Women undergo several changes as they age. For example, as a byproduct of menopause, many women experience more frequent mood swings, hot flashes, and lower sex drive. However, aging isn’t the only thing that can affect your sexual health. Fortunately, treatments such as the Mona Lisa procedure at InVogue Rejuvenation in El Paso, TX can restore your feminine health and confidence.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Mona Lisa Procedure?
Women who are experiencing issues related to vaginal atrophy, painful intercourse, or other symptoms are typically good candidates for the Mona Lisa procedure. Vaginal atrophy can include dryness, itching, inflammation, and lack of natural lubrication. Painful intercourse can also occur because of vaginal atrophy, or it can be associated with postmenopausal changes.
Women who are breast cancer survivors are also sometimes good candidates for this vaginal rejuvenation procedure. For example, if chemotherapy and hormone therapy to treat breast cancer have caused a decrease of estrogen in your body, this treatment can stimulate the natural vaginal tissues to correct the symptoms of decreased estrogen without compromising your health.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate?
Although most women who are experiencing signs of vaginal atrophy are typically good candidates for the Mona Lisa procedure, there are still some restrictions on this treatment.
For example, you’re likely not a candidate for this treatment if you have vaginal lesions, cervical lesions or if you have an active STD you are receiving treatment for. Additionally, women who are currently pregnant or who have given birth in the last three months are not candidates for this treatment.
Other FAQs
Is There a Best Age for This Treatment?
Generally speaking, younger women will not experience the same type of sexual dysfunction as older women. While younger women may have trouble with a lack of natural lubrication due to biology, medication, or anxiety, the underlying cause of the sexual dysfunction is different from the underlying cause of sexual dysfunction in older women.
Specifically, older women experience sexual dysfunction due to cellular aging in vaginal tissues. Sometimes, sexual dysfunction in older women is also caused by childbirth earlier in life. For this reason, the most common ages to use a vaginal rejuvenation treatment for women are those between the ages of 40 and 60.
What Should You Do Before Treatment?
To prepare for your vaginal rejuvenation treatment, you will need to bathe the treatment area the morning of your appointment so that the vaginal area is clean. However, you should not douche for at least one week before this treatment, since douching can cause skin sensitivity that will compromise your treatment. Instead, you should clean the vaginal area with mild soap and lukewarm water.
Additionally, do not apply any cream or lotion to the outside of the vagina. You should also trim pubic hair. However, you should avoid shaving, waxing, or using hair removal creams in this area for at least two weeks before your appointment.
How Long Is Recovery?
The overall recovery time for this treatment is about a week – however, you will be able to resume most of your normal activities within three days. The recovery time is important since you must give your vaginal tissues enough time to fully heal before engaging in certain activities. That said, most women go back to work after their procedure.
What Are Your Aftercare Instructions?
If you want the best results from your treatment, then following your aftercare instructions is very important. The biggest rule is to avoid steam, hot water, or any chemicals on the vaginal area for as long as possible. Again, you should avoid douching after treatment so you don’t upset the pH balance of your body or irritate vaginal tissue.
You will also need to limit strenuous activity, which means no straining movements or lifting heavy objects for at least three to five days. You should also avoid strenuous cardiovascular exercise, although walking and light exercise such as yoga may be okay.
When Can You Have Sexual Intercourse?
After your Mona Lisa procedure, you will not be able to engage in sexual intercourse for at least a week. Because penetrative sex can cause significant friction to vaginal tissues, it’s best to wait until your vaginal tissues have fully healed from the CO2 laser treatment.
What Is Treatment Like?
This treatment is very similar to an annual gynecological exam. The Mona Lisa procedure uses a CO2 laser that generates thermal energy to lightly ablate the vaginal tissue. By creating small abrasions, the vaginal tissue will respond by increasing collagen and blood flow to the area, which will also resolve symptoms of vaginal atrophy and painful intercourse. Your treatment will be performed in a private room and will usually take half an hour to complete.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
To get the best results, you’ll likely need at least three treatments. Your treatment appointments will be spaced four to six weeks apart, depending on your sensitivity levels and how well you’re responding to the treatment.
Your provider may recommend additional sessions to treat severe symptoms, particularly if you have urinary incontinence. After you achieve your optimal results, you will need to have regular maintenance appointments, usually once or twice a year.
How Long Will Results Last?
The results of the Mona Lisa procedure can last for several months to a year, depending on your age, the severity of your symptoms, and how well you respond to treatment. For example, some younger women may be able to enjoy faster and longer-lasting results, while older women may need to have touch-up appointments more frequently.
You may be able to prolong your results by increasing your estrogen production in other ways, such as with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. For women with urinary or stress incontinence, activities such as pelvic floor exercises and Kegel exercises may be a way to boost the efficacy of your Mona Lisa treatment. If you believe medications are causing your sexual dysfunction, you may also want to discuss alternative treatments with your primary care physician.
What Are the Benefits of This Treatment?
As a minimally invasive vaginal rejuvenation treatment, there are several significant benefits of using the Mona Lisa Touch system. For example, this treatment is utterly painless because the gentle thermal energy generated by the CO2 laser is customized for sensitive vaginal tissues. Other benefits of this treatment include:
Reduce Urinary Incontinence
Many women experience urinary incontinence, particularly after childbirth. However, if you’re experiencing urinary incontinence later in life, the cause could be a combination of a weak pelvic floor and lower estrogen production. Because estrogen is related to the muscular control of the bladder, postmenopausal women often struggle with the urgent need to urinate.
However, this treatment can significantly reduce urinary incontinence, even in younger women. This works because the increased blood flow to the vagina tightens vaginal tissues and the pelvic floor, which works to strengthen bladder control. Stress incontinence may also improve after this treatment.
Increase Natural Lubrication
There are many causes for a lack of natural lubrication. For example, psychological causes like stress and anxiety can make it more difficult for women to produce natural lubrication. Medications, childbirth, vaginal infections, and other health conditions can also decrease natural lubrication. However, the most common culprit of a lack of natural lubrication is low estrogen caused by menopause.
This treatment works to increase natural lubrication by simultaneously stimulating the tissues in the vagina and increasing vaginal sensitivity. Although you still may be more comfortable using artificial lubrication during penetrative intercourse, many women find a significant improvement in natural lubrication after this treatment.
Tighten Vaginal Tissues
Vaginal atrophy can occur because of strained muscles from childbirth or a loosening of vaginal tissues associated with the decrease of collagen production due to aging. Tightening vaginal tissues can make sex more comfortable and can also increase your feminine confidence. This unique CO2 system will help tighten vaginal tissues after this procedure because of the higher production of collagen and elastin in the vagina.
Refresh Your Feminine Confidence
Women can undergo several troubling changes associated with aging or as a result of childbirth. For example, if you’re experiencing painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, lack of natural lubrication, or other sexual dysfunction, the symptoms could be related to your hormones or vaginal atrophy. Luckily, a treatment such as the Mona Lisa Touch can refresh your feminine confidence. Get in touch with InVogue Rejuvenation in El Paso, TX to schedule your initial consultation today.
