Expert Care, delivered with compassion
Low-Level Laser
Therapy
Ongoing swelling, scarring, or fibrosis can leave tissue feeling tight, uncomfortable, and restricted. Laser therapy is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that supports lymphatic flow, promotes healing, and helps soften scar tissue and fibrotic areas to improve comfort, mobility, and overall tissue health.
What is a Low level Laser Therapy?
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), also known as photobiomodulation, is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that uses specific wavelengths of light to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. It can be used as part of lymphatic and swelling management, as well as to support tissue healing and reduce inflammation.
The light energy penetrates the skin and interacts with cells, helping to improve cellular activity, circulation, and lymphatic function. This may assist with reducing swelling, softening firm or fibrotic tissue, and supporting overall tissue health.
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What to Expect During Your Assessment?
Before beginning low level laser therapy, a clinical assessment is completed to determine whether the treatment is appropriate for you.
During this assessment, your practitioner will review your medical history, assess the area of concern, and identify any injuries, tissue changes, swelling, or lymphatic regions that may benefit from treatment.
During the session, a small handheld laser device is placed gently on the skin over specific treatment areas. The device delivers low levels of therapeutic light that penetrate the tissue and support cellular activity, circulation, and lymphatic function. The treatment is painless and does not produce heat, with most people feeling little to no sensation during the session. Depending on the area being treated, sessions usually last between 10–30 minutes.
Low level laser therapy is often used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, which may include manual lymphatic drainage, compression therapy, exercise, and self-management strategies to support long-term results. In some cases, it may also be used as a stand-alone treatment, depending on your individual needs and treatment goals.
What Can Low Level Laser Therapy Help With?
Low level laser therapy can support a variety of conditions by helping stimulate cellular activity, improve circulation, and assist the body’s natural healing processes. It is often used in lymphatic therapy, swelling management, and rehabilitation settings to support tissue health and recovery.
1 / Lymphoedema
Low level laser therapy may help stimulate lymphatic vessels and support lymphatic drainage. This can assist with fluid movement, help reduce swelling, and support overall lymphoedema management when used alongside treatments such as manual lymphatic drainage and compression therapy.
2 / Fibrosis and tissue firmness
Following lymphoedema, surgery, or radiation therapy, tissues can sometimes become thickened or firm due to fibrosis. Low level laser therapy may help soften these tissues, improve tissue flexibility, and support healthier tissue structure.
3 / Post-surgical swelling and healing
After surgery, the body often experiences inflammation and swelling as part of the healing process. Low level laser therapy may help support tissue repair, assist with fluid movement, and encourage healing of affected tissues.
4 / Radiation-related tissue changes
Radiation therapy can sometimes lead to tissue tightness, fibrosis, or changes in skin and soft tissue health. Low level laser therapy may help support tissue repair and improve tissue mobility in affected areas.
5 / Pain and inflammation
Low level laser therapy may help reduce inflammation and support the body’s natural pain-modulating processes. This can assist with improving comfort in areas affected by swelling, injury, or tissue irritation.
6 / Scar tissue
Low level laser therapy may assist in improving the appearance and flexibility of scar tissue by supporting tissue remodelling and encouraging healthier tissue function.
7 / Wound healing
Low level laser therapy may support wound healing by stimulating cellular repair and improving circulation to the affected area. This can help encourage tissue regeneration and support the body’s natural healing process in certain types of wounds.
8 / Soft tissue injuries
The therapy may also be used to support healing in soft tissue injuries such as muscle strains, tendon irritation, or ligament injuries by encouraging cellular repair and improving local circulation.
How Many Treatments Are Usually Needed?
The number of low level laser therapy sessions needed can vary depending on your condition, the area being treated, and your treatment goals.
Some people may benefit from a small number of treatments to support healing after an injury or surgery, while others with longer-term conditions such as lymphoedema, fibrosis, or chronic swelling may benefit from a series of treatments over time.
Low level laser therapy often works best when treatments are provided regularly for a short period, allowing the light therapy to support ongoing cellular repair and tissue recovery. As the area improves, the frequency of treatment may be reduced.
Your practitioner will recommend a treatment schedule based on your assessment findings, response to treatment, and overall management plan, and this can be adjusted as your condition changes.
Do you need a Referral?
Private Clients do not need a referral from your general practitioner (GP) or other medical specialist to book in for a Laser Appointment.
If suitable, Laser may be included as part of your lymphoedema, oedema, lipoedema or Cancer/Oncology Appointment.
If you are eligible for the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan, your GP must write a referral to receive one of the above appointment types.
Please Note that these can only be used with Our Lymphoedema Physiotherapists.
Aged Care clients that have a Home Care Package will require appropriate documentation and referral from their GP or care coordinator, in line with their funding arrangements.
