Method for pretreating patient before surgery
This invention is a method of pre-treating a patient with low-level laser energy to reduce pain and swelling caused by subsequent injury, thereby speeding recuperation. The preferred embodiment applies low-level laser energy at about 635 nm prior to surgery. In a preferred embodiment prior to breast augmentation, 635 nm laser energy emitted from a laser source of less than 1 W is applied for about 3 minutes to the patient's breast prior to breast augmentation surgery. In an alternate embodiment, the same low-level laser energy is applied for about 4 minutes to the patient's breast after breast augmentation surgery, as well. The method is applicable to pre-disease states which are expected to be followed by injury.
1 . A method for pre-treating a patient prior to injury to improve post-injury recuperation, the method comprising:
a) applying low-level laser energy to the patient prior to injury.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the injury is intentional.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the injury is surgery.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the injury is breast augmentation.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the injury is dermabrasion.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the injury is a facelift.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the injury is muscle injury as a result of exertion.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the application of laser energy reduces post-injury pain.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the application of laser energy reduces post-injury swelling.
10 . The method of claim 2 wherein the application of laser energy reduces post-injury time to heal.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy is in the visible spectrum.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy is red.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy is 635 nm.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the laser energy is a line of laser light.
15 . A method for pre-treating a patient prior to breast augmentation surgery comprising:
a) applying laser energy to a breast of the patient prior to breast augmentation surgery for about 1-12 minutes;
b) wherein the wavelength of the laser energy is about 635 nm; and
c) wherein laser energy is provided by a laser source having power of less than 1 watt.
16 . The method of claim 15 wherein the laser energy is applied for about 3-4 minutes.
17 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:
a) applying the laser energy to the breast of the patient after breast augmentation surgery for about 1-10 minutes.
18 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:
a) laser energy having a wavelength of about 405 nm.