Cold Laser Therapy for Weight Loss

In 2001, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved cold laser therapy as a safe and effective method of temporary pain relief, and since then, this form of treatment has been used to address a variety of conditions, including obesity. Also called low level laser therapy (LLLT), soft therapy and laser acupuncture, cold laser therapy is now used to assist patients with the objective of losing weight.

Function of Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy is considered an "alternative" weight loss method because it is based on the same principles as acupuncture. Certain pressure points are targeted by the laser lights, emitted by a hand-held device, to trigger shifts in the patient's inner energy. This same principle is used in acupuncture, reflexology and shiatsu.

Rather than using heat to penetrate the skin tissue, as in other laser treatments, which, due to thermal usage, have more side effects and potential risks, cold laser therapy uses infrared or near-infrared light energy to penetrate the skin tissue and stimulate the skin cells. For other purposes, such as the cold laser's primary use to relieve pain, the stimulated cells are activated to function and heal properly. As a weight loss treatment, the activated cells are supposed to trigger a shift in the body's energy. This is the same function as lasers used in smoking cessation treatments: The body's metabolism and enzymes are activated to change the physiological desires of the patient. For quitting smoking, it's a change in wanting nicotine, and for weight loss treatment, the change is in the desire for food. The Healing Laser Clinics in Orlando, Florida, claims that the laser treatment will help the patient to feel fuller faster.

Be Realistic With Expectations

Cold laser therapy is not intended to be used in isolation; it is meant to supplement weight loss efforts. Diet and exercise are crucial to achieving a healthy weight. LaserCare.us promotes use of laser therapy for weight loss, but specifically points out that it is used to facilitate diet and exercise efforts, giving the patient an "overall sense of well-being" so that he or she doesn't get frustrated, irritable or depressed when trying to stay on a diet. The intent of treatment is to improve the patient's willpower, and help facilitate the weight loss process--but cold laser therapy is not a sole method of weight loss, even according to its enthusiasts. There are no claims that an isolated cold laser therapy session will result in weight loss. Healing Laser Clinics, Inc., reports that laser therapy is a great addition to weight loss programs, "addition" being the key word.

Be Prepared for Multiple Visits

Regardless of the reason for cold laser therapy, multiple treatment sessions are always required in order for treatment to be effective. For weight loss treatment, LaserCare.us recommends at least five sessions, one every seven to 10 days, claiming that the supposed appetite reduction from each session should carry the patient through to the next session. The idea is to build the metabolism, boosting it in increments with each treatment session. LaserCare.su quotes the cost of five treatment session as $749, but this varies among providers. Typically, insurance will not cover this cost.

Before Seeking Treatment, Acquire Medical Certainty of Exclusion of ContraIndications

While cold laser therapy has no risks and no side effects, its ability to penetrate tissues and cause cell reactions has caused concerns for some medical conditions that have not yet proven to be safe under cold laser treatment. Any lesions on the skin must be identified by a dermatologist as non-cancerous before seeking treatment, since pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions are considered contraindications of laser treatment until proven otherwise. Additionally, the lasers' effects on unborn babies is also unknown, so pregnancy is another contraindication.