Laser Therapy for Weight Loss

Laser technology has advanced to treat a plethora of health and aesthetic conditions, including weight loss. A non-surgical, non-invasive solution, laser therapy assists in weight-loss treatments by targeting the body's excess fat deposits.

Excess Fat Condition

"Lipid-rich tissue" is the scientific term for excess fat in the body, according to ScienceDaily. (Ref. 1.) It is stored in tissues that can create visible fat bulges and uneven cellulite dimples, which is the target of laser therapy.

Functions

Laser treatment for weight loss has one ultimate goal: reducing as much as possible of the body's fatty tissue stored in the skin, so that the body appears tighter, slimmer, and smoother. Cellulite is smoothed out, and problem bulges are tightened.

How It Works

Invasive liposuction uses a surgical tube to suction fat deposits beneath the skin's surface. Laser therapy employs highly concentrated energy beams to emulsify and liquefy the lipid-rich tissue, which results in the "smoothing" effect on the surface of the skin. The even distribution of tissue creates the appearance of weight loss. Some laser therapy treatments, such as those using infrared light absorption, actually shrink fat cells.

Types

SmartLipo laser therapy treats fat bulges and cellulite, and is commonly used on double chins and flabby arms. VelaShape promises a thinner body within one month of treatment. The Zerona laser is the newest weight-loss laser therapy, and is highly effective for losing actual inches.

Effectiveness

ScienceDaily reported that studies indeed proved infrared laser therapy's effectiveness on ridding excess body fat, thereby promoting weight loss.

Significance

Dr. Rox Anderson of Harvard University confirmed in the aforementioned ScienceDaily article that laser therapy's effectiveness for fat loss has tremendous implications for other medical conditions, such as heart disease.