Red Light Therapy and Surgical implants

Red light therapy can make a significant difference in someone's life and is used in a wide scope of clinical or home treatments for therapeutic relief. The numerous benefits that people have discovered for themselves with red light therapy are quite broad and red light therapy is becoming increasingly popular. Safety concerns for people with surgical implants such as titanium plate, metal, pacemaker, prosthetics screws, rods, or breast implants have become the frequent topic of questions and we will cover the safety of using red light therapy and discuss any contraindications below. 

Studies have proven that red and Near Infrared (NIR) wavelengths have remarkable effects on the body. Our lights feature multiple wavelengths and only a portion of this spectrum is visible to the naked eye, with red being the most visible. These wavelengths of light, some of which are found in sunlight, have positive biochemical effects on the body. It is important to know if it is safe to expose any kind of surgical implants or devices to the wavelengths emitted by our lights.

Post implant surgery

The good news is that red light therapy applied to areas containing surgical implants has been shown to be perfectly safe. In fact, low-level laser therapy, also known as red light therapy, has been used in joint replacement rehabilitation and to relieve post-operative discomfort. The implants themselves will not be affected by red light therapy which is often used to address potential complications from post-implant surgery simultaneously such as post-surgical scars and edema.

A randomized control study, titled, “Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on acute pain and inflammation in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty-(LINK2) concluded that photobiomodulation is effective in decreasing post-op inflammation in patients who have had hip arthroplasty (hip replacement with artificial implants) and listed no contraindications with photobiomodulation. To put it into perspective, when low-level laser therapy comes into contact with metal implants, the light will be reflected from the implant and redirected through the tissue, this is also very dependent on the type of hardware used in the implant. For example, cerclage wire and IM pins (used in long bone fractures) will have a minimum reflection due to their small size.  

A 2021 review, titled, “Effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) on mini-implant stability: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” covered the effects of photobiomodulation on “mini-implant stability.” This study gave reassurance to any safety concerns re: surgical implants while concluding that low-level light can improve mini-implant stability. PBM improves implant stability while also enhancing healing at the surgical site by boosting ATP synthesis and angiogenesis and decreasing inflammation. Furthermore, more high-quality clinical trials are needed to examine PBMT's efficacy on orthodontic mini-implants. 

 Breast implants 

Whether you have saline or silicone breast implants, red light therapy will not affect breast augmentation implants. Red and NIR light with standard and reasonable power densities are safe to use on silicone breast implants (Hamblin M, 2021). Silicone prosthesis for the nose and ear are also deemed to be completely safe. In general, infrared rays can potentially warm up silicone but because silicone melts at over 200 degrees Celsius, there should not be any adverse effects.

Pacemaker

Using red light therapy may be helpful to those who have a pacemaker because the effects of red light treatment are comparable to those of sun exposure on the human body, it can be good for cardiac conditions. Various sorts of patients have been found to benefit from the usage of this therapy, including those suffering from myocardial infarction (heart attack) and congenital heart disease. This is because red light therapy can be used to treat these conditions as well as offer much-needed comfort. In the cited research, there have not been any significant studies that presented any negative effects from LED lights most red light therapy panels have been used with people with pacemakers. We can conclude that red light therapy with wavelengths of 660nm to 850nm is perfectly safe for people with pacemakers. 

Photobiomodulation and dental implants

Photobiomodulation has become a common viable treatment in many dental practices, and it has been shown to be impactful in tissue healing. Multiple studies examined the effects of “laser therapy in the improvement of the attachment of human oral fibroblasts onto titanium surfaces.” (Link 8) With that said, there is some validation for the use of low-level laser therapy and its use to attach titanium implants to biological flesh. This particular study used animal models to assist in discovering safe, effective restorative practices for humans.

Healthy cellular function

Considering you may be using red light therapy for deep muscle discomfort relief, hair rejuvenation, energizing your mitocondriaa, benefiting the texture and tone of the skin, know that the overall the goal always results in healthier cellular function. Primarily, there is strong positive feedback that red light can relieve discomfort from swelling or improve scaring that was a result from surgical implants.

We can now understand that using red light and NIR are generally safe with surgical implants. Nevertheless, a person should always consult with their physician or surgeon before starting any new therapies. Feel free to explore our blog to learn more about the benefits, use of our panels and much more! 

References:

 Langella LG, Casalechi HL, Tomazoni SS, Johnson DS, Albertini R, Pallotta RC, Marcos RL, de Carvalho PTC, Leal-Junior ECP. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on acute pain and inflammation in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty-a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2018 Dec;33(9):1933-1940. doi: 10.1007/s10103-018-2558-x. Epub 2018 Jun 16. PMID: 29909435.

Tang E, Arany P. Photobiomodulation and implants: implications for dentistry. J Periodontal Implant Sci. 2013;43(6):262-268. doi:10.5051/jpis.2013.43.6.262

Palhares A, Schellini SA, Pellizzon CH, Padovani CR, Dorsa P. Evaluation of low intensity laser's action on silicone mammary implant pseudocapsules in rats. Acta Cir Bras. 2009 Jan-Feb;24(1):7-12. doi: 10.1590/s0102-86502009000100003. PMID: 19169535.

Zhang B, Huang X, Huo S, Zhang C, Cen X, Zhao Z. Effect of photobiomodulation therapy on mini-implant stability: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2021 Oct;36(8):1557-1566. doi: 10.1007/s10103-021-03281-6. Epub 2021 Mar 4. PMID: 33660109.

Tuner J, Hode L. The Laser Therapy Handbook. Prima Books. Sweden. 2007. p 292.

Hamblin M, Agrawal T, Sousa M. Handbook of low-level laser therapy. Jenny Standford Publishing. Massachusetts. 2021