Stem cells and lichen sclerosus — what to expect month by month

By Dr. Patricia Gutiérrez Ontalvilla · Medical doctor, surgeon, and scientific researcher specialising in lichen sclerosus · Reviewed: April 2026

One of the questions my patients ask me most is not how the treatment works, but something more specific and more human: “When will I notice that I’m getting better?”. Knowing what to expect—and when—reduces uncertainty and helps you go through the process calmly rather than anxiously.

In this article, I explain the realistic timeline of regenerative cell treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus: what you will notice on the day of the procedure, in the first weeks, in the first months, and after a year. I do not promise universal timelines—each patient progresses differently—but I do provide the honest framework I share in consultations.

The day of the procedure and the first few days

The treatment is performed on an outpatient basis, under local anaesthesia and without hospital admission. You can go home the same day. What you will notice in the first few days is not yet related to lichen sclerosus, but to the minor liposuction used to obtain the fat: a donor area (usually the abdomen or flanks) that may be somewhat tender, with possible mild bruising, and discomfort at the vulvar injection site.

These are minor discomforts that resolve on their own within a few days. As we have already explained in detail on the page about whether the treatment hurts, the anaesthesia, and recovery, it is advisable to take it easy for the first few days and avoid intense physical exertion and sexual intercourse for a couple of weeks.

First weeks: recovery of the donor area

During the first two to four weeks, what happens is essentially healing of the donor area and reabsorption of the bruise. This is a recovery period, not yet a results period. It is normal not to notice changes in lichen sclerosus symptoms at this stage: the vulvar tissue is beginning the repair process that will develop over the following months.

My recommendation at this stage is patience and consistency with the maintenance protocol we agree on in consultation. This is not the time to evaluate results.

Months 1 to 2: the first signs of improvement

This is when many patients begin to notice the first meaningful change. Data from the 2025 study show significant symptom improvements from the first month, and in my clinical experience, what usually improves first is what most affects day-to-day life: itching and burning.

It is not a switch that turns off all at once. It is a gradual reduction in the intensity and frequency of discomfort. Some patients describe it as “stopping thinking about the area all the time”. For many, that return to everyday normality is the first tangible sign that the treatment is working.

Months 3 to 12: gradual tissue recovery

Symptom improvement is the first to arrive. Structural recovery—elasticity, thickness, and a more even colour of the vulvar skin—is slower and progresses throughout the first year. This is to be expected: tissue repair is a biological process that takes time, not an immediate effect.

At follow-up visits, we assess this progression objectively. What the biopsies in the published study document—reduced fibrosis and increased vascularisation—occurs steadily over those 12 months. If you would like to understand the biology behind this recovery, we explain it in depth on the scientific evidence page for the Liquenia-SVF protocol.

Source: Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla P et al. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2025. DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjaf148

Beyond one year: what happens long term

Lichen sclerosus is a chronic disease, and it is important that this is clear: the goal of treatment is not to eliminate the disease forever, but to reverse accumulated damage and control it sustainably. That is why we follow an individualised maintenance protocol that typically combines corticosteroids at reduced doses with periodic check-ups.

The most relevant long-term data point: at Instituto Nixarian, we have followed patients from the first studies for 10 years, and only one has needed a booster session. The vast majority maintain results with a single session. When—and whether—a second session is indicated is always decided on an individual basis, depending on how each case evolves. You can see real patient reviews and success stories.

What you should not expect (the honest part)

I do not promise a cure: lichen sclerosus is a chronic condition and, according to current clinical consensus (ISSVD 2022), it is not curable. What the treatment does offer, documented on biopsy, is measurable tissue regeneration and sustained disease control.

Do not expect immediate results or results identical to another patient’s. The speed and degree of improvement depend on the stage of the disease when treatment begins, your individual response, and adherence to the maintenance protocol. An honest assessment of your specific case, before deciding anything, is exactly what we offer in consultation.

The timeline at a glance

Frequently asked questions

Scientific References

The cited publications are authored by Dr. Patricia Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla.

1. Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla P, Gomez Rojas A, Iborra Colomino M, et al. Clinical and Histopathological Investigation of Stromal Vascular Fraction and Nanofat in Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2025. DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjaf148
2. Gutiérrez-Ontalvilla P, Benito-Ruiz J, Cervantes A. State of the Art for Regenerative Management of Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus — ISAPS Clinical Practice Guideline. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s00266-025-05459-7

Timeline based on biopsy-verified data with 12-month follow-up, published with peer review. See all the scientific evidence for the Liquenia-SVF protocol →

Dr Patricia Gutiérrez Ontalvilla — Medical doctor, surgeon, and scientific researcher specialising in lichen sclerosus. President of the Nixarian Foundation. Creator of the Liquenia Protocol. More about Dr. Patricia Gutiérrez Ontalvilla →