ThermiVa is a radiofrequency treatment for vulvovaginal concerns, and this page is for Belmont women who want to understand it privately before deciding anything. It is offered at MD Laser and Cosmetics, 448 N San Mateo Drive in San Mateo, about 5.4 miles from Belmont. Every treatment is performed by Dr. Susan Lin, M.D., a female physician with 35 years of experience as a gynecologist.
Why this is a conversation about trust before it is about technology
Intimate health is not a topic most women bring up casually, and many put off asking about it for years. When the subject is vaginal comfort, changes after childbirth, or what menopause has done to your body, the first question is rarely “which device?” It is “who will I be talking to, and will she take me seriously?”
That is why this page starts with the physician. Dr. Lin trained in obstetrics and gynecology, has practiced since 1991, and has spent 35 years as a gynecologist. She is a woman, she personally performs every treatment at the practice, and there is no hand-off to another provider. She also speaks Mandarin as well as English, so you can have the conversation in whichever language feels more natural to you.
What ThermiVa is
As the practice’s ThermiVa page describes it, ThermiVa is a non-surgical, FDA-cleared treatment that uses controlled radiofrequency energy to warm the tissues of the vulva and vagina. A small single-use handpiece is used, and the device monitors tissue temperature during the session. The practice describes a session as lasting 30 to 60 minutes, with no anesthesia, and most patients describing a sensation of warmth rather than pain.
The practice describes the treatment as involving no incisions and no downtime. Women ask about ThermiVa in connection with several different topics: dryness, a feeling of looseness, mild leakage with coughing or exercise, comfort during intimacy, menopause, and wellness after childbirth. Those are the subjects women raise, not promises. No web page can tell you what a treatment will do for you, and this one does not try. That assessment happens in person, with Dr. Lin, and it is yours to accept or decline.
What a first consultation is like
The consultation is private and educational. Dr. Lin listens to what you are concerned about, explains what ThermiVa is and is not, and reviews your options so that you can make your own informed decision. You are not expected to leave with a treatment plan you did not ask for, and nobody is expected to decide in the room.
- You complete the New Patient Intake Form before the visit, so the paperwork is done on your own time.
- Pricing is not published online. If you want to proceed, you receive a written, itemized plan before anything is done. A consultation fee applies and is confirmed when you book.
- Same-day treatment after a consultation is sometimes possible, but plan your day around it rather than assuming it will happen.
- As general policy, the practice’s ThermiVa page lists active infection, certain pelvic implants and pregnancy among the contraindications. Dr. Lin reviews your history with you; this page cannot say whether any of that applies to you. Pregnant patients are still seen for consultations.
The setting: private, by appointment, with free on-site parking
The practice sees patients by appointment only, Monday to Friday, in a private setting. There is free on-site parking and a ground-level, wheelchair-accessible entrance.
If you would rather have the first conversation from home, consultations can also be held by video on Zoom. For some Belmont patients, that is a way to ask questions, and hear how Dr. Lin approaches ThermiVa, before ever making the trip.
Getting here from Belmont
From the Belmont Caltrain station at El Camino Real and Ralston Avenue, the drive is about 5.4 miles. A free-flow estimate, meaning without traffic and not a promise for any particular hour, is roughly 11 to 12 minutes. The route is all surface streets: El Camino Real, East 25th Avenue, South Delaware Street, East Poplar Avenue, then North San Mateo Drive. It does not use a freeway. Check a maps app for live conditions before you leave.
Belmont has a Caltrain station, but it is a local-only stop with 75 weekday trains. The ride to San Mateo takes about 8 minutes with two stops in between, at Hillsdale and Hayward Park, and the walk from San Mateo station is about 0.8 miles, roughly 15 minutes. SamTrans route ECR runs along El Camino Real through Belmont to a stop near the practice, at El Camino Real and Poplar Avenue, a 7-minute walk from the door. For most patients driving to free parking is simpler.
The practice is open weekdays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. In Belmont, 33.7% of workers work from home (ACS 2020 to 2024), so a weekday daytime appointment suits many local schedules. You can see how we serve the town on the Belmont med spa page, or browse the areas we serve.
ThermiVa Questions from Belmont
Who performs ThermiVa at MD Laser and Cosmetics, and why does it matter?
Dr. Susan Lin, M.D., personally performs every treatment. She is a female physician with 35 years of experience as a gynecologist. For a treatment this personal, many women want to know in advance who will be in the room and that the same physician who explains the treatment is the one who performs it.
What happens at a first ThermiVa consultation?
The consultation is private and educational. Dr. Lin listens to your concerns, explains what ThermiVa is, and reviews your options and the plan so you can decide for yourself. New patients complete an intake form beforehand. If you want to proceed, you receive a written, itemized plan before anything is done. Deciding to wait, or not to treat, is a normal outcome.
Can I have the first conversation by video from Belmont?
Yes. Consultations are available in person or by video on Zoom, so you can ask your questions from home first. If you then choose to come in, the office is about 5.4 miles from Belmont, with free on-site parking. Booking is online or by phone, and confirmed appointments need payment to hold them; deposits are refundable up to 24 hours before the appointment.
How do I get from Belmont to the practice?
By car, the practice is about 5.4 miles from the Belmont Caltrain station area, roughly 11 to 12 minutes in free-flow conditions, using El Camino Real and San Mateo surface streets with no freeway. By Caltrain, the ride from Belmont to San Mateo is about 8 minutes, followed by a walk of about 0.8 miles. Parking at the practice is free.
Does the consultation commit me to treatment or tell me the price?
No commitment is involved. The consultation is educational, and the decision stays with you. Treatment prices are not published online; pricing is reviewed in writing after your consultation, before anything is administered. A consultation fee exists and is confirmed when you book. Treatments are not refundable once administered, so take time with the written plan before saying yes.
When you are ready, you can book a consultation or contact the practice. MD Laser and Cosmetics is at 448 N San Mateo Drive, San Mateo, CA 94401, telephone (650) 340-7546, open Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM by appointment only. Parking is free on site, and video consultations are available. You can also read more on the ThermiVa treatment page.