The Mona Lisa Touch is for pre and post-menopausal females. It’s for women who are experiencing symptoms of painful intercourse, vaginal atrophy, bladder urgency, mild stress incontinence, vulvar pain or vulvar dermatitis.

What is vaginal atrophy?

Vaginal atrophy or vaginal aging affects 40% of menopausal and post-menopausal women. The walls of the vagina become thinner and the natural elasticity and blood supply is reduced. The protective mucosa of the vagina can lose hydration and thickness causing a loss of lubrication. The changes in the natural pH balance of the internal environment have detrimental effects on the function and health of the vagina.

What are the physical and emotional effects of vaginal atrophy?

The symptoms of vaginal atrophy may or may not occur simultaneously and be felt as:

  • Vaginal dryness or itchiness
  • Burning sensations and irritation of the vagina
  • Fissuring of the opening of the vagina
  • Pain during sexual intercourse (Dyspareunia)
  • Vagina pain

The symptoms of vagina atrophy can have both a physical and emotional impact on the patient, including affecting their intimate relationships.

In addition, younger women who have used the pill for prolonged periods, breast-feeding mothers and women who experienced traumatic delivery and severe perineal repair and scarring may also experience these symptoms.

Around 60% of breast cancer sufferers can also be affected by vaginal atrophy and unfortunately Hormone Replacement Therapy is not suitable for almost all of these patients. Meaning there is no effective treatment for their symptoms.

Existing treatment options for vaginal atrophy

Existing treatments involve making lifestyle changes to improve vulvar care and using therapeutic creams such as non-scented barrier cream or topical Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT-vaginal estrogen cream) if not contraindicated.

The effectiveness of these current treatments is highly dependent on the willingness of the patient to adhere to treatment protocols. In addition, the effects of existing treatments are short term in nature and the benefits are longer felt if the patient discontinues use.

In comparison, the Mona Lisa Touch procedure addresses a number of the issues causing vaginal atrophy, which means the effects of treatment are long lasting and will be felt independent of any actions performed by the patient.

“Words cannot describe how happy I am with the results of the Mona Lisa Touch procedures. I had been experiencing vaginal dryness and significant pain for more than five years…I was apprehensive about the procedure but Dr. Esser and her staff were great, they provided comfort and guidance through the entire process. Looking back, there was little to no pain during the procedures and there was little discomfort post procedure. I noticed a significant improvement after the second procedure, and after the third procedure I am completely pain free and fully restored. In my opinion, this procedure is a miracle, I never thought I could ever be pain free with intercourse, I felt I was destined to always have pain when it came to intimacy with my spouse. Dr. Esser, I cannot thank you enough for your recommendation, guidance and genuine care through the entire process, including the last ten years of being my OB/GYN. I highly recommend Dr. Esser and this procedure, it has been a life changing experience. THANK YOU!” 


– Korri

The Mona Lisa Touch treatment is of particular benefit for patients with a past history, or strong family history of breast cancer who may have previously be advised against using HRT and until now have had no effective treatment for their symptoms for vaginal atrophy.

Mona Lisa Touch Treatment

The treatment is a new non-surgical in office 5-minute procedure that delivers a precise amounts of heat to the vaginal tissue. This precise heat allows for regeneration of the vaginal tissue, promoting proliferation of cells and restoration of the vaginal wall strength, PH and blood supply. It allows for regeneration of collagen this increasing thickness and elasticity.
The Mona Lisa Touch procedure offers significant advantages over current treatment options as it addresses the issues that cause vaginal atrophy rather than simply working on the symptoms. The Mona Lisa Touch creates longer lasting relief than current treatments and offers a new and effective option for patient groups who were previously not suitable for existing treatments.

Is the Mona Lisa Touch FDA approved?

The Mona Lisa Touch Laser system has been FDA cleared as safe to use. It is a CO2 Fractional laser that has been cleared for gynecological and surgical use, however, the Mona Lisa Touch Co2 Laser has not been specifically FDA approved for treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (vulvovaginal atrophy) or painful intercourse. Therapy using the Mona Lisa Touch laser has been documented as an appropriate and efficacious treatment for vaginal symptoms due to menopause in the medical literature. There have been numerous studies on how this device has improved the symptoms genitourinary syndrome of menopause. This is an “off-label” use of a device which has been used in a medical setting in thousands of women. Doctors often use medications and devices beyond the original FDA approval when supported by the medical literature. A good example of this is birth control pills which are often prescribed for treatment for treatment of heavy or painful periods even though birth control pills have never been FDA approved for this purpose.