MonaLisa Touch™
Specialised treatment for the symptoms related to vulvo-vaginal atrophy. MonaLisa Touch™ is a progressive and highly effective therapy suitable for women of all ages.
MonaLisa Touch™
with Dr Byrnes
Vulvo-vaginal atrophy is the medical term for a condition that affects more than four in ten menopausal and post-menopausal women. The loss of oestrogen production in the ovaries after menopause is the most recognised cause of vaginal atrophy. This results in a reduction of collagen in the vaginal mucosa and thinning of the epithelium, which makes the vagina more susceptible to trauma during intercourse. A concomitant reduction in blood flow leads to a decrease in vaginal secretions leading to a loss of natural lubrication. This in turn decreases the lactobacilli bacteria of the vagina which results in an increased pH level, facilitating unwanted growth of pathogens such as yeasts and bacteria. This can result in an unpleasant vaginal odour.
MonaLisa Touch™ is suitable for women of all ages experiencing symptoms related to vulvo-vaginal atrophy.
Such symptoms include
- Vaginal dryness or itching
- Urinary urgency and incontinence
- Burning sensations and irritations of the vagina
- Fissuring of the vaginal opening
- Vaginal laxity
- Pain during intercourse
While the symptoms of vulvo-vaginal atrophy are most commonly associated with menopause, younger women can also experience some or all of the symptoms due to prolonged use of the Pill, breast cancer, radiotherapy for GIT cancer or uterine cancer, breast-feeding or scarring resulting from childbirth requiring severe perineal repair. In most cases, the urethral and vaginal atrophy becomes worse over time and reduces their general quality of life in terms of bladder, bowel and sexual function. MonaLisa Touch™ is a groundbreaking specialised therapy to help restore these functions to normality.
For women who currently have or previously had breast cancer, the rate of vaginal atrophy is high—around 60 per cent. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in the form of topical vaginal oestrogen is one of the few options available to treat symptoms of vulvo-vaginal atrophy, yet it simply isn’t an option for those diagnosed with breast cancer.
Prior to MonaLisa Touch™, alternative therapy has only been unscented barrier cream and a lot of lubricant. Thankfully, MonaLisa Touch™ is suitable for patients who have previously had cervical cancer and breast cancer. In fact, they are often ideal candidates for the procedure because their cancer treatment has often caused early onset of vulvo-vaginal atrophy.
MonaLisa Touch™ can restore the pre-menopausal structure of the vaginal mucosa, resulting in a fast and effective remedy of vulvo-vaginal atrophy-related problems.
FAQ’s
The procedure typically takes around five minutes.
For most patients, the only sensation is a slight vibration.
A probe is inserted into the vagina and then slowly withdrawn. As it is withdrawn, Dr Byrnes stops every five millimetres and the fractional laser energy is delivered to the vaginal tissue.
No, it is a walk-in-walk-out procedure that doesn’t require any anaesthesia.
Following the procedure, most patients can return to their normal daily routine, although it is recommended to avoid sexual activity for around three days after the procedure.
Before having the MonaLisa Touch™ procedure, it is important that patients have a gynaecological examination to ensure there are no underlying pathologies or other problems that should be addressed prior to having the treatment.
Treatment is administered in our rooms, which can only be accessed by referral from a General Practitioner. Please call us to book a time for your consultation so we can get your treatment underway as soon as possible.
Please contact us to discuss the cost of MonaLisa Touch™. Please note that at this stage there is no Medicare item number for the treatment therefore it is not a Medicare claimable procedure, nor is it claimable through private health insurance.
As a general rule, most patients require 3 treatments, 4-6 weeks apart. A review appointment will be scheduled for 3 months after your final appointment, as this is when the best results are typically seen. During this appointment, we can discuss any need for further MonaLisa Touch™ treatments. Some patients may require another 1 or 2 more treatments and others may require a “top-up” treatment 12 months following their initial procedure and others will have already reached their desired results and not require any further treatment. Everyone is different and Dr Byrnes will advise you on your best course of action.