Low-level laser treatment for hair loss, also known as LLLT, is a modern and effective method of treating androgenetic alopecia (pattern balding) in men and women. The therapy stimulates circulation and promotes hair growth.
Este Medical offers LLLT as a standalone treatment for hair loss or combined with PRP and Minoxidil to get even better results!
What is LLLT?
Laser treatment for hair loss is a modern treatment for hair regrowth. It’s a noninvasive and painless procedure that stimulates healthy hair growth in men and women. It’s important to note that LLLT isn’t a miracle treatment; it takes several sessions to see results.
Unlike high-energy, or “hot,” lasers used in medicine to cut or evaporate tissue, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) emits light energy at a wavelength that supports and enhances cellular function. It effectively stimulates hair growth and prevents hair loss in men and women with pattern baldness.
It’s believed that hair follicles optimally absorb laser light at 678 nanometers. It’s like watering a plant: the light gets into the cells, and the body uses it as an energy source to improve cellular functions. LLLT can also reduce inflammation and promote healing in joints, muscles, and tendon disorders. It’s even been shown to help patients recover faster from injuries.
How Does LLLT Work?
Lasers are well-known in medicine and are often used to cut or vaporize tissue precisely. Low-level laser therapy, on the other hand, is used to stimulate and support cellular function, and studies have shown it to be effective for conditions including pain, osteoarthritis, tendon and joint disorders, back and neck issues, and hair loss.
The effect of LT is based on photochemistry. When the laser hits your scalp, the cells absorb photons. This energy is then transformed into a chemical reaction supporting your body’s natural healing processes.
It is believed that LLLT stimulates the follicles to move from a dormant state into an active growth phase for hair loss. It is also thought to accelerate keratinocyte and fibroblast mitosis and induce the expression of genes such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and nuclear factor kappa B.
Clinical trials have shown that LLLT effectively stimulates hair growth and treats alopecia. One of the most significant trials compared the effects of a commercially available laser comb to a placebo device over 26 weeks. The study found that patients using the laser comb had significantly greater hair density and growth than those who used a sham device.
What are the Benefits of LLLT?
When red laser light enters the scalp, it stimulates the hair follicle to spend more time in the growth phase of the cycle, slowing or even reversing miniaturization. It also increases blood flow to the hair follicle, delivering much-needed nourishment. The reversal of thinning and balding is believed to result from protein synthesis, increased cell metabolism, reduced inflammation, and modulation of certain cell factors.
The treatment is safe and noninvasive, with no side effects. The specialized LED devices don’t break or cause the skin to heat up, so it is not a pain therapy. It also has no interaction with medications, allowing it to be used by people who can’t use prescription drugs or other invasive treatments for pain management.
Many massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and physical therapists include LLLT in their healing practices. To find a practitioner in your area, request a referral from your physician or search online. LLLT can help treat many medical conditions, including aches and pains, wound healing, and hair loss. Choosing a qualified professional who knows how to administer the correct wavelengths for optimal results is essential.
What are the Side Effects of LLLT?
LLLT is an effective treatment that relieves pain and promotes tissue healing without adverse side effects. The pencil-like beam of electromagnetic waves that LLLT emits doesn’t produce heat but triggers photochemical reactions in the cells, which help relieve pain and accelerate healing.
In a hair loss setting, the LLLT’s red light is used on the scalp to stimulate follicles and encourage new growth, says Hysem Eldik, a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon at Marmur Medical in New York City. The lasers come in either cap or comb form, the latter looking more like a brush, but both offer the same red light.
The LLLT’s photochemical effects on the follicles start with its interaction with cytochrome c oxidase, which converts to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), stimulating the cell to reactivate. This increases follicle metabolism and cellular activity while reducing excessive DHT levels.
LLLT can be used alone or with other treatments such as PRP, finasteride, or Minoxidil for better results. However, this treatment shouldn’t be used on tumors or cancerous tissue.
What is the Cost of LLLT?
LLLT is an extremely cost-effective method for preventing and reversing hair loss. It is considerably cheaper than other treatments and medications, including hair restoration drugs like finasteride and minoxidil.
Unlike surgical lasers, LLLT devices emit only low-level LED light (light-emitting diodes) and do not cause pain or heat. LLLT treatments are quick and easy to perform, making them one of the most affordable and convenient ways to address thinning hair and baldness.
The specific wavelengths of LED light penetrate the skin and stimulate, energize, and renew cells. This promotes hair follicle growth and improves the strength of existing hair. LLLT also activates and converts dormant follicles into the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle, leading to thicker, healthier, and more vibrant hair.
LLLT has also effectively treated various conditions, such as back pain and fibromyalgia. A study published in 2016 found that LLLT significantly reduces nonspecific back pain, meaning that it doesn’t have a definitive cause, such as a herniated disc.