Patient Education

Billings OBGYN

Your Health, Our Passion

Three treatments, under 5 minutes, in-office and no anesthesia, that’s all it takes to treat changes that at least 50% of post-menopausal women experience. After menopause, estrogen levels in the body fall dramatically resulting in thinning and unhealthy vaginal tissue. This can lead to pain with intercourse and bladder symptoms such as urgency and leakage.

Previously, the only way to treat these problems was by taking oral estrogen, using vaginal estrogen creams and tablets or relying on over-the-counter lubricants. Unfortunately, the treatments are often ineffective, expensive ($1,000-$3,000 per year) with poor coverage by drug plans and messy or inconvenient to use.

Billings OB-GYN is excited to announce the purchase of a new cutting-edge technology used to treat post-menopausal women’s vaginal atrophy without relying on medications. The MonaLisa Touch works by utilizing a fractional carbon dioxide laser that delivers gentle laser energy to the vaginal wall tissue. This process stimulates a healing response to generate new collagen, elastin and blood vessel growth helping return the vagina to pre-menopausal condition.

Typical therapy consists of three laser treatments, spaced at one every 6 weeks and improvement begins as early as week 2. Maintenance treatments are typically done once a year and only involve a single treatment. Benefits of MonaLisa Touch include:

  • In-office, under 5-minute treatments
  • Requires no anesthesia
  • Minimal side effects
  • No downtime
  • Symptom relief as fast as one treatment
  • Thousands of women successfully treated since 2012

Is MonaLisa Touch right for you?

Post-menopausal women suffering from vaginal changes are a good candidate. This includes patients experiencing vaginal pain with intercourse, vaginal dryness, itching, odor, irritation or tenderness. Also, some patients just want to revitalize their vaginal area. Some individuals are unable to use estrogen therapy including those with a history of estrogen-sensitive cancers like breast cancer or a history of blood clots.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happens during treatment?

A: The procedure will seem similar to your annual exam, and will likely be even quicker.  Your healthcare provider will insert the laser into your vagina and deliver laser energy  “pulses.” The total procedure time is less than 5 minutes.

Q: Does it hurt?

A: The laser energy itself is virtually painless. Some patients report mild discomfort with the laser tip insertion during the first procedure if there is vaginal dryness.

Q: How soon can I expect results?

A: Many patients have reported that they experience relief right away. Virtually all patients have experienced relief by the second treatment.

Q: How long does treatment last?

A: MonaLisa Touch provides lasting results. A once-a-year single treatment is recommended to maintain symptom relief.* This can be done quickly and conveniently during your annual checkup.

By: Dr. Douglas A. Neuhoff, MD

*Your doctor will determine with you if follow up treatments are required.