ReviewLasers in surgery and medicine2013
Low-level laser therapy for fat layer reduction: a comprehensive review.
Review in Lasers in surgery and medicine, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 45 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Effect of Aerobic Exercise Associated With Abdominal Laser Therapy in Lipolytic Activity, Profile and Inflammatory Markers
Alesis OSA-1 Double-Blinded Randomized Study of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment Using A Patented Noncoherent Medical Light
Who cites it
45 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Transabdominal photobiomodulation applications: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity · 2025Pooled it
- Effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy in improving health indicators in obese patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.BMC complementary medicine and therapies · 2025Pooled it
- Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review of the Oncologic Safety of Low-Level Light Therapy for Aesthetic Skin Rejuvenation.Aesthetic surgery journal · 2023Pooled it
- The effects of laser acupuncture on metabolic syndrome in obese postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled study.Lasers in medical science · 2024Trial
- Objective and subjective reduction of cellulite volume using a localized vibrational massage device in a 24-week randomized intra-individual single-blind regression study.International journal of cosmetic science · 2020Trial
- Low-level laser therapy for weight reduction: a randomized pilot study.Lasers in medical science · 2020Trial
- Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) associated with aerobic plus resistance training to improve inflammatory biomarkers in obese adults.Lasers in medical science · 2015Trial
- Deployable 3D-Printed Vascular Stent with Surface-Catalysed Endogenous Nitric Oxide Generation.Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) · 2026Article
- Exploring photobiomodulation as a complementary approach for mental health: an integrative review.Lasers in medical science · 2025Review
- NIR-II Fluorescent Thermophoretic Nanomotors for Superficial Tumor Photothermal Therapy.Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) · 2025Article
- Alterations in visible light exposure modulate platelet function and regulate thrombus formation.Journal of thrombosis and haemostasis : JTH · 2025Article
- Advances in Nano-Phototherapy for Targeted Fat Reduction: From Mechanisms to Clinical Translation in Obesity.International journal of nanomedicine · 2025Review
- Photobiomodulation Therapy for Improvement of Body Contour: A Retrospective Study on Middle Eastern Participants.Iranian journal of public health · 2024Article
- Electrochemical Lipolysis Induces Adipocyte Death and Fat Necrosis: In Vivo Pilot Study in Pigs.Plastic and reconstructive surgery · 2024Article
- Evaluation of a Combination Approach to Improving Muscle Tone and Decreasing Subcutaneous Tissue Thickness Using a Sequential, Dual-Modality, Energy-Based Device.Aesthetic surgery journal. Open forum · 2024Article
- [Microfocussed vs. macrofocussed ultrasound for body contouring].Dermatologie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2023Review
- Modern and Non-Invasive Methods of Fat Removal.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Article
- Light-emitting diode (LED) photobiomodulation regulates thermogenesis and lipogenesis markers in adipose tissue and improves anthropometric and metabolic parameters in obese mice.Lasers in medical science · 2023Article
- Numerical study of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in fat reduction.Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI) · 2023Article
- [Research progress of infrared light promoting wound healing].Zhonghua shao shang yu chuang mian xiu fu za zhi · 2022Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
objectiveLow-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) is a noninvasive, nonthermal approach to disorders requiring reduction of pain and inflammation and stimulation of healing and tissue regeneration. Within the last decade, LLLT started being investigated as an adjuvant to liposuction, for noninvasive body contouring, reduction of cellulite, and improvement of blood lipid profile. LLLT may also aid autologous fat transfer procedures by enhancing the viability of adipocytes. However the underlying mechanism of actions for such effects still seems to be unclear. It is important, therefore, to understand the potential efficacy and proposed mechanism of actions of this new procedure for fat reduction. MATERIALS AND
methodsA review of the literature associated with applications of LLLT related to fat layer reduction was performed to evaluate the findings from pre-clinical and clinical studies with respect to the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety.
resultsThe studies as of today suggest that LLLT has a potential to be used in fat and cellulite reduction as well as in improvement of blood lipid profile without any significant side effects. One of the main proposed mechanism of actions is based upon production of transient pores in adipocytes, allowing lipids to leak out. Another is through activation of the complement cascade which could cause induction of adipocyte apoptosis and subsequent release of lipids.
conclusionAlthough the present studies have demonstrated safety and efficacy of LLLT in fat layer reduction, studies demonstrating the efficacy of LLLT as a stand-alone procedure are still inadequate. Moreover, further studies are necessary to identify the mechanism of action.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.