Mona Lisa Touch laser

derMaus

My radiation oncologist's office has 'MonaLisa touch' laser for vaginal restoration; not something I would normally notice but, given how thinned out everything has become post-treatment, it caught my eye. I did a search of the entire ACS website and didn't find anyone who'd used it so am posting here. Below is a comment from an MD on another site: 

There are many groups who benefit from MonaLisa Touch (MLT) therapy.  The top reasons that we treat patients are: 1) Vaginal atrophy in menopause.  We use the MLT laser to relieve symptoms of itching, burning and pain with intercourse.  It normalizes the tissues, pH and bacteria in the vagina without the use of hormones.  This is especially good for women who can not use hormones (breast cancer, uterine cancer, blood clots) and those who have not had success with hormone.  Some women just don't tolerate the pills or creams, and find this a wonderful alternative. 2) Urinary symptoms. Especially in menopause (but even before) we see and increase in urgency and frequency of urination and can also see an increase in stress incontinence (losing urine with cough, sneeze, exercise).  MLT laser can help with all of these symptoms, as long as there is no anatomic disorder that needs to be fixed.

Has anyone heard of this, or had any experience with it? I checked the reviews at Real Self and the overall rating is 91%, which is quite high for that site. I'm curious....

 

NoTimeForCancer

well, we are all going to be

well, we are all going to be busy googling Mona Lisa Touch....LOL

I have never heard this mentioned before.  Sounds like we must learnn more because hormones are out for us.

Armywife

Was wondering what it was!

I just saw an ad in a local magazine here in San Antonio and had never heard of it before.  Here's what the ad said:

"Women Partners In OB/GYN.  Mona Lisa Touch - when is it needed?  Vaginal dryness, Mild urinary incontinence due to vaginal atrophy, Vaginal burning, Decreased vaginal lubrication during sexual activity, Discomfort with intercourse, Genital itching, Light bleeding after intercourse, Vaginal discharge, Shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal."  

I wonder what exactly it is?  I can't imagine worrying about it right now as I'm preoccupied with whether all these twinges are meaning I'm having a recurrence already.  But I sure know my surgeon said I'm as thin as tissue paper down there....

derMaus

Armywife said:

Was wondering what it was!

I just saw an ad in a local magazine here in San Antonio and had never heard of it before.  Here's what the ad said:

"Women Partners In OB/GYN.  Mona Lisa Touch - when is it needed?  Vaginal dryness, Mild urinary incontinence due to vaginal atrophy, Vaginal burning, Decreased vaginal lubrication during sexual activity, Discomfort with intercourse, Genital itching, Light bleeding after intercourse, Vaginal discharge, Shortening and tightening of the vaginal canal."  

I wonder what exactly it is?  I can't imagine worrying about it right now as I'm preoccupied with whether all these twinges are meaning I'm having a recurrence already.  But I sure know my surgeon said I'm as thin as tissue paper down there....

I think it's just a wand they

I think it's just a wand they stick up you, kinda like a thin tampax - from what I can tell. I'd never heard of it until I saw it on my doctor's website, so you're ahead of me.

pinky104

Twinges

I had very few symptoms before my first cancer diagnosis.  One I had almost every day, once a day, was a twinge in my left side.  Both my ovaries were found to have cancer in them so I think the twinge was coming from the site of the left ovary.  The right side was fine.  Now, after my second cancer surgery, I occasionally have a pain in my right side at about the level of my naval.  I asked the PA at my Cancer Center about it on Friday, and she thought it was from scar tissue.  I'd had extensive surgery both times for stage IVb UPSC.  The second surgery included two resections of my intestines, one for cancer, and one for my intestines that had grown into the mesh from my incisional hernia repair two years after my first surgery.  I suppose there's a chance that you could also have an incisional hernia and that could be what's causing your pain.  Ask the doctor if he/she can feel it the next time you have a check-up.  Pay attention to when you're having the pain--if it's after eating a gassy food or a spicy food, drinking carbonated drinks, etc.  Do you have any reflux symptoms?  They're all things to consider.

Soup52

One of my friends who is a

One of my friends who is a breast cancer survivor is using that monalisa touch. I believe it is not recommended for us, but I’ll ask her more about it and get back to you. Personally sex is not high on my priorities right now. It had been painful before surgery. My husband has prostate cancer so he isn’t minding too much. I know I’m probably in the minority but those are my feelings.

Northwoodsgirl

Vaginal rejuvenation?

I would look for the FDA approved indications. Also check PubMed.Gov and look for peer reviewed double blind study specifically with women who have survived uterine cancer. My first thought is it is not something I would try. My vagina has had enough having had external and brachytherapy in addition to the shock of hysterectomy and chemo. Caution note: when considering laser treatment anywhere on your body for anything one needs to understand the training and experience the provider has with the specific laser and indication. There probably are no long term studies determing how women do over time with the laser. I am 100% confident that having had brachytherapy would be a contraindication.

Lori

NoTimeForCancer

Soup, you remind us what

Soup, you remind us what really is important.  

Lori, good points.  I guess someone would have to sold all of on this if there weren't issues.  "My vagina has had enough" - that is pretty funny!!!

Northwoodsgirl

Prophetic words

LOL! It was early in the morning when I wrote that comment...my vagina has had enough! That was a Freudian slip or lack of caffeine or

the simple truth! Thanks for pointing out the humor in my opine posting:)

Lori

Armywife

Northwoods!

I'm laughing so hard because I bet there's not a woman among us who doesn't agree that our vaginas have had enough!  Love it!  (I didn't even know it was a laser - the ad was all I'd seen and I had no idea what it was and then when derMaus mentioned it and I had just seen that ad, I had to comment!

Northwoodsgirl

Vaginal rejuvenation

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/846960https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/846960

Interesting article about the lasers for vaginal rejuvenation. Not enough research or evidence for me to risk the procedure. 

Lori

pinky104

Mona Lisa Touch

I recently saw an ad for a place in Clifton Park, NY (just north of Albany) where it's being done.  I can't recall what the ad said exactly, but I remember it sounded promising.  From the address the ad mentioned, it sounded like the same building where my mother went for assisted living after having a brain injury.  That surprised me, as it only was used for memory-impaired people  when she was there.  There were no medical offices in the building, and I can't imagine how they would have divided up the place to add a medical office.

CheeseQueen57

Charissa said:

It Sounds too Good to Be True

Oh, how I could use all of these benefits about now. Lol!

Relief from Painful Intercourse (Hubby doesn’t quite understand, it’s just not the same. I’ve since learned how to fake the big “O” – Ugh!  Each time I eagerly await for the right sensations to return, so I feel normal again. So far, almost a year and a half later – no go!)

Vaginal Lubrication (This was a problem before the hysterectomy, as a symptom of menopause. Hasn’t gotten any better.)

Normalized Tissue (I, too, have the thin tissue – confirmed by the oncologist. Doesn’t help intimacy, as I envision having to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery afterward and what would we tell our daughters?)

Urinary Symptoms (This has been a problem ever since the surgery. I swear I have permanent nerve damage. The first year of recovery was pain, while relieving urine.  Now, when I lay down to sleep, my bladder starts spazzing as if there were a baby in there kicking to get out. It is the WEIRDEST feeling!  Not to mention, repetitive false bladder infections.)

Assistance with Incontinence (It would be nice not to wear a panti-liner for this reason only.)

Shortening of the Vaginal Canal (Well, I guess the hubby finds enjoyment in this, but it sure doesn’t find favor with me.  I can’t get the tube sock illustration out of my mind.)

I’ve had some say, "It eventually all goes back to feeling normal."  I’ve yet to have that happen. I sometimes wonder if it’s just me!  Sadly, I think this is my new life. And, like Soup52 and Northwoodsgirl, my girl parts have had enough!!  

 

Too Good to be True

Sadly, we’ve given up on sex and this renal stent has pretty much sealed that deal (did I tell you it’s horrible). Anyway,you might try vitamin E vaginal suppositories for the vaginal dryness. I found those a Godsend for relieving the urinary burning and phantom UTIs. You can order them on Amazon. They’re pretty cheap and may do the trick. BTW, I’m still trying to use that x@&& dilator a couple times a week but it does nothing. Thinking of abandoning that effort. 

Charissa

It Sounds too Good to Be True

Oh, how I could use all of these benefits about now. Lol!

Relief from Painful Intercourse (Hubby doesn’t quite understand, it’s just not the same. I’ve since learned how to fake the big “O” – Ugh!  Each time I eagerly await for the right sensations to return, so I feel normal again. So far, almost a year and a half later – no go!)

Vaginal Lubrication (This was a problem before the hysterectomy, as a symptom of menopause. Hasn’t gotten any better.)

Normalized Tissue (I, too, have the thin tissue – confirmed by the oncologist. Doesn’t help intimacy, as I envision having to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery afterward and what would we tell our daughters?)

Urinary Symptoms (This has been a problem ever since the surgery. I swear I have permanent nerve damage. The first year of recovery was pain, while relieving urine.  Now, when I lay down to sleep, my bladder starts spazzing as if there were a baby in there kicking to get out. It is the WEIRDEST feeling!  Not to mention, repetitive false bladder infections.)

Assistance with Incontinence (It would be nice not to wear a panti-liner for this reason only.)

Shortening of the Vaginal Canal (Well, I guess the hubby finds enjoyment in this, but it sure doesn’t find favor with me.  I can’t get the tube sock illustration out of my mind.)

I’ve had some say, "It eventually all goes back to feeling normal."  I’ve yet to have that happen. I sometimes wonder if it’s just me!  Sadly, I think this is my new life. And, like Soup52 and Northwoodsgirl, my girl parts have had enough!!  

 

Charissa

CheeseQueen57 said:

Too Good to be True

Sadly, we’ve given up on sex and this renal stent has pretty much sealed that deal (did I tell you it’s horrible). Anyway,you might try vitamin E vaginal suppositories for the vaginal dryness. I found those a Godsend for relieving the urinary burning and phantom UTIs. You can order them on Amazon. They’re pretty cheap and may do the trick. BTW, I’m still trying to use that x@&& dilator a couple times a week but it does nothing. Thinking of abandoning that effort. 

Thanks, CheeseQueen57.  It's

Thanks, CheeseQueen57.  It's always comforting to know I'm not alone! Again, the hubby just doesn't get it.  His thoughts, "Lets just keep doing it and eventually it will get better." Really??  So, frustrating!

I've tried the Vitamin E vaginal suppositories and that's one of the times I ended up at Urgent Care with a false bladder infection. Ugh! I will give them a try again.  Who would have ever thought I'd be buying KY Jelly by the case. Lol!!! I love Amazon.

Oh, and I kind of abondoned my dialator too.  I only use it when I feel extreme dryness.  Now, I wouldn't tell my radiologist that. He thinks I use it frequently.  I guess I didn't really need it. I feel blessed about that.

wendybru

NoTimeForCancer said:

well, we are all going to be

well, we are all going to be busy googling Mona Lisa Touch....LOL

I have never heard this mentioned before.  Sounds like we must learnn more because hormones are out for us.

NeuEve

Has anyone tried this product?  They have a website   https://neueve.com/   , and claim to be a non hormonal treatment for vaginal atrophy.  Reviews on Amazon sound too good to be true, but I ordered it anyway and will try.  Will report back later,   Wendy