Liquenia® Treatment:
the regenerative medical protocol for vulvar lichen sclerosus
A procedure developed by Dr. Patricia Gutiérrez Ontalvilla at the Nixarian Institute in Valencia. Based on your own body’s biology. Backed by clinical evidence published in international scientific journals.
What is the Liquenia® Treatment?
The Liquenia® Treatment is a regenerative medical procedure designed specifically for vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). I developed it based on years of clinical research with the aim of going beyond symptom control: acting directly on the affected tissue to promote its regeneration.
The protocol uses two autologous fractions obtained from the patient’s own adipose tissue —without material of external origin— with documented properties on vulvar tissue inflamed by VLS:
Autologous Nanofat
Mechanically processed adipose tissue that preserves the growth factors and regenerative mediators present in fat. It promotes tissue repair, vascularization, and the recovery of vulvar tissue quality.
Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF)
A concentrated cellular fraction obtained from the same adipose tissue. It contains mesenchymal stem cells with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that act on the autoimmune response characteristic of lichen sclerosus.
The combination of both fractions in a standardized protocol is what distinguishes Liquenia® from other regenerative approaches. It is not a conventional lipotransfer or an infiltration of isolated stem cells: it is a specific clinical protocol with defined phases, candidacy criteria, and protocolized follow-up.
The Liquenia® Treatment is offered exclusively at Nixarian Institute SL, Valencia (Spain). All procedures are performed in an authorized operating room under specialized medical supervision.
Why we developed the Liquenia® Treatment
Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a chronic disease of autoimmune origin. Ultra-potent topical corticosteroids —the first line of treatment according to the international clinical guidelines BAD 2018 and EADV 2024— control symptoms in many patients, but do not act on accumulated tissue damage. Many women came to our clinic with years of progression, progressive anatomical changes, and a severely deteriorated quality of life.
That clinical reality was the starting point. I wondered if it was possible to use regenerative medicine to do something that corticosteroids could not: reverse fibrosis and promote tissue regeneration. I initiated a research program that led to the clinical trial developed at the Hospital Universitario La Fe in Valencia and the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe.
The results opened a path that is today the Liquenia® Treatment.
How the Liquenia® protocol works
A unique, outpatient procedure of 100% biological origin
These are its phases
Phase 1
Diagnosis and structural evaluation
Before the procedure, we perform a complete clinical evaluation that includes an analysis of the degree of involvement, histological study when indicated, and candidacy assessment. Not all patients with VLS are candidates for the Liquenia® Treatment at the same point in their progression.
Phase 2
Obtaining autologous material
In the operating room and under general anesthesia, we extract a small amount of adipose tissue from areas such as the inner thigh or abdomen. This tissue is the raw material for the two fractions of the protocol.
Phase 3
Processing in a closed system
The adipose tissue is processed using a closed and sterile system to obtain the two fractions: nanofat and SVF. All processing is carried out in the same operating room, guaranteeing the traceability and sterility of the material.
Phase 4
Infiltration into vulvar tissue
The nanofat and SVF are infiltrated in a controlled manner through subdermal and intradermal injections into the vulvar and perianal areas affected by lichen sclerosus. The complete procedure lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Phase 5
Protocolized clinical follow-up
We perform follow-up for 12 months, including clinical reviews, symptom evaluation, and, when indicated, comparative biopsy. This phase allows us to document each patient's individual response and adjust the maintenance protocol.
What our patients can expect
The results of the Liquenia® Treatment are evaluated based on objective clinical variables —symptoms, signs, histology— and quality of life. This is what we document in our patients:
Reduction of itching and burning
Vulvar pruritus —the most frequent and disabling symptom— improves progressively in most patients. Improvements are noted from the first weeks following the procedure.
Improvement of tissue integrity
The erosions, fissures, and whitish plaques characteristic of VLS show documented improvement in comparative biopsies. The tissue recovers thickness and elasticity.
Recovery of sexual function
Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia) and introital atrophy improve significantly in treated patients, with a direct impact on quality of life and relationships.
Modulation of the inflammatory response
The stem cells in the SVF act on the underlying autoimmune mechanisms of VLS, reducing the inflammatory load at the tissue level. This effect is confirmed in postoperative biopsies.
A protocol with published clinical evidence
The Liquenia® Treatment is not an experimental proposal: it is the result of a clinical research program that began in 2017 at the Hospital Universitario La Fe in Valencia, with support from the Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe).
The results of this work have been published in leading international scientific journals, including Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2025), and have been presented at international medical forums. In 2025, the Liquenia-SVF protocol was included in the Clinical Practice Guideline of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).
The available evidence supports the use of the Liquenia® protocol in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus who have not responded completely to conventional corticosteroid treatment, or who present significant tissue damage affecting their quality of life.
Individual results may vary. The Liquenia® Treatment does not guarantee complete remission of the disease. Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a chronic condition that requires continued follow-up.
Is the Liquenia® Treatment right for you?
The Liquenia® Treatment is especially indicated for adult women with a confirmed diagnosis of vulvar lichen sclerosus who find themselves in any of the following situations:
> They have received prolonged corticosteroid treatment with partial or insufficient response.
> They present progressive tissue damage —recurrent fissures, atrophy, synechiae— that affects their quality of life.
> They are looking for an alternative that acts on the cause of tissue damage and not just on symptom control.
> They have been previously assessed by a specialist and desire a specialized second clinical opinion.
Candidacy is always determined in an individual assessment consultation. It is not possible to establish it without a direct clinical evaluation.
Cost of the Liquenia® Treatment
The cost of the Liquenia® Treatment is determined after the assessment consultation, where we evaluate the degree of involvement, the most appropriate specific protocol, and the individual needs of each patient.
In our clinic, you will find detailed information about the price, available financing options, and what the complete protocol includes —from the initial assessment to the 12-month follow-up.
The specialist behind the protocol
The Liquenia® Treatment was developed by Dr. Patricia Gutiérrez Ontalvilla, a plastic surgeon and scientific researcher specializing in female intimate surgery and vulvar diseases. She is the scientific director of the Nixarian Institute and president of the Nixarian Foundation.
She has spent more than two decades working with women affected by chronic vulvar pathologies. Her research on vulvar lichen sclerosus led her to publish the first book in Spanish dedicated exclusively to this disease, and to develop the Liquenia® protocol as a clinical response based on evidence.
In our team, we work with an approach that combines scientific rigor with the listening and support that every patient deserves.
Everything about the Liquenia® Treatment
Explore every aspect of the protocol in depth:
What Liquenia® Treatment involves
The step-by-step protocol, the material used, and how it acts on tissue affected by VLS.
Why the Liquenia® Treatment emerged
The clinical research and the scientific path that led to the development of the protocol.
Am I a candidate?
The clinical criteria that determine if the Liquenia® Treatment is the most appropriate option at any given time.
Liquenia® Treatment Results
What improves, in what timeframe, and how the response to treatment is evaluated.
Success stories
Real testimonials from patients treated by our team.
Preparation, anaesthesia and recovery
What to expect before, during, and after the procedure.
Liquenia® Treatment Price
Cost information, complete protocol, and financing options.
Frequently asked questions
The most common questions about the Liquenia® Treatment, answered by Dr. Patricia Gutiérrez Ontalvilla.
Expand your knowledge
What is vulvar lichen sclerosus
Clinical information about the disease, its symptoms, signs, and progression.
Treatments for vulvar lichen sclerosus
A complete overview of available options: from corticosteroids to regenerative medicine.
Living with vulvar lichen sclerosus
Daily care guide, intimate hygiene, sexuality, and emotional well-being with VLS.
Scientific evidence
Publications, clinical trials, and international guidelines that support the Liquenia® protocol.
Take the first step
If you have vulvar lichen sclerosus and want to know if the Liquenia® Treatment is an option for you, the first step is an assessment consultation. In this meeting, we evaluate your case, answer your questions, and provide an honest and well-founded clinical response.
In-person consultation at Nixarian Institute, Valencia (Spain).
We also conduct case evaluations via video consultation.