Everyone knows that a healthy diet combined with moderate exercise can help you stay in shape. But what about those procedures that promise to boost the effects of your healthy lifestyle? Do they work? Are they painful? What can you expect? The information below may help you decide. 

Red Light Therapy

Interest in red light therapy (RLT) has skyrocketed over the past ten years, and the availability of red light therapy beds in the at-home market has greatly increased in the last two to three years. RLT is the use of low-wavelength red light to potentially improve your skin’s appearance, reduce inflammation, reduce stored fat, increase circulation, help with chronic pain, and possibly help with a host of other medical conditions. 

How Does RLT Work?

Red light therapy is thought to work by encouraging the mitochondria in the body’s cells to work harder. The mitochondria are the body’s “energy source” within the cell, so increasing the amount of energy there spurs the rest of the body’s cells to work more efficiently. Cells that are working more efficiently repair skin faster, boost cell growth, and enhance skin rejuvenation. 

How Does RLT Help With Fat Loss/Body Contouring? 

One misconception that needs to be addressed first is that many people believe they want to lose “weight”, when more specifically, they want to lose “fat”. RLT can possibly aid in the reduction of fat cells within the body, which has the side effect of weight loss. 

Red light therapy not only has a positive effect on the way the body’s cells work, but it also has a positive effect on the hormones within the body. One specific study focused on two hormones; Leptin, which controls appetite, maintains body weight, and regulates the energy the body burns, and Ghrelin, which controls the release of growth hormones and increases appetite. 

The study mentioned above focused on people with poor sleep habits–reduced sleep within this group resulted in weight gain because more Ghrelin was being produced and less Leptin was being produced. This study found that RLT produced more Leptin, and decreased the production of Ghrelin resulting in weight loss and a reduction in appetite. 

RLT is thought to help with cellular metabolism and decreases the amount of time needed for recovery between workouts. If you’re able to recover more quickly from an intense workout, you’re able to work out again sooner which gets you the results you want faster. 

As far as body contouring goes, RLT therapy potentially increases the production of elastin and collagen in the skin, making skin tighter and smoother. RLT is painless, non-invasive, and non-toxic, and there are no side effects. 

What is Coolsculpting

CoolsculptingⓇ is a non-invasive procedure where cold temperatures (39 degrees Fahrenheit) are used to freeze and get rid of fat cells. 

How Does Coolsculpting Work? 

The area where you desire to get rid of fat is treated with numbing cream and then a cooling device is used on the area. The cooling device freezes the fat cells and over time your lymphatic system flushes the dead fat cells out of your body. Coolsculpting is not meant for weight loss, it is a procedure to get rid of fat in one particular area. 

People who experience Coolsculpting tend to feel some discomfort. Numbness, tightness, and pain may be felt during the Coolsculpting process. 

There is a small percentage of people who may experience a condition called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia after Coolsculpting. This condition causes fat cells to increase in size rather than decrease. There are no other health risks with this condition, however, liposuction would be needed to remove the fat. 

RLT vs. Coolsculpting 

Red Light Therapy  Coolsculpting 
Uses red light which encourages cellular/hormonal changes that can affect weight Freezes and kills fat cells 
Treatment area can be specific, or whole body Specific areas are treated like stomach, thighs, love handles 
Painless, non-invasive, no side effects Some pain, possible paradoxical adipose hyperplasia side effect 
No anesthetic cream is needed  Anesthetic cream is used 

 

If you’re looking for a way to improve the look of your skin and contour some areas of your body, red light therapy is possibly the choice for you. RLT offers the same potential benefits as Coolsculpting but with no pain or side effects. 

If you’re deciding between Red Light Therapy and Coolsculpting, let the 10X Health team help you make the right choice! Contact us today! 

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