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Bonis Learning C
Non-Invasive Laser Lipo (Laser Lipolysis) Guide
What Is Non-Invasive Laser Lipo?Non-invasive laser lipolysis, is commonly called ‘Laser Lipo’ and is another type of nonsurgical fat reduction treatment. This treatment uses laser energy to target and eliminate stubborn fat.
Non-invasive Laser Lipo relies on laser energy instead of incisions to slim the body quickly and with minimal effort on the part of the patient.
This treatment is used to break up fat and eliminate it from the body without the needing invasive procedures or hard suction. Compared to the surgical liposuction, non-invasive laser lipolysis is much more affordable with effective results to slim down without surgery or even downtime.
2 Is This The Same As Surgical Laser Lipo?
The short answer is “No” non-invasive Laser Lipo is energy based as opposed to surgical intervention. It is important to be aware, there is another surgical procedure performed by some doctors/ surgeons/
clinician which known as laser-assisted liposuction & also occasionally also referred to as Laser Lipo.
This alternative procedure is not advertised as “invasive” as it is considered slightly less invasive than traditional liposuction. This is often considered minimally invasive by the client/doctor, as the skin is physically cut (small incision), while they are awake under a local anesthesia. Next a tiny laser is inserted under the skin to liquefy the fat, then a small tube (cannula) may be used to suck small amounts of melted fat out from beneath the skin.
Note: This bonus content covers non-invasive laser lipo not the surgical laser lipo, so when our content references “Laser Lipo” it is in reference to the non-surgical version.
Non-invasive Laser Lipo differs to the Surgical procedure with anesthesia and skin incision
3 How Is Laser Lipo Relevant To Ultrasonic Cavitation or Radiofrequency
Treatments?
Laser lipo is increasing in popularity now that many Ultrasonic Cavitation Machines from suppliers are offering additional treatment handles. Traditional Ultrasonic Cavitation Machines had a variety of ultrasonic and radiofrequency handles in differing sizes. However, each year more of these machines are becoming multifunctional (e.g., 5-in-1 or 7-in-1 device).
With a multifunctional machine, you can offer differing treatment options all from one device, although there may be less variety in the size options of treatment handles with some multi-functional devices.
Traditional Cavitation Machines have a variety of cavitation and radiofrequency handle sizes
Multifunctional Cavitation Machines now have a variety of different ‘handles’ offering a greater range of treatment types such as Laser Lipo, Vacuum therapy, Vacuum RF, Cryolipolysis and more.z
4 How Does Laser Lipo Work?
Unlike conventional surgical liposuction, the idea of non-invasive Laser Lipo is not to remove fat cells, but to shrink them.
During each session of Laser Lipo—a technician places pads equipped with laser diodes directly onto the skin.
The low laser energy penetrates down to the fat cells and creates tiny holes in their membranes. This causes the fat cells to release their stored fatty acids, glycerol, and water into the body and then shrink, potentially resulting in lost inches.
The body then flushes out the expelled fat-cell contents via the lymphatic system or burns them for energy.
A great way to explain this is to think of the fat cells as groups of juicy grapes. The laser beam reaches the fat cell and shrinks the contents, and those grapes become raisins.
The fat cells are still physically there and capable of being filled up again if a healthy lifestyle is not maintained by the client.
A technician applies laser lipo pads underneath elasticized bands to hold the
5 How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of Laser Lipo can vary considerably depending on the size of the area you want to treat, as well as your location and the experience of the clinic you visit. A typical series of eight sessions can easily cost upward of $1,000. A good way to understand your local market is to check out competitor pricing or pricing in your nearest capital city. Laser Lipo is often combined with Ultrasonic Cavitation for a combined discount.
6 What Areas Can Be Treated With Laser Lipo?
Areas with excess fat can be treated, remember there needs to be pinchable fat in the area of treatment. Most Laser Lipo machines have a multi-pad system with pads of varying sizes. If desired, multiple areas can be treated simultaneously (e.g., back & thighs).
The most common & popular treatment areas include: ✓ Abdomen
✓ Back
✓ Waistline & ‘Love Handles’ ✓ Arms
✓ Inner & Outer Thighs ✓ Calves
✓ Chest (Male Only)
What About Other Areas Of The Body Such As Neck?
Some Salons offer Laser Lip on other areas of the body such as under the chin, buttocks or calves. Laser Lipo is designed for body contouring rather than the delicate areas of face or neck.
Non-invasive Laser Lipo is not as safe or effective on excess fat deposits on the face/neck compared to other areas of the body and other treatment types. Treatment to facial and neck areas are prone to more complications including risk of impacting airways.
7 What Is The Non-Invasive Laser Lipo Process Like?
Usually very relaxing! Sometimes it is referred to as a ‘cold laser’ because many clients feel very little during treatment. Often clients feel slight warmth or tingling underneath the pads.
For safety protective glasses/goggles are recommended and should be worn by the client at all times.
The treatment involves a low-level laser technology where the client lays flat or on their side on a table or even sometimes standing up.
Sometimes depending on the
surface area to be treated it may be more appropriate to treat a client on their side. Hips & ‘Love Handles’ are an example of this where you may treat one side with the client on their side, and then after side 1 is done, repeating the process on the other side.
The standing up technique is sometimes used for ‘love handles’ on both right and left side at the same time. It all depends on the client’s shape and how many areas are being treated simultaneously. It is more comfortable for treatment to be performed laying down or on their side.
Applicators are secured onto of the skin under (or through) an elastised band. From there, the
technician adjusts the machine settings inundating it with laser energy for about 10 - 40 minutes. You can even leave the room for treatment or you can stay and talk the client through what is
happening. If necessary, you may then move the pads to focus on another area and repeat the treatment.
8 Are There Different Types Of Laser Lipo Pad Applications?
There are a few different Laser Lipo pad configurations. The most popular style involved large elastic straps (Example 1) placed over the target area and the technician slides the pads underneath.
Some devices have the pads integrated with the straps (Example 2) where the elastic band is slid through the slot in the back of the treatment pads.
How Long Do Laser Lipo Results Last?
Because Laser-Lipo does not destroy fat cells but rather empties them of their contents, the fat cells are capable of storing fat again. A balanced diet is the only way to ensure lasting results.
Clients will need to maintain a healthy lifestyle to maintain treatment.
Example 1: Pads are placed underneath elasticised band
Example 2: Pads have a slot for the band to slide through underneath elasticised band
Those clients who take in more calories than they burn will see
their improvement start to decrease over time
9 How Long Is A Laser Lipo session?
Typically, a treatment session runs for 20 - 40
minutes. Always check your machine instructions for more accurate guidance on the maximum duration. However, some clinics offer 10 - 20 minutes
particularly when combining this with other treatments such as Ultrasonic Cavitation, so the client isn’t overly sensitive or spending hours on the table.
How Many Treatments?
Treatment schedule
Though some clients begin to notice results after only a few sessions, most require 6–8 treatments to see maximum results.
Downtime
Because the treatment is not invasive, no downtime is required.
Frequency
Two treatments per week for four weeks are recommended. Treatments can be performed 3 day apart, but no closer as the body needs time for the elimination process.
Treatment time may vary depending on your machine intensity, manufacturer instructions
& whether the client is combining Laser Lipo with other treatments
A great way to get to know your machine is to practice at a low intensity with a training partner
10 Contraindications
A contraindication is the opposite of an indication, which is a reason to use a certain treatment. It is a condition or factor that serves as a reason to withhold a treatment due to the harm that it would cause a client. You need to be aware of the contraindications to both protect yourself and your client from potential negative impacts.
Contraindications that would mean a client is not able to have this treatment:
• Pregnant or breastfeeding • Heart problems or diseases • High blood pressure • Cancer (all types)
• Kidney damage, diseases or problems • Liver damage, diseases or problems • Acute inflammatory processes • Haemorrhagic disease, trauma or
bleeding
• Medical plastic parts or parts with metal inside
• Immunodeficiency /abnormal immune system
• Undergoing chemotherapy or immune therapy • Prednisone and other steroid medications
(treatment will increase inflammation) • Numb or insensitive to heat
• High blood pressure (uncontrolled) • Diabetes (uncontrolled)
• Skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, or rashes
• Active implanted device such as pacemaker or defibrillator
• HIV/AIDS • Lupus
Conditions that need the clients GP/doctors approval to confirm the treatment is suitable before treatments can begin:
• Epilepsy
• Transplant Anti-Rejection Drugs • Thyroid Disease
• Hypertension (High blood pressure treated with medication)
• Cancer Survivor - after 12 months (treatment will increase blood flow and cancer may spread within the body if they are not cleared)
Conditions that require a waiting period or require avoiding the surrounding area of the body:
• Recent surgery (wait 6 months)
11 Contraindications (continued)
At the end of the day if you do have to decline a treatment, your client should be thankful for your approach being professional and taking their health & wellbeing seriously.
There are also times when a contraindication may not apply, but you still need to exercise caution and possibly limit the treatment.
Common sense and your ‘gut feel’ is also important if you have concerns treating someone. For example, if a client has metal implants/screws but feels vibrations in those implants from treatment then stopping treatment unless their doctor has signed off on it.
It is important to remember clients should seek medical advice from qualified doctors and it’s important to treat conservatively if in doubt to protect your client and your business.
12 Candidates For Laser Lipo
Who Is The Ideal Candidate For Laser Lipo?
Non-invasive Laser Lipo has been shown to be effective on different type of bodies. The ideal candidate for non-invasive Laser Lipo are relatively fit, but have some modest-size fat bulges that are resistant to diet and exercise. They are seeking spot reduction for specific areas of fat, but are not considering a surgical procedure. The procedure is not intended for weight-loss or obesity, and is not a substitute for invasive methods such as liposuction.
Most quick and noticeable results can be seen in individuals who exercise regularly, are not obese and just have localized fat deposits.
The ideal candidate should include:
• People more concerned with "problem areas" rather than total-body weight loss
13 Introduction To Client Consultations
The consultation is used to determine whether the client is a suitable candidate, assess their goals and expectations, and identify the treatment areas.
It is essential for the client to have realistic expectations. You need to explain the treatment in depth and discuss the expected results.
Proper client selection is the key to achieving results and client satisfaction. Always have the client read and sign the treatment consent form.
A preliminary assessment should always be performed before commencing any treatment to evaluate your client and enable you to;
✓ Get to know the client ✓ Identify contraindications ✓ Set targets and objectives
✓ Define number of sessions per week. This assessment has three phases;
1. Know: Understand their motivation & lifestyle.
2. Look: Observe and take photographs to define the proposed treatment area(s). Photos also helps with before and after shots. 3. Identify: The type of target – size, consistency, thickness
14 How To Consult With Clients – Know, Look Identify Model
Step 1 - Know
In this step you want to make the client comfortable while understanding the motivation as to why your customer has sought treatment. You are also getting to know more about the client and assess their goals and expectations. This does not need to be lengthy, 5 minutes is all you need. Incorporating some of these questions into your treatment consent form can save time.
The types of things you are looking to understand include:
• Do they have any health or medical conditions that you may need to be aware of? Refer to the consent form for examples of contraindications • What are the problem areas they seeking treatment for?
• What is their overall lifestyle like? E.g. diet and exercise • Get them to talk through their areas of concern
• Why specifically did they seek this treatment out? • What are their expectations of the procedure?
Then you would be talking through an overview of the treatment including: 1. What the treatment does & how it works
2. What the procedure is suitable for? E.g. reduction of stubborn fat not a total weight loss solution
3. What the treatment process is like, what to expect during treatment All clients should be given the opportunity to ask any questions they may have regarding the treatment. If there is any contraindication to the treatment in the area they are looking to treat, you can cut this phase short and explain that they would not be a suitable candidate for this treatment. Next you will be taking the client to the treatment room for the “Look” and observe phase. Note: Ideally you are getting the client to sign the consent form before you move onto the look phase where you are observing the body. However, some clinics get the customer to fill out the form and sign at the end of the
consultation as the client may be more comfortable after the “Identify” phase when they have asked all their questions.
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Step 2 – Look
In this step you are looking or observing the areas of the body with the client. • This should be done in a private area with no clothing obstructing the
treatment areas
• Take the client into a private room or treatment room and give them some alone time to remove clothing for assessment – sometimes providing them a robe or open gown can make them feel more comfortable
• Have the client standing up for this portion of the consultation so that problem areas can be assessed properly
• Talk through the clients’ areas of concern and what you observe e.g. consider is this excess fat or just excess skin?
• With the clients consent it is recommended to take photos before so that they can see the difference after treatment.
Use common sense when asking a client to undress. For example, if they are just seeking upper body treatments it would not be appropriate to ask for them to take pants off.
If you observe any obvious contraindications that may have not been spoken about (e.g. skin conditions, bruises or sores) ask the client about them.
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Step 3 – Identify
Step 3 “Identify” can sometimes be done at the same time as step 2 “Look” if the client is looking to get treatment in multiple areas of the body. You would “Look” at the area with the client then “Identify” whether that area is suitable for treatment.
In this phase you will be:
• Confirming whether the client is a suitable candidate for treatment they are requesting
• Identifying and assess the treatment areas and select the appropriate treatment options based on the clients’ goals.
• Design a treatment plan and schedule a treatment day with the client It may be appropriate to mark off the treatment areas with medical skin markers so that you can show the client the areas to be treated and confirm the specific areas you are treating.
Client Return
It is a good idea to ask clients to come back to take measurements and photographs and assess the treatment results. Before and after images are important as your client will be able to notice visible difference.
A summary of the evaluation should be noted to keep a record of the
evaluation. We recommend a review post treatment should be performed at sessions 1, 4 and 8.
17 Treatment protocols
Treatment checklist
• Treatment table is clean with fresh towels • Consultation form and pen
• Tape measure
• Camera for before pictures • Gloves
Non-invasive Laser Lipo treatment protocols
Have the client read and sign the treatment consent form.
Take the clients measurements and before photos. Be sure to have the client remove any jewellery and piercings in the treatment area.
Place your client on the treatment table ensuring they are positioned correctly and feel comfortable.
Confirm or mark off the area to be treated. A minimum of 1 cm fat layer is required in the whole zone. Do not treat more than 6 areas in a single session. Start the treatment (see Machine functions, how to perform the procedure & treatment placement diagram areas for guidance).
18 How To Perform The Procedure?
Lipo Laser is much simpler to perform than other treatment types like
Ultrasonic Cavitation or Cryolipolysis. First you will need to set up and place the treatment pads.
1. Lie patient on his/her back or on their side.
2. Provide client protective glasses/goggles. 3. Loosely place the adjustable band(s)
around the area to be treated. 4. Place treatment pads under the
adjustable band(s) to cover the treatment area.
5. Ensure treatment pads are connected to main unit.
6. Adjust the treatment intensity/level/fluence. This might just be an
energy setting, some machines also have varying pulse options. Choose a setting that is comfortable for the client.
7. Perform the treatment checking in on the clients comfort periodically 8. Remove treatment pads when complete
The number of pads needed will depend on the surface area to be treated and the size of your client.
Some machines have varying size treatment pads for smaller ‘trickier’ areas. The larger and smaller pads can be used next to each other. Ensure that none of the pads are overlapping.
Sometimes depending on the surface area to be treated it may be more appropriate to treat a client on their side. Hips & ‘Love Handles’ are an
example of this where you may treat one side with the client on their side, and then after side 1 is done, repeating the process on the other side.
Example Large Treatment Pad With Laser Diodes
Example Small Treatment Pad With Laser Diodes
19 Treatment Placement Pad Diagrams
The following diagrams illustrate where pads should typically be placed;
Abdomen
FRONT
Side Waist/Hips aka ‘Love Handles’
SIDE
Arms
SIDE FRONT
CHEST MALES ONLY
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BACK BACK
Back Waistline Back Bra line
BACK
Buttocks
Outer Thigh Inner Thigh
BACK BACK BACK
21 4 Step Process To Operate Laser Lipo Machines
Simplified & Generalised Instructions
Most Non-invasive Laser Lipo machines are very similar. Some machines are standalone so purely for Laser Lipo. And other machines are Multi-Functional combining other type of treatment handles such as Ultrasonic Cavitation, Radiofrequency, Cryolipolysis and more. This should not replace your machine instructions but simply to provide further instruction.
Each machine is a little different this is just simplified version for various machines.
1. Hygiene and Cleaning 2. Set Treatment Duration 3. Set Treatment Fluence 4. Start/Stop Treatment Step 1 - Hygiene and Cleaning
Hygiene is very important when carrying out any treatment. Please ensure that any space you are working in is clean and hazard free. The treatment table must have clean towels or disposable mats. Gloves should be worn when carrying out the treatment.
Before cleaning is carried out, please ensure that the system is disconnected from the mains supply. The main unit may be cleaned on a regular basis by wiping down with a slightly damp cloth.
To reduce the risk of cross contamination, the treatment pads should be cleaned before and after each treatment session. Remove any residue on the treatment pad with a slightly damp cloth. Sterilise the treatment pad using a proprietary sterilising fluid or wipe. Soiled materials should be disposed of in an appropriate manner.
Note: Please do not use any cleaning products containing alcohol or solvents as this may damage the system. Refer to the manufacturers guide for your
22 4 Step Process To Operate Laser Lipo Machines (Continued)
Step 2 - Set Treatment Duration
Most machines can usually be varied from 5 minutes up to 1 hour in 5-minute increments. When you are setting the treatment duration your machine will likely be in standby mode ready to start. Each machine will allow you to adjust the treatment duration intervals. Machine adjustments are normally done with a keypad, arrow, button or knob depending on machine design. Press or dial up your preferred duration.
Most machines recommended an average of 20-40 minute treatment duration. Refer to your machine manual if unsure
Step 3 - Set Treatment Level/Fluence/Intensity
Next set the treatment intensity. Depending on your machine model it may have a differing name for treatment level. Sometimes they are called fluence, level or intensity. Some machines have 2 settings one for intensity level and one for varying pulse options. Essentially you are setting the machine to a comfortable level for the client.
Various machines have differing intensity settings, always stay within manufacturers recommendation for maximum settings and duration
23 4 Step Process To Operate Laser Lipo Machines (Continued)
Step 4 - Start/Stop Treatment
Once the desired level/fluency and duration have been set double check that any left-over unused treatment pads are not going to emit laser light towards the clients eyes or your own eyes. Many machines can only turn on all
treatment pads and not isolate individual pads so keep an eye out for this. Treatment may be commenced by pressing the Start/Stop button. Usually most machines will have a display screen or flashing light to indicate that the treatment duration has started.
In treatment mode, pressing the Start/Stop button will discontinue treatment and will pause treatment duration, pressing the Start/Stop button again will continue the timer duration and treatment.
Once the desired duration has elapsed, the most main units will beep and the display or lights will indicate that the timer has finished.
Remove the treatment pads. After treatment don’t forget hygiene protocols to ensure that each pad is cleaned as defined in the cleaning procedure of your manual.
Note: Various machines have differing intensity & duration settings, always stay within manufacturers recommendation for maximum settings and duration if they are stipulated in your manufacturers instructions.
