Study in Aesthetic Surgery Journal (2025): The Liquenia® Protocol for Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus
The most recent publication on the Liquenia-SVF protocol documents the clinical and histological results in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus, with a 12-month follow-up.
Why Publication Venue Matters
Aesthetic Surgery Journal* is the official publication of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), indexed in leading international scientific databases and peer-reviewed. The publication of a therapeutic protocol in a journal of this caliber is no small feat: it means that the data, methodology, and conclusions have successfully passed the scrutiny of independent scientific reviewers specialized in the field.
The publication of the Liquenia® protocol results in *Aesthetic Surgery Journal* represents external validation of the research — the standard that distinguishes evidence-based clinical practice from practice based on unsubstantiated experience.
Bibliographic Reference
Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla P. et al. Pilot study of vulvar lichen sclerosus treatment by adipose tissue associated with autologous platelet-rich plasma. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2025. DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjaf148
Previous publication by the same research group: Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla P. et al. The Effect of Lipofilling and Platelet-Rich Plasma on Patients with Moderate–Severe Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2022. DOI: 10.1007/s00266-021-02718-1
Main Contributions of the Study
The 2025 study documents the Liquenia-SVF protocol in its current formulation — nanofat + SVF — in a cohort of 18 patients with moderate-to-severe vulvar lichen sclerosus and a 12-month follow-up. Its main contributions are:
> Comparative histological documentation. The study includes pre- and post-procedure biopsies that document changes at the tissue level: reduction of fibrosis (stromal hyalinization), decrease in CD3+ T lymphocyte infiltrate, and increase in microvascular density. This objective histological evidence — not just symptomatic — distinguishes the protocol from other less documented regenerative approaches.
> Symptom evaluation with validated scales. Pruritus, clinical signs, and quality of life were measured using validated instruments (CSS, 5D Itch Scale, Skindex-29) at each follow-up visit, allowing for an objective evaluation of progression.
> 12-month follow-up. The follow-up period allows for evaluating not only the initial response but also the maintenance of results in the medium term.
> Documented safety profile. The systematic recording of adverse effects during follow-up confirms the favorable safety profile of the protocol, with no serious complications.
This Publication in the Context of VLS Research
Research on regenerative therapies for VLS is an emerging field. Other studies on PRP and autologous fat in VLS have been published, showing promising results but heterogeneous methodologies. The Liquenia-SVF protocol stands out due to:
> Using combined nanofat and SVF — adding the growth factors of adipose tissue to the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells
> Including objective histological evidence in addition to symptomatic evaluation
> Documenting three specific histological markers: stromal hyalinization, CD3+ infiltrate, and microvascular density
> Having a 12-month follow-up instead of the shorter periods of many available studies
> Having been evaluated by an independent scientific committee during the inclusion process for the ISAPS 2025 guideline