In a world where confidence is often the most attractive quality, achieving your desired body shape can be both empowering and transformative. While many options promise to assist in this journey, LED light therapy is emerging as a revolutionary solution for body contouring. Red light therapy (RLT) weight loss provides a science-backed solution that helps transform your body through gentle, non-invasive sessions. Red light therapy benefits go well beyond just helping you lose fat. The treatment pairs LED light technology with tested protocols that boost inch loss, make your skin look better, and help your muscles recover after workouts.
Understanding Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that uses low levels of red light to reportedly improve your skin’s appearance, like reducing wrinkles, scars, redness, and acne. It’s also touted to treat other medical conditions. Other names you might hear to describe red light therapy include: Low-level laser light therapy, Low-power laser therapy, Non-thermal LED light, Soft laser therapy, Cold laser therapy, Biostimulation, photonic stimulation, Photobiomodulation and phototherapy.
How It Works: The Mechanism of Action
The Celluma CONTOUR emits red and near infrared light. These proven wavelengths target and activate fat cells, creating temporary pores in fat cell membranes, allowing lipids to leak out and then be excreted through the body's normal metabolic processes. Red and near infrared wavelengths of light energy target subcutaneous fat stores. This naturally and non-destructively empties fat cells through the creation of temporary pores, rather than cell-killing apoptosis.
The Science Behind Red Light Therapy
RLT devices emit low levels of red or near-infrared light. This light penetrates the skin and is absorbed by cells. This process, called photobiomodulation, is believed to impact the mitochondria, often called the powerhouses of your cells. Mitochondria are responsible for producing ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the body's primary energy currency. The theory is that RLT stimulates mitochondrial function, leading to a cascade of benefits, including potential effects on fat cells.
Red Light Therapy and Cellular Function
Red light therapy beneficially alters cellular function to promote health, skin rejuvenation, and significant fat loss.
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Increased cellular metabolism and energy: As light photons are absorbed by the mitochondria (energy centers of cells), energy production in the cells is stimulated. During treatment, the delivery of light energy up-regulates mitochondrial ATP (cellular energy) and release Nitric Oxide.
Increased collagen production: Red light stimulates fibroblast production (fibroblasts are the precursors to collagen), which will help thicken skin as well as the underlying connective tissue, and restore elasticity. Studies showed that this therapy substantially increases collagen density and makes skin firmer. The therapy boosts fibroblast production that helps create collagen and other tissue fibers. This leads to firmer and more elastic skin.
Increased elastin production: Elastin is a structural protein that gives skin and connective tissues their elasticity. Once damaged, it often does not regenerate, which is why photoaged or sun-damaged skin becomes loose and saggy.
Fat leakage: Red light causes fat cells to “spring a leak” by forming small openings in the cell walls, which releases fatty acids known as lipids. One study by Boston researchers found that 80% of lipids were released from fat cells after just four minutes of exposure to red light. Fat cells create temporary micropores at the time they receive red light therapy exposure. This process enables stored triglycerides to escape . Red light therapy affects weight-related hormones significantly. Research proves that this therapy can boost leptin levels (the satiety hormone) and reduce ghrelin (the hunger hormone), which makes weight loss easier to achieve.
The Body Contouring Collection
FDA-Cleared Devices for Body Contouring
All red light therapy devices FDA cleared for Body Contouring. If you’re looking for a body contouring option that doesn’t involve surgery or drug injection (and all the side effects that come along with these options), and has the versatility to help you achieve whole-body wellness, body contouring with red light therapy is your answer. The body contouring treatment mode contains red (640nm) and near infrared wavelengths (880nm). The Wrinkles, Acne, and Aches & Pains treatment modes contain a combination of blue (465nm), red (640nm), and near infrared (880nm) wavelengths.
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Celluma: At the Forefront of Innovation
Celluma is at the forefront of red-light therapy innovation, creating devices tailored to not only reduce the circumference of the hips, waist, and thighs, but also address multiple conditions like aging skin, acne, and pain. Celluma continuously sets the standard of LED light therapy innovation, efficacy, versatility, ease-of-use, quality, and affordability.
Contour Wavelengths
Celluma devices emit multiple proven wavelengths of light energy simultaneously for compounded therapeutic benefits.
Red Light Therapy for Cellulite Reduction
Cellulite is a term used to describe fat deposits that exert pressure on the connective tissue beneath the skin, typically seen on thighs, stomach, and buttocks. Cellulite is often the result of pockets of fat cells that gather under the skin with age. Nearly 90% of women and about 10% of men develop cellulite at some point in their lives. It affects 80-90% of women over the age of 20! Cellulite tends to develop a bit more in individuals who put on a few extra pounds. The more that fat there is that presses up against connective tissue, the more it will end up gathering. Yet even those who are lean and fit and exercise regularly can develop cellulite as they age. Age, hormones, and genetics have all been linked with the formation of cellulite.
Underlying Causes of Cellulite
Cellulite can be frustrating because it's influenced by less controllable factors like hormones and genetics.
Some areas of the body (thighs and hips for women) receive poorer blood flow than other areas. Without sufficient circulation, these fat cells struggle to release their fatty contents into the blood, which could be used for energy.
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Fat cells in some areas of the body have more alpha receptors than beta receptors - the alpha receptors tell the cells to store more fat rather than break it down for immediate use. So, if you’ve ever tried to lose fat, you might’ve found that some areas of the body are just more stubborn than others. Many women experience this effect on the upper thighs for instance.
The cells either use this sugar for energy or convert it into fat for storage (if it is not burned off immediately). The latter causes fat cells to get bigger, leading to a more undulating appearance of the skin, also known as cellulite.
Red Light Therapy's Role in Combating Cellulite
Red light therapy is emerging as a safe, natural, non-invasive, and highly effective way to treat cellulite. Help to break up the fat cells: Red light therapy uses 630-660nm red light to penetrate the skin and boost blood circulation. Increased blood flow helps break down fat cells that contribute to the formation of cellulite, addressing cellulite at its source. Production of collagen and elastin: Red light therapy stimulates the mitochondria (cell's power source), encouraging the regeneration of collagen and elastin in the skin. This helps alleviate the uneven appearance of the skin caused by the accumulation of fat cells.
Studies and Trials
A multi-center randomized control study assessed how red light can help reduce fat and cellulite when combined with other modalities such as vacuums and massages. In 83 women with mild to moderate cellulite, they applied a low-level, dual-wavelength LED and laser massage device (650 nm LED - this is red, and 915 nm - this is NIR) with rollers integrated to “manipulate and smooth the skin to facilitate fluid and fat mobilization and enhance lymphatic drainage as well as microcirculation”. Sessions were conducted twice weekly for 4 weeks. Regular measurements were taken of the upper, middle, and lower thigh circumference.
In one of the first studies observing the effect of LED light during exercise on cellulite, 20 women were split into two groups - one committed to 45 minutes of high-intensity treadmill training, and another who did the same exercise but also received LED light for the full 45 minutes while exercising. They wore a bikini (and goggles!) to ensure infrared light was absorbed through bare skin. NIR was delivered at 850 nm, positioned 15 cm from thighs and buttocks, reaching an average power density of 39 mW/cm2 on the skin. The process was completed twice weekly for 3 months, and throughout the treatment, body composition was evaluated, and photos were taken.
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial - the gold standard type of study - 67 people received red light laser treatment at 635 nm (red, laser). Fat reductions across the waist, hips, and thighs were measured. At the end of treatment, “participants in the treatment group demonstrated an overall reduction in total circumference across all three sites of 3.51 inches”.
Choosing the Right Device
Identifying Priorities & Coverage
All devices with "Contour Mode" come with at least 4 FDA-cleared modes for unmatched versatility. If Body Contouring is your #1 priority, we recommend choosing an option with the most surface area coverage during a single treatment.
Factors to Consider
When looking into buying an LED device for home use, consumers should be wary of most products out there. All read light therapy devices are not created equal. Cheap LED red light masks, wands, and wraps don’t have the power to deliver enough light, which means they are not effective.
You will get the results you want from a high-output LED device that can deliver the intensity of light at the correct wavelengths needed for absorption into the body’s tissues and therapeutic treatment.
Red light will affect subcutaneous fat, which is the jiggly fat just under the skin. Meanwhile, NIR light is absorbed much deeper into the body for therapeutic treatment.
A combination of the most therapeutic wavelengths: 630nm and 660nm (red light), along with 810nm, 830nm, and 850nm, and 1060nm (NIR light) will deliver the comprehensive therapeutic benefits of each wavelength.
How to Use Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss
Red light therapy stands as a breakthrough in non-invasive weight loss technology that targets fat cells with specific light wavelengths between 635-680 nanometers. Scientists call this method low-level laser therapy (LLLT). This therapeutic approach uses concentrated light waves that penetrate the skin directly. Your body’s cells absorb these specific wavelengths and activate natural biological processes. The treatment boosts the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which enhances how cells function. Red light therapy results improve when combined with whole-body vibration therapy. The vibration platform creates high-frequency movements that trigger rapid muscle contractions, and red light exposure helps break down fat cells more effectively.
Treatment Protocol
The official protocol is 3x per week for 4 weeks. The effect on the adipose cells is immediate. Most people will experience results even after one session. Cumulative treatments will achieve the best results. Most users report a relaxing experience. The panels are placed directly on the skin for the best results and get slightly warm throughout the 30-minute treatment time. The best results come from 12-minute sessions three times per week. Studies show major improvements in skin firmness and muscle tone within 90 days.
Maximizing Results
Red light therapy works best when combined with different weight loss methods. The combination of red light therapy and exercise creates a powerful synergy to lose weight. Red light therapy prepares muscles effectively before workouts by increasing circulation and creating vasodilation effects.
Focus on Sleep and your Circadian Rhythm: Sufficient sleep is crucial for managing inflammation, hunger levels and cravings , and supporting gut health, which is linked to weight management. Less than an hour of morning daylight exposure can significantly influence our circadian rhythm. 45 minutes of light exposure early in the day has shown connections with weight and fat loss , and morning light has also been associated with reduced BMI .
Red Light Therapy Paired with Exercise: Incorporating exercise into your routine not only burns calories but also strengthens the heart and metabolism, and improves overall physical and mental well-being.
Balance blood sugar: Chronically elevated blood sugar can compromise collagen as the sugar in our blood attaches to proteins in the tissue, making the skin less elastic, and causing inflammation. Help your cells use up excess sugar (before they convert it into fat) by moving after your meal.
Dry Brushing: While there is little scientific evidence that dry brushing gets rid of cellulite, it is a quick and easy option to help improve blood flow to certain areas of the body, and detoxify at the same time. The best time for this is before a shower. If you’re lucky, a massage does a similar trick.
Hydrate Well: To aid this, decrease alcohol consumption!
Expectations vs. Reality: Before and After
It’s important to set realistic expectations from the start. While some people see noticeable changes, it's not a quick fix. Think of it as another tool to support your overall wellness journey, rather than a magic bullet.
Realistic Outcomes
Red light therapy is more of a body-sculpting treatment than a dramatic weight-loss solution. It aims to reshape specific areas rather than cause significant overall weight loss. The therapy boosts fibroblast production that helps create collagen and other tissue fibers. This leads to firmer and more elastic skin.
The Role of 3D Body Scanning
Accurately tracking your progress is essential for staying motivated and making informed adjustments to your weight loss plan. 3D body scanning offers a precise way to monitor changes in your body composition. ShapeScale, for example, captures real-time changes in your body, making it ideal for tracking muscle gain, fat loss, and overall fitness.
Safety and Potential Risks
Red light therapy appears to be safe and isn’t associated with any side effects, at least, if used short-term and as directed. This therapy isn’t toxic, not invasive and not as harsh as some topical skin treatments. Unlike the cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning booths, RLT doesn’t use this type of light. However, if products are misused - perhaps used too often or not according to directions - there’s a chance your skin or eyes (if not protected) could be damaged. The long-term safety of devices that use red light therapy isn’t yet known.
Precautions
Always wear protective eyewear specifically designed for red light therapy during treatments. Never look directly at the light source.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women, individuals with certain skin conditions, or those taking photosensitizing medications should avoid red light therapy. It’s crucial to discuss red light therapy with your doctor to determine if it’s right for you.
Red Light Therapy vs. Other Weight Loss Methods
Red light therapy stands out especially when you have traditional body sculpting options to consider. This treatment needs no recovery time and has proven to be safe with few side effects. Unlike freezing devices, ultrasound, radio frequency or heat-based devices, CONTOUR works by depleting a fat cell rather than killing it.
Laser Liposuction and Cryotherapy
You might’ve heard about the various other methods of fat removal on the market that directly remove fat from the body. Laser liposuction and cryotherapy (freezing of fat cells) remove fat cells completely. Unfortunately, liposuction can lead to contour irregularities leaving the body with a disproportionate look.
UltraSlim
UltraSlim® is safer than any other body contouring technology. UltraSlim® Professional is the only body contouring device that is Risk Group 1, the same risk group as a tongue depressor. All other body contouring devices risk serious side effects and adverse outcomes such as pain, bruising, and swelling. With our dedication to safety, there is no pain, no discomfort, and no side effects.