Cold laser therapy is rapidly gaining popularity across the country, as well as all over the world. This futuristic-sounding treatment is safe, gentle, non-invasive and effective. While relatively new, in comparison to other ancient alternative therapies, cold laser treatments are now used to treat a wide variety of conditions — everything from pain management to help with autoimmune diseases to cosmetic applications like fat loss and wrinkle reductions.
Let’s take a deeper look at just what cold laser therapy is and what it can be used for. With so many different conditions that can be helped by cold laser therapy, this treatment could be right for you! Cold laser therapy reviews show very positive results, so it’s definitely worth looking into.
What Is Cold Laser Therapy?
A laser therapy that uses low-intensity laser light, cold laser therapy stimulates healing at a cellular level and is used for many different ailments and conditions, as well as fat loss and more in the body. Why is it called cold laser therapy? Other types of therapeutic lasers used for surgery, destroying tumors or for cosmetic purposes heat body tissues to be effective. Cold lasers do not use heat, as the level of light used is much lower, and can be used for a wide variety of therapeutic applications.
The first lasers were invented in the 1960s, and it was not long after this that their therapeutic value was discovered. Researchers realized that the lasers could be used to help wounds heal faster, as well as reduce pain, inflammation and swelling. Over time, many other uses for this laser technology were discovered as well.
Cold laser technology is also known as low-level laser technology, or LLLT. This comes from the fact that cold lasers use a much lower level of light than other lasers used for other purposes. Other names for this laser therapy include soft laser biostimulation, photobiomodulation, and low-power laser therapy or LPLT. When these lasers are applied to the body, they deliver therapeutic light and energy at a cellular level, speeding up the processes of healing and cellular repair.
In the realm of fat loss, cold lasers were first used as a complementary treatment to liposuction, helping the patient to heal faster from the procedure. But, it was soon discovered that the lasers themselves could successfully stand alone as a fat loss treatment, without invasive procedures like liposuction.
How Does Cold Laser Therapy Work?
While the exact science surrounding what happens on a cellular level with cold laser therapy is not fully understood, the visible effects show that the therapy works, for a variety of health and cosmetic purposes. The lasers used in this type of therapy harness and magnify energy from the visible spectrum of light, applying this energy to the body, up to two inches below the surface of the skin.
In a cold laser treatment, low levels of red and near-infrared light are used in a special applicator that may or may not touch the skin. This light is applied to target areas of the body, and the targeted tissues absorb the energy from the light. This energy absorption is responsible for the positive effects on the tissue — everything from wound healing to fat reduction. The light causes a reaction, and damaged cells use the light as energy to help repair and regenerate, and fat cells reduce in size. The levels of light used in cold lasers are enough to stimulate cells to action, without causing any damage to the tissue.
When used as a fat loss treatment, cold lasers are applied to problem areas of excess fat on the body. After an initial consultation with the care provider to assess your health levels and the treatments you need, the care provider aims the lasers at the target areas of the body for about 40 minutes. While you relax during the treatment, the cold lasers work on a cellular level to open the pores of the fat cells, allowing them to drain and shrink in size.
Other fat loss treatments focus on killing and completely removing fat cells from the body, but cold laser therapy keeps the fat cells intact. This may seem counterintuitive at first, but fat cells are very important to the overall health of the body. Fat cells go beyond just storing extra weight and energy and are actually essential to endocrine function, hormone production, metabolism, immune response, insulin regulation and even disease prevention. Furthermore, it’s been well documented that the number of fat cells in the body doesn’t change with weight loss or weight gain in adults — instead, the cells themselves shrink or enlarge.
This is why it is important to keep the fat cells healthy and intact, instead of killing them off completely and removing them. Cold laser therapy can shrink the fat cells, without harming them, so that they are preserved for healthy bodily functions. Enlarged fat cells aren’t functioning at peak performance, so shrinking them not only gives a slimmer appearance, it can aid overall health too. In cold laser therapy, the lasers cause the fat cells to release fatty content through cellular pores and into the lymphatic system for the body to get rid of as waste. The smaller fat cells can then perform as healthy, lean cells again.
What Is Cold Laser Therapy Used For?
Cold laser therapy is used in a wide variety of medical and cosmetic procedures — everything from pain management to dental applications to fat loss treatments. The safe, low levels of light used by these lasers are great for stimulating tissues on a cellular level, encouraging repair without causing any harm to the surrounding tissues. Cold laser treatment benefits many different kinds of patients and can be used for many different applications. Here are some of the most common uses of cold laser therapy:
- Pain management for minor injuries: Cold lasers can be used to treat minor injuries, reducing the level of pain and speeding up the healing time. The lasers stimulate damaged cells to repair themselves more quickly. It can be helpful for ligament injuries or muscle sprains and strains, as well as tendonitis and other issues. Physical therapists, occupational therapists and sports medicine practitioners often recommend cold laser therapy for pain.
- Chronic pain issues: Cold laser therapy can also be used to alleviate generalized neck and back pain, or pain in other areas of the body like elbows, shoulders and knees. Those with conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or fibromyalgia can benefit from this pain-relieving therapy too. Several recent studies have shown the effectiveness of cold laser treatments for neck and back pain and more, especially when combined with exercise and rehabilitation.
- Inflammation and autoimmune disorders: In an autoimmune disease, the body mistakes healthy cells for foreign substances and then attacks its own tissues. This class of diseases can include a wide variety of conditions and symptoms, but pain and inflammation are common with each. There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS) and rheumatoid arthritis, among others. The low levels of light in cold laser treatments help to relieve pain and repair cells to reduce inflammation in any of these disorders. Even dentists use cold laser therapy to help heal ulcers and other inflamed tissues in the mouth.
- Skin issues: The low levels of light in cold laser therapy can also be used to repair and rejuvenate the body’s largest organ — skin. The therapy can provide relief for everything from rashes, eczema and psoriasis to acne, dermatitis and vitiligo. Dermatologists use cold lasers to treat all of these conditions, as well as to speed the healing time for burns, relieve edema or swelling in the skin, and reduce the appearance of scars. It can also be used to even out pigmentation and reduce wrinkles.
- Acupuncture and acupressure: In traditional acupuncture, tiny needles are inserted into the skin at key pressure points or along the meridians of the body to direct the flow of healing energy. Acupressure uses pressure instead at the same key points along the body to relieve pain and help many other disorders. As an alternative treatment, acupuncturists use cold laser therapy at these key energy points along the body. It can be a great treatment for anyone who wishes to experience the benefits of acupuncture without the use of needles.
- Speedier healing for wounds: For many types of minor wounds including abrasions, ulcers, surgical incisions and wounds related to diabetes, cold laser therapy has been shown to speed up the healing time, helping surrounding tissues to repair and regenerate. Some of these wounds are particularly difficult to heal on their own, so the cold laser therapy can be a great supplement to traditional treatments.
- Fat loss: Originally used to help patients heal faster after liposuction surgery, it was discovered that the cold laser therapy itself was also contributing to patients’ overall fat loss, and is now used as a standalone treatment for fat loss. Targeting stubborn areas of fat on the body like the tummy, back, hips, thighs, chest, neck and more, cold laser therapy shrinks fat cells and contours the body. The therapy is a great alternative to more invasive procedures like surgical liposuction.
The applications for cold laser therapy are nearly endless, as it can be used for a wide variety of ailments and conditions — and with little to no side effects. Researchers continue to study cold lasers to find new uses and applications for this unique therapy. Currently, research is being done in the hopes that cold laser therapy can one day help patients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries, as well as with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Hopefully, in the future, cold laser therapy will be able to help even more patients.
Deciding If Cold Laser Therapy Is Right for You
Cold laser therapy is used to treat such a wide variety of conditions and can be beneficial to most people. The treatment is growing in popularity across many different types of medical and alternative medicine practices, as more and more people consider cold lasers to treat their own issues. But is cold laser therapy right for you? Your healthcare practitioner can help you decide if cold laser therapy would be beneficial to your condition.
Cold laser therapy is incredibly safe when performed by a trained and qualified healthcare practitioner. It has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has gone through clinical testing for many different applications and uses as a complementary or alternative therapy. The treatment is non-invasive and requires no other prep work or medications. This safe and effective treatment generally has no downtime or side effects.
It is important to note that the therapy has not been tested for safety during pregnancy for any conditions and is not recommended for the treatment of pregnant women. It is also not recommended for patients with certain types of cancer, so it is best to discuss with your doctor before starting any cold laser treatment program. Before starting cold laser treatments, you should also consider that it may take some time to see visible results, and note that it is generally not covered by most insurance programs.
As a fat loss treatment, cold laser therapy is a safe alternative to more invasive options like liposuction. Ask your healthcare practitioner about Zerona — the first laser treatment designed for body contouring. Developed by industry-leading Erchonia, Zerona cold laser treatments emulsify fatty tissue without destroying fat cells. With no side effects or downtime, this safe treatment is quick and easy — and an excellent way to supplement a program of exercise and healthy eating.
Contact Zerona for More Information
If you’re curious about cold laser therapy for fat loss, check out one of the top cold laser treatments in the industry — Zerona. This straightforward procedure comes with no side effects or downtime, and can even be done over your lunch break. After several treatments, you’ll notice less fat in the targeted areas and an overall slimmer, more contoured appearance. If you’re still unconvinced, the before and after pictures speak for themselves as to the success of Zerona for fat loss.
Talk to your doctor to find out if Zerona is right for you, or contact Zerona today for more information or to find a practitioner near you. Zerona has locations all over the U.S. and is growing all across the world. You’re sure to find a provider near you, so get started today and schedule your first appointment.
