Effects of Led Photobiomodulation Therapy on the Subcutaneous Fatty Tissue of Obese Individuals- Histological and Immunohistochemical Analysis

Localized adiposity or localized obesity is the hyperplasia or hypertrophy of adipocytes in specific areas such as the abdomen and flanks, its development is associated with the risk of metabolic diseases and psychosocial changes related to low self-esteem, since aesthetic appearance is considered an imposed standard of beauty nowadays.

The proportion of obese individuals has increased at alarming levels around the world and to combat it, several therapeutic approaches are needed, such as personalized diets and physical activity plans, in order to balance consumption and energy expenditure, but despite these controls, several adjuvant features such as non-invasive modalities are also being proposed to reduce subcutaneous fatty tissue.

Among these modalities are the technologies of shock waves, cryolipolysis, focused ultrasound, radiofrequency and the use of light sources with photobiomodulation therapy. The latter, in turn, has shown relevant results in the possible reduction of subcutaneous fatty tissue.

The use of a light source as a therapeutic form is already millenary and nowadays it is widely used as a modality to promote wound healing, reduce pain and possible damage and inflammation of tissues with the characteristic of not presenting photothermal or photoacoustic effects, thus termed as photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT). It can be used by using non-ionizing light sources such as Low Intensity Laser Therapy (LLLT) or Light Emitting Diode Therapy (LED).

The landmark of the use of PBMT in the possible reduction of subcutaneous fatty tissue emerged with the double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study by Jackson et al. in 2012. A total of 689 individuals participated in the study, subdivided into a placebo group and an LLLT group, all of whom were evaluated during the treatment, in order to verify the possible reduction in the circumference of the waist, hips and thighs. Participants received a total of six LLLT treatments over 2 weeks with baseline and post-procedure circumferential measurements recorded. The results showed a significant reduction (p<0.0001) in circumference at the waist, hips and thighs one week after treatment with LLLT.