An overview of Low Level Laser Research
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) was first introduced in the 1960’s in Europe and promoted for wound healing. Since that time it has been promoted extensively around the world for muscular/skeletal pain relief and wound healing and a wide variety of other conditions with varying levels of supporting clinical evidence. Most of the research activity has been centred in Europe, however, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared a number of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) products for pain relief from 2001, following review of appropriate clinical data. Pain relief remains the most popular use of LLLT.
A copy of the full article is available here.
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New Research
Treatment of Capsular Contracture with Low Level Laser Therapy
William L. Scarlett, D.O., FACS, FACOS, FAACS
Fibrous capsular contracture is still the most frequent complication leading to patient dissatisfaction after breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. This multi-factorial phenomenon has been treated both surgically and non-surgically with mixed results. The more severe grades of capsular contracture are treated most successfully by surgical means at present time.
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) was FDA approved in 2006 for treatment of lymphedema following mastectomy. Incidentally, during this treatment process, reduction of Grades III and IV capsular contracture were noted in several women in our practice. This pilot study tests the hypothesis that LLLT could reduce capsular contracture and explores the potential use of LLLT to treat Grades III and IV capsular contracture complications by non-surgical means.
The LTU-904 laser (FDA approved for treatment of lymphedema) was used on 19 patients with Grades III and IV capsular contractures. Patients underwent laser treatments once a week for a period of six weeks. They received 10 minute treatment using the 904nm laser. This was a 2cm square grid pattern with one minute of treatment in each area. (300 mJ/ 1 min treatment = 4.5 Joules/cm2) Each patient was then administered a post treatment survey to determine their level of improvement and satisfaction.
Five of the patients had had previous radiation. Surgical intervention was avoided in 89.5% of patients with grade III/IV capsular contraction. Of the patients who avoided surgery, the laser improved the stiffness of the breast by 25-95% with an average of 45.6%. The overall improvement in comfort for these patients ranged from 25-95% with an average of 50.3%.
LLLT is a promising alternative treatment for grades III & IV capsular contracture. In the majority of cases, both patients and surgeon observed significant tissue softening and improved breast contour after treatment with the LTU-904 laser. Factors to incorporate in subsequent studies to confirm validity of this pilot study: evaluation of current treatment protocol, randomized blinded study, larger patient population, objective measurement of the breast tissue changes and comparison to other non-invasive treatment methods.
(Abstract of presentation at the AACS Annual Scientific Meeting in Las Vegas, USA – Jan 2013)
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