitalia

TempSure Vitalia is a radiofrequency treatment for nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation. By delivering radiofrequency energy into the vaginal wall, Vitalia improves local circulation and stimulates collagen and elastin production. Treatments typically last less than 30 minutes and require no downtime. A series of treatments is recommended for best results.

The O-Shot

The O-Shot is a nonsurgical treatment in which human growth factors is injected into the clitoris and vaginal tissue. PRP (platelet rich plasma) is derived from a patient’s own blood and contains healing proteins called growth factors. When injected, PRP encourages the tissues to regenerate themselves. Benefits may include improved libido, more intense orgasms, increased ability to reach climax and reduction of stress incontinence.

Schedule a Consultation in Gig Harbor, Washington

If you suffer from vaginal atrophy or the symptoms associated with low hormone levels, schedule a consultation at Nouveau MedSpas. Dr. Rubin can get you back to feeling like yourself again! To set up your consultation, give us a call at (253) 358-3667 or fill out the request form on our website.

MonaLisa Touch Frequently Asked Questions

Is MonaLisa Touch Safe?

MonaLisa Touch has shown positive results in trials. A study published in 2021 concluded that fractional microablative CO2 laser therapy may be effective and safe for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy. Participants reported improvements in vulvar dryness and comfort during intercourse while reporting no major adverse events.

Is MonaLisa Touch Covered By Insurance?

Although MonaLisa Touch is not a cosmetic procedure, it is considered elective and therefore is not covered by insurance at this time. Fortunately, many women feel the investment in the procedure is offset by savings on medications and other treatments used to address their concerns.

MonaLisa Touch vs. FemiLift vs. diVa — What Is the Difference?

Like MonaLisa Touch, FemiLift and diVa are options for laser vaginal rejuvenation and urinary incontinence. MonaLisa Touch and FemiLift are fractional carbon dioxide lasers. DiVa is a hybrid fractional laser, meaning it incorporates both ablative and nonablative wavelengths. All three devices typically achieve optimal results with three treatments.

As a leading provider of aesthetic and wellness treatments in western Washington, we evaluate the safety, effectiveness and patient experience of all options before choosing a treatment to offer at Nouveau MedSpas. In terms of laser vaginal rejuvenation, we believe MonaLisa Touch is the best fit for our high standards.

MonaLisa Touch vs. ThermiVa vs. Votiva — What Is the Difference?

ThemiVa and Votiva are noninvasive radiofrequency treatments for vaginal tightening and labial rejuvenation. They can address both internal and external feminine health issues related to aging and childbirth, including incontinence, lack of lubrication and tissue laxity.

The primary difference between these treatments and MonaLisa Touch is the type of energy (radiofrequency vs. laser). Laser treatments only take about 5 minutes, while radiofrequency treatments take about 20 to 30 minutes.

Another similar option in this category is Viveve. Viveve uses cryogen-cooled monopolar radiofrequency technology (CMRF) to improve female stress urinary incontinence.

Is MonaLisa Touch Worth It?

MonaLisa Touch can thicken vaginal tissues, increase blood flow, improve lubrication and reduce pain during sexual activity. Many patients are able to stop using medications and other supplies for vaginal dryness and/or urinary incontinence. While individual experiences can vary, providers and patients alike attest to the benefits of this treatment. On RealSelf, 95% of reviewers say MonaLisa Touch is “Worth It”.

*Individual results may vary and are not guaranteed

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