Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) assisted liposuction

For many years low level laser therapy has been used to help with wound healing and the relief of pain and inflammation from many sources. Physiotherapists have used it extensively to help people recover from sports and overuse injuries and following surgical trauma.

Low level laser therapy is one in which there is no immediate change in tissue temperature following therapy and no obvious changes in tissue structure to the naked eye.

Recently, this technology has been applied to liposuction surgery, to make the surgery easier for the surgeon and also to allow a greater removal of fatty tissue with reduced side-effects for the patient.

The hallmark idea behind this technology was developed by Dr. Rodrigo Neira, who Dr. Goyen met at the recent ACCS conference in Florida. It was Dr. Neira who first thought of combining low level laser therapy and liposculpture, the world¹s most popular cosmetic procedure.

Dr. Rodrigo Neira, in a landmark article in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in September 2002, describes a study that he and others performed on patients undergoing liposuction surgery. In this study, a 635 nanometer 10mW diode laser was used to treat fatty tissue prior to liposuction surgery. Samples were taken from the sites treated with laser therapy and non-treated sites at various times and examined under traditional and scanning electron microscopy.

The results are fascinating. After a few minutes of exposure to the laser, the normally plump round fat cells become shrunken and less rounded. After six minutes, it appears that over 75% of the fat has temporarily left the cell via this small pore and is now next to the fat cell.

Untreated

After 6mins LLLT

Not only do these changes occur close to the surface of the body, but they are present at depth as well, in fact up to 12 cm from the interface with the laser light. It appears that there is a cascading effect on cells from the surface layers, so even a small amount of laser energy can have these far-reaching effects.

So why is this important? Studies being performed in preparation for FDA approval of low level laser therapy in liposuction in the USA show the following advantages when laser light is used before and after surgery.

• less bruising following surgery
• less inflammation following surgery
• removal of a greater amount of fat in a shorter period of time
• less effort on the part of the surgeon

Common questions

Are there any side effects to LLLT?

Low dose laser light therapy to tissues has been used for many years and has not been demonstrated to have any negative effect on the tissues treated, the only benefits appear to be positive ones.

What is the treatment programme ?

Each area having liposculpture is exposed to LLLT for 6-12 minutes before suctioning is commenced. The use of tumescent fluid greatly magnifies the effect of LLLT, so it is important that the tumescent fluid infiltration is performed first as it is in all liposculpture procedures performed at the ALIA Clinic. Following surgery, different parameters are used on the areas treated for 2 minutes. This treatment is performed again on the second to third day after the surgery. No additional therapy is generally required.

Do I need to do anything different before surgery or change post-op care ?

No, there are no changes to either.

What areas are best suited to LLLT ?

In general, areas which are more tough or fibrous benefit more from laser therapy. Such areas could be the bra strap areas in women, the breasts in men, the abdomen and any area undergoing a second session of liposuction. However, LLLT can be used on any area with benefit.

Is it necessary for the doctor to alter technique when using LLLT ?

Yes, in some areas the fat is easier to extract, so as always it is important to pay attention to the area treated at all times. It is easier to make tracts through the tissue with the cannula and sometimes a smaller cannula is used when a slightly larger one would have been necessary before.

Is there any additional cost ?

Yes, the laser is an expensive devise to buy and there is a significant amount of extra time required for the therapy. The cost is $400 including GST.

Is this treatment available now ?

Yes, the ALIA Clinic is the first clinic in Sydney to use LLLT in association with liposuction surgery, and the laser is available for all cases performed at the clinic.