Cold Laser Facial Treatment Overview
Cold Laser Facial Treatment Overview
Blog Article
Understanding the Cold Laser Technique
Cold laser therapy, also known as LLLT, is an effective treatment for pain ailments and health conditions. It can also help reduce the need for surgery or long-term prescription medications.
Patients new to this approach may have a few questions, including the cost of laser therapy. However, the latent benefits can offset the initial investment.
What is Cold Laser Therapy?
Cold laser therapy is a safe, painless procedure that exposes your injured tissues to low levels of laser light. The photobiomodulation effect produced by the laser encourages cellular repair and speeds up other biochemical reactions in your body to improve healing.
The laser device used for this treatment is a small, handheld wand. When the wand is placed against your skin, the laser emits red and infrared light that penetrates deep into your tissue without damaging it.
You may not feel the effects of the treatment right away, but after a series of 8 to 30 treatments (depending on your condition) you will notice a decrease in your pain and inflammation. LLLT is effective for pain stemming from connective tissue, trigger points, nerves and postsurgical pain. Your doctor will assess your pain symptoms and determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment.
How Does Cold Laser Therapy Work?
Cold laser therapy is a painless procedure that beams low levels of energy, or photons, at your skin. It penetrates deep into the painful tissue and leads to chemical changes that help damaged cells recover and regrow. Your physician uses a handheld device that is the size of a flashlight and will place it directly on the injured area for 30 seconds to several minutes.
You might feel a slight tingling sensation from the laser. It's important to wear eye protection because you can damage your eyes if you look directly into the laser.
Studies show that this type of laser treatment reduces pain from a number of conditions, including knee osteoarthritis (OA). It also helps reduce sensitivity to pressure and improves knee flexibility. This is a nondrug alternative to prescription medications for knee pain, which can have serious side effects. Ask your doctor or physical therapist if cold laser therapy might benefit you. It's often combined with other treatments like physical therapy and lymphatic drainage massage.
What Are the Benefits of Cold Laser Therapy?
Unlike many other treatments, which mask or cover up pain, laser therapy stimulates the body to heal itself naturally. Cold lasers are used by physical therapists for a variety of conditions such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other chronic joint and back pain.
LLLT can also be used on many skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and dermatitis. This is because it boosts the production of collagen, a protein that gives skin its flexibility and strength. It also encourages the growth of healthy cells and promotes circulation.
During treatment, the patient will lie down while the low light laser therapy laser is placed over the affected area for about five to ten minutes. The laser is a handheld device that is about the size of a flashlight. It feels soothing and warm to the touch. The patient may feel a slight tingling sensation during a treatment. Most patients receive a series of six sessions or more to get the best results for their specific condition.
How Can Cold Laser Therapy Help Me?
Cold laser therapy is an effective treatment for pain management and advancing healing in a wide variety of injuries and conditions. It’s often used in conjunction with other modalities like trigger point, fascia stripping, and other manual therapy treatments.
Unlike the high-intensity lasers used in surgery, these cold laser light photons do not heat up your tissue but rather penetrate deep into the injured area. This photochemical effect causes the mitochondria to increase ATP production to expedite cell repair and increase blood flow in the area.
During a session, your practitioner will place a small wand with light-emitting diodes on the affected area for 30 to 60 seconds. You will wear goggles to protect your eyes during the treatment. Depending on your condition, it may take up to 15 treatments before you experience long-lasting effects. Your practitioner will recommend the number of treatment sessions based on your specific injury and its severity. They may also suggest continuing with treatments to assist your body’s natural healing process after pain relief occurs.