How long do the results of Liquenia Stem Cell Treatment last?

One of the most frequent questions my patients ask before proceeding is this: “How long do the improvements last?” Sometimes they ask timidly, as if fearing the answer might disappoint them. Other times, they ask directly, having already tried treatments that were only partially effective or short-lived. This is a completely legitimate question. In fact, it is the right question. Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a chronic disease: it does not disappear. Therefore, it makes no sense to discuss any treatment without also discussing its actual duration and how we measure it. In this article, I explain what our clinical study published in 2025 says, what we have observed in over 400 women treated over more than 8 years at Nixarian Institute, and why at Liquenia, we are not satisfied with the patient “feeling better”: we need to see it in a biopsy.

What our clinical study says about the duration of results

The study evaluated 18 women with moderate-to-severe refractory vulvar lichen sclerosus—patients who had not responded well to conventional corticosteroid treatment—and followed them for 12 months. The findings were as follows: The documented improvements included a significant reduction in itching, burning, and pain, visible improvement in erosions, fissures, and hyperkeratosis, and an improvement in quality of life and sexual function. But most relevant to answering your question is that biopsies taken at one year showed real and measurable histological changes: less fibrosis, fewer inflammatory lymphocytes, and increased microvascularization. The tissue had genuinely changed, not just in the patient’s perception.

What we have observed in the clinic after 8 years and over 400 patients

A clinical study has a limited follow-up period. The accumulated experience in consultation, with hundreds of patients treated over years, adds a perspective that no trial can replicate. At Nixarian Institute, we have been applying the Liquenia protocol for over 8 years and have treated more than 400 women. In all this time, only one of the first treated patients has required a second booster session. Just one.

“In over 8 years and more than 400 treated patients, we have only performed one second booster session. Not because the protocol is perfect in every situation, but because the cells from your own fat perform regenerative work that, when applied correctly, is profound and long-lasting.”

Dr. Patricia Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla, director of the Liquenia protocol

This data has an important nuance: the protocol has evolved over time. The first patients received the version with nanofat + PRP, supported by the clinical trial conducted at La Fe Hospital in Valencia (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03961126 / EudraCT 2016-003952-63). More recent patients receive the Liquenia-SVF protocol, which incorporates the stromal vascular fraction and has demonstrated even more robust results. In other words, if anything has improved over time, it is the durability of the results, not the opposite.

Why SVF makes a difference in durability

What is SVF and why is it relevant?

SVF—stromal vascular fraction—is a very specific part of adipose tissue, meaning your own fat. It is not emulsified fat or a filler: it is a concentration of regenerative cells obtained through mechanical digestion without enzymes. Within SVF, three types of cells with complementary functions coexist:

• The mesenchymal regenerative cells (ADSCs) modulate the immune response, reduce chronic inflammation, and stimulate the formation of new healthy tissue.
• Pericytes contribute to creating new blood vessels, improving blood supply to an area that is often very depleted in lichen sclerosus.
• Reparative macrophages help rebalance the inflammatory environment without attacking the body’s own tissue.

All of this is obtained from your own fat, which eliminates any risk of rejection. The source is autologous: your body is the laboratory.

What changed when we incorporated SVF into the protocol

The original Liquenia protocol—nanofat + PRP—already demonstrated superiority over conventional corticosteroid treatment in the registered clinical trial. When we incorporated SVF, we added a much higher concentration of active regenerative cells. The result in biopsies was clear: greater reduction of inflammatory infiltrate, better collagen reorganization, and increased microvascularization. The key to durability is not suppressing symptoms temporarily: it is about changing the tissue environment where the disease resides. That is what SVF does, and that is why the results are maintained.

How we know the improvements are real: biopsies

At Liquenia, we do not rely on subjective impressions or clinical photographs as the sole evaluation criteria. Before each treatment and one year after it, we take a painless biopsy of the vulvar tissue and send it to a specialized external laboratory for microscopic analysis.

What we see in the biopsy before treatment

In a biopsy of active lichen sclerosus, it is common to find:

• Atrophic epidermis: the superficial layer of the skin is thinned and deteriorated.
• Hyperkeratosis: accumulation of dead cells that causes the characteristic white plaques.
• Dense lymphocytic infiltrate: a concentration of inflammatory cells in the superficial dermis, a hallmark of active disease.
• Collagen hyalinization: the connective tissue becomes rigid and loses its normal architecture, causing fibrosis.
• Vessel scarcity: the area is poorly vascularized, hindering any natural repair process.

What we see in the biopsy at one year

In biopsies taken 12 months after the session with the Liquenia-SVF protocol, the changes are objective and measurable:

• Marked reduction of inflammatory infiltrate: fewer CD3+ lymphocytes, fewer mast cells, fewer eosinophils.
• Reorganization of dermal collagen: fibers become looser and more parallel again, a sign of a more functional and elastic matrix.
• Restoration of epidermal thickness: keratinocytes—the cells of the superficial layer—regain viability and regularity.
• Increased microvascularization: the tissue is better vascularized again.

These changes are not visible in the mirror, but they are felt. Having them documented in an external and independent laboratory allows us to state, with scientific backing, that the improvements are not just perceived: they are real and verifiable.

Will I need a second session?

The honest answer is: in the vast majority of cases, no. The accumulated experience with over 400 patients treated at Nixarian Institute indicates this. However, lichen sclerosus is a chronic disease with individual variability. Factors that may influence the need for an additional session in the future include:

• The severity of the disease at the time of treatment: very advanced cases with extensive fibrosis may require more time to respond.
• Adherence to topical maintenance: the Liquenia protocol does not eliminate the need for low-dose topical corticosteroids from the third month onwards. Following this regimen influences long-term results.
• Individual triggering factors: local irritants, trauma, untreated infections, or hormonal factors can reactivate the disease over time.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Duration of Liquenia Treatment

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Scientific References

1. Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla P et al. Liquenia-SVF protocol for vulvar lichen sclerosus. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2025. DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjaf148
2. Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla P et al. ISAPS Clinical Practice Guideline 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s00266-025-05459-7
3. LIQUENIA clinical trial (nanofat + PRP). ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03961126 / EudraCT 2016-003952-63. IISLaFe, La Fe Hospital of Valencia.
4. Boero V et al. Autologous fat grafting in vulvar lichen sclerosus. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2015.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual medical diagnosis. Always consult a specialist in vulvar lichen sclerosus.