Presidential Greeting - American Society for Laser Medicine and ...

positive improvement, ranged from 55% to 90% and was mostly
sustained throughout the 12-month evaluation period.
Effectiveness improved with degree of fungal nail involvement.
No serious adverse events were reported.
Conclusion: In these private practices a single treatment with
the FootLaser was non-toxic with an over-all efficacy of 70–80%.
#164
REVIEW OF MECHANISMS BY WHICH THE
SPONTANEOUS EFFECTS OF PHOTONS ARE
AMPLIFIED IN VIVO: THE PASER PRINCIPLE
Mary Dyson
King’s College London, United Kingdom
Background: The spontaneous effects of radiation produced in
cells that have absorbed it can be amplified by the neuro-endocrineimmune
and circulatory systems. Both direct (local) and indirect
(distant) effects occur in the body when photons are absorbed.
Study: It is proposed that the response of a patient to therapeutic
levels of photons and other forms of radiation be described as
Patient Amplification of the Spontaneous Effects of Radiation,
that is, PASER. Direct effects are produced spontaneously in the
cells that absorb photons. These direct effects can initiate indirect
amplified effects in sensitive target cells elsewhere in the body.
The role of the neuro-endocrine immune system and the
circulatory system is this amplification will be described.
Publications describing experiments supporting amplification will
be reviewed. Photons can produce both direct effects on the cells
that absorb them and indirect effects on other cells of the body,
even if the cells are treated in vitro and then retransfused. In vitro
or in vivo treatment can give rise to spatially and temporally
amplified in vivo effects.
Results: Provided that some of the individual’s cells absorb
photons within the therapeutic window of effectiveness, other
cells that have not absorbed photons can be affected by them
indirectly via soluble protein mediators, for example, chemokines,
other cytokines and growth factors. These secretions can reach
and act on sensitive target cells, for example, those at sites of
injury, when transported to them by lymph or circulating blood.
Direct effects can also be produced in circulating cells during their
transit through dermal capillaries accessible to photons. The
longer the duration of treatment within the therapeutic range, the
greater the number of circulating cells in which direct effects can
be produced.
Conclusion: Duration is thus a clinically important parameter.
The direct and indirect effects of photons may have considerable
therapeutic benefit to the patient.
#165
American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery Abstracts 49
A 764 PATIENT RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
REGARDING THE EFFICACY OF LOW-LEVEL
LASER THERAPY FOR NON-INVASIVE BODY
SLIMMING OF THE WAIST, HIPS, AND THIGHS
Jillian Maloney, Ryan Maloney, Steven Shanks
Erchonia, McKinney, TX; University of Arizona, Gilbert, AZ
Background: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive
treatment for a wide-assortment of medical ailments. A recent
application is for non-invasive body slimming. A Level 1 clinical study
was completed and recorded a significant reduction in circumferential
measurements across waist, hips, and thighs compared to placebo
subjects. Questions remain unanswered to whether the result
observed was based upon simple fluid redistribution. The purpose of
this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser
therapy for non-invasive body slimming and determine if the loss was
attributable to fluid or fat relocation.
Study: Data from 1,136 participants were obtained, and
764 participants were selected for device evaluation (The Zerona,
manufactured by Erchonia Corp.). Patient data were not
pre-selected; all reports provided by clinics using LLLT for
body contouring were required to properly evaluate the efficacy of
the treatment. Participants received a total of six LLLT
treatments across 2 weeks having baseline and post-procedure
circumferential measurements recorded. Measurement sites
included waist, hips, thighs, arms, knees, neck, and chest.
Results: A total of 726 (95.0%) participants demonstrated an
overall average reduction in the circumferential measurement
across all measurement sites of 5.5 in. (range, 0.1–26.0 in.;
P < 0.0001). An overall reduction was observed across each
measurement site. The average reduction in the circumferential
measurement for all participants was 3.25 in. across the waist,
hips, and bilateral thighs (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion: These data reveal that subsequent LLLT the
circumferential reduction is not attributable to fluid or fat
relocation as all measurement points, including non-treated
regions, produced an inch loss.
#166
LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY FOR ADIPOSE
REDUCTION IN 30 WOMEN
Elizabeth VanderVeer, Carrie Anderson
VanderVeer Center, Portland, OR
Background: The 635 nm ‘‘Cold’’ laser has recently been FDA
cleared, but prior to August 2010, the laser was used off-label for
body contouring without much supporting documentation. It was
stated that a patient could expect greater than 3 in. of
circumferential loss from their bodies in over 10 measurement
points after only six 40-minute sessions under the Low Level
Laser Therapy (LLLT). Our study used a similar treatment
protocol to independently evaluate the results in women without
exclusion for prior cosmetic procedures; older age; menopausal
status; current health conditions; or current medications.
Study: Thirty women were enrolled in a prospective study using
LLLT to contour their body. The average age of the participants
was 50 (range 32–72) and average BMI of 25 (15 ranging 20–25,
15 ranging 26–30). The women received six 40-minute LLLT
treatments with a ‘‘cold laser’’ consisting of five diodes, 15 mW
each, placed 20 cm above the patient’s bare skin. The linear diodes
rotated and slightly overlapped each other on the patient’s body to
target the main areas of adipose tissue. Patients exposed their
front and back treatment area to the laser for 20 minutes per side.
Treatments occurred every 48 hours for a total of six treatments.
Patients were asked to abstain from alcohol; exercise 30 minutes a
day; and to drink 64 oz of water daily. Clinical photography and
pre- and post-treatment measurements were taken from 10 points
on the body. Clinical photography and measurements were used
to determine the success of the treatment.
Results: Thirty patients completed the study. No adverse events
were reported. Treatment was described as a ‘‘relaxing.’’
Significant inch loss was observed with an average combined loss
of 6.8400 from 10 measurement points on the body. No patient
‘‘failed’’ to lose inches.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of
LLLT for non-invasive body contouring.