Efficacy of Low Level Laser Therapy for Body Contouring and Spot Fat Reduction

Keywords:medical, laser, fiber,  Time:17-03-2016

The LAPEX 2000 LipoLaser was originally developed and approved for the treatment of pain due to carpel tunnel syndrome.  The LAPEX 2000 LipoLaser has been modified and is now being rigorously evaluated for its effectiveness in reducing areas of local fat accumulation for cosmetic purposes.  The LAPEX 2000 LipoLaser emits light at 635-680 nm.  It is non-thermal and does not heat the tissues.  As such, it is considered to be a non-invasive treatment.  Neira et al [2] evaluated the effect of a 635-680 nm, 10-mW diode laser radiation with exclusive energy optics on treated fat cells in biopsy specimens.  Fat cells were treated in vivo with 1.2-3.6 J/cm2 of energy from the laser for 2 to 6 minutes.  The cells were then removed by lipectomy, examined by electron microscopy and compared to cells removed by lipectomy that were not treated with the laser.  Fat cells that were not exposed to the laser treatment looked like round grapes.  Eighty percent of the fat was released from the fat cells after 4 minutes of laser light exposure and 99% was released after 6 minutes of exposure.  After exposure to the laser light, pores in fat cells were visible by scanning electron microscope. It was presumed, but not demonstrated, that the fat was released from these pores, taken up in the lymphatics and reesterified in other tissues or metabolized for energy [2].  Several studies have recognized that LLL accelerates repair processes, stimulates cell proliferation and promotes vascularization in injured tissues [3-8]. However, clinical application to body fat reduction as a minimally invasive option is an evolving field which is not well studied.  We conducted a blinded clinical trial to describe the application of low level laser therapy to local fat reduction for cosmetic purposes.  As a secondary objective we also investigated the mechanism by which the laser causes fat loss from fat cells.

Methods

Forty healthy men and women between the ages of 1865 years, inclusive and body mass index (BMI) no greater than 29.9 kg/m2 were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to an experimental laser treatment or to a control laser treatment.  Randomization was created from random number tables and the treatment codes were stored in sealed envelopes during the study.  Subjects could not be using light sensitizing agents or diuretics, or undergoing photodynamic therapy.  Subjects were required to have a stable weight, gaining or losing no more than 2.5 kg in the 6 months prior to the trial.  Subjects could not be on a weight reduction regimen, and they were asked not to change their diet or exercise habits during the trial.  This study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Argus Institutional Review Board.  Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to study participation. The laser therapy device consisted of a console housing most electronics, the controls for the device and two multi-probes that housed four lasers emitting visible laser light at a wavelength of 635-680 nm.  Each subject had 2 treatments per week for a total of 8 treatments over 4 weeks. Each treatment session lasted approximately 30 minutes.  The two multiprobes were placed over the waist bilaterally in three positions as well as two enhancement probes that were placed to both sides of the inguinal region and the laser was activated for 10 minutes in each of these positions to encompass the waist from the back to the front. The control arm of the trial utilized the device, but the multi probes of the device were inactivated during the treatment session. Two individuals conducted the study.  One administered the treatment, and the other, who was blinded to treatment allocation, obtained measurements and photographs.  The individual administering the treatment remained blinded to photographic and girth measurements.  Each subject was advised about the rules of blinding, and the individual taking photographs and measurements could not relay this information to the subject.  The individual administering the treatment did not enter the room where the photographs and measurements were obtained.  A case report form was used for each measurement session and these forms were placed in a sealed envelope until data was analyzed at the end of the study.  Two separate people who were not involved in other aspects of the study did the blinded evaluations of the photographs. All subjects had photographs taken at a standardized distance with a standard background and lighting.