Does Mona Lisa cure Lichen Sclerosus? I have Lichen Sclerosus and I am also going through menopause. How much would it cost me?

There is no cure for lichen sclerosus. However, steroids and more recently, CO2 lasers such as FemiLift and Mona Lisa, have been found to be effective in relieving symptoms.

Hello there,
While there is no 'cure' for LS, the goal for treatment is to keep the inflammation down and therefore keep symptoms and flares at bay.
While delicate vulvar hygiene and potent steroid ointments are the mainstay treatments, some women do not have complete relief with these methods. The Mona Lisa Touch laser is a very good option for this disease and regular treatments can help keep the skin healthy. There was a terrific randomized controlled trial (2021) that compared MLT to traditional methods and the MLT did better to keep symptoms at bay and improve the overall appearance of the skin. That being said, I also always recommend to keep up with regular steroid use as well to help prevent progression to skin dysplasia (pre-cancer) or vulvar cancer.
I have had great success treating this condition with the MLT, in conjunction with the other mainstay treatments.
I hope this helps! Good luck :)
Sincerely,Jennifer Adams MD, FRCSC

While MonaLisa Touch laser treatment can provide significant relief from the symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus and greatly improve quality of life, it's important to understand that MonaLisa Touch is not a cure. Instead, MonaLisa Touch is a gentle, non-invasive treatment designed to help manage the condition and reduce discomfort. Many individuals find that MonaLisa Touch makes a meaningful difference in how they feel, offering long-lasting symptom relief and enhanced comfort.

In my practice one of my postmenopausal patients with treatment resistant genital Lichen Sclerosis had CO2RE INTIMA (similar to Mona Lisa)  laser resurfacing. 
Her main symptoms were severe dryness, itching, burning, painful intercourse, unable to wear tight clothing (yoga pants), had to use lubrication before walking or running and was unable to bike for years. She noted more than 80% improvement with just one session of CO2RE Intima laser and PRP.
Your symptoms may improve significantly with laser treatment.
The cost of the laser varies from 2500 to 4000 dollars for a series of 3 to 4 laser sessions. 

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Lichen Sclerosis. However with treatment, Lichen and it's symptoms can be well treated and go into remission. Lichen Sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition, more common in premenarchal girls and postmenopausal women, of the skin that causes thin, white patches of skin, typically in the genital area. There can also be red or pink changes. Thedisease can cause itching, burning, pain, dysuria, dyspareunia, and sexual dysfunction, and can ultimately lead to destruction of normal anatomical structures. Treatment is usually high potency topical steroid ointments. The Mona Lisa Touch laser treatment has proven effective at reducing the symptoms of Lichen Sclerosis with great results. Typically a patient with lichen sclerosis will initially need up to 5 or 6 external vulvar treatments, rather than the typical 3. Follow up then may be once or twice a year, depending on your symptoms. Many patients who receive therapy with the Mona Lisa Touch will not continue to require the steroid ointment or may need it less often.

There is currently no cure for lichen sclerosus. Gold standard therapy is strong topical steroids, which can be very effective. Physicians are using also using MonaLisa Touch to help patients with lichen sclerosus. In my practice, approximately 50% of my patients with LS have been able to reduce or discontinue their use of steroids. It is very important, regardless of the choice of treatment for LS that patients remain under annual surveillance by a gynecologist as there is an approximately 1% risk of the LS developing into skin cancer. 

Lichen Sclerosus is a chronic condition and there is currently no cure.  However there are many treatments that are used to help treat and ameliorate the symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus.  There are now several studies showing that MonaLisa Touch is effective in decreasing the symptoms of Lichen Sclerosus.  Also patients typically suffer from both atrophy and lichen sclerosus in the menopause, so this treatment can be helpful for both of these conditions.  The treatment of Lichen Sclerosus typically involves a larger treatment of the vulva and perineal area than is usual for treatment of GSM (atrophic changes from menopause). The costs of MonaLisa Touch treatment varies in different regions so I would contact some clinics near you and ask for a price estimate. 

For Lichen Sclerosus treatment the settings are different and is applied on the outside of the genital area using an special probe.

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic condition with no known cure as of this moment - however a combination of mona lisa touch and steroid use as well as dilators can help restore normal vaginal function and prevent tearing and bleeding or other symptoms related to the scarring and thinning of the mucosa at the vaginal entrance. The steroid cream or ointment are generally covered by insurance but the Monalisa Touch treatments are not. Also you will probably have to pay out of pocket for the vaginal dilators. Since lichen sclerosus is external I believe most doctors will perhaps adjust price to reflect external treatment only (unless you also need to treat vaginal atrophy). I offer my patients packages of 3, 5 and 7 external treatments to be done every 1-3 or more months depending on severity of symptoms and response to steroids and mona lisa sessions.

Lichen Sclerosis is a chronic skin condition of the vulva. It affects women of all ages (I have even had an 8 year old), but mostly is seen in perimenopausal and menopausal women.  The vulvar skin changes are thinning and lack of resilience of tissues.  There is actual contraction of the tissue and loss of the labia minora.   Often there are associated fissures (cracks) in the vulvar tissue especially at the lower area of the vaginal opening. Moderate to strong topical steroids can control this condition but for some patients the response is inadequate.   I have had excellent results with the MLT to the vulva.  For patients who also have vaginal thinning, vulvar and vaginal treatments can be combined in the same treatment session. I have had patients with long standing vulvar fissures have healing and the ability to have intercourse for the first time in many years.  I usually start with 3 treatments, 6 weeks apart , and then add on additional treatments if necessary but have not had to go past 4 treatments to see improvement.  I encourage patients suffering from this condition to proceed to the MLT treatment if they do not see rapid improvement with topical steroids.    Please see a board certified ObGyn doctor for this treatment as there are other conditions that can mimic LS. You may need a biopsy to confirm your diagnosis if your presentation is atypical or you do not respond to initial treatment.   Biopsy can be done in the doctors's office under local anesthetic.  I recommend early and intense treatment of LS as the anatomical changes that can occur are permanent and affect sexual functioning. Best Wishes,  Dr Susan H Chapman