“There is a lot of misinformation and confusion about red light therapy and how it works in relation to collagen but to put things simply, red light works by modulating (balancing) collagen synthesis and collagen breakdown. This can result in (mild) collagen boosting where it is lacking (e.g. mild skin laxity) and collagen breakdown where it is excessive (e.g. in fibrosis, keloids, scars etc).”
Red light for keloids and fibrosis reduction: how does it work?
Keloids, TGF-β1, collagen, MMP1 and red light therapy
Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) does not stimulate collagen fast, it is more suited to collagen maintenance and collagen breakdown prevention
Red light at very high intensities can increase collagen - via heat
Red light stimulates mitochondrial function by being absorbed by the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CCO)…
In your treatments, do you think you get rid of the cellulite adipose tissue first or the collagen matrix that it lives in?
Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Redox Signaling in Photobiomodulation
Advanced, infrared / blue / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia
LipoTherapeia® Plus: Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment with London’s cellulite experts
Keloids, TGF-β1, collagen, MMP1 and red light therapy
Reader’s question: “I find your website absolutely fascinating. I'm currently in the USA and probably not crossing the continent and the pond to visit. Here's a comment for consideration:
I purchased a red light device just to see if it'd take care of some keloid issues I had and am amazed! Now these buggers are collagen based. I still cannot figure out how one reduces collagen rather than just turn off the TGF-beta driven collagen factory.
Red light, I'm reading, can also increase transcription of the collagen degrading matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1). I'm still trying to figure things out.
In your treatments, do you think you get rid of the cellulite adipose tissue first or the collagen matrix that it lives in?”
Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) does not stimulate collagen fast, it is more suited to collagen maintenance and collagen breakdown prevention
LipoTherapeia’s answer:
First of all, congratulations for managing to reduce your keloid scars with photobiomodulation. Your example gives hope to many other people around the world who suffer from keloids.
Now, to the answer to your question.
Contrary to popular belief red light does not stimulate collagen either significantly or quickly.
Whatever collagen synthesis stimulation occurs, occurs due to improved cellular health. Red light stimulates mitochondrial function, which results in less inflammation and better overall cell function, including fibroblast ("‘collagen cell’) function.
So, for collagen induction purposes, red light therapy is effective in the long run in a gentle and balanced way but it is very slow acting in this regard.
For this purpose, deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency is much faster acting and indeed it stimulates TGF-β1 quite significantly. This means fast collagen synthesis and collagen contraction, which both result in skin tightening.
However, the inflammation reduction and overall improved cellular function is the reason why low-medium intensity red light therapy can help with excess collagen issues, such as keloids, scars, adhesions and fibrosis: by normalising (‘modulating’) collagen synthesis and breakdown.
This involves a balance between collagen-degrading MMPs and TGF-β1/other collagen-boosting molecules. With time (don’t expect results in a week), excessive collagen is resorbed and keloids, scars, adhesions and fibrosis improve.
So, at medium-low intensities red light can optimise/modulate collagen, safely.
Red light at very high intensities can increase collagen - via heat
Now, high intensity red light can also stimulate collagen production significantly and quickly but via good old heat - not via photobiomodulation’s mode of action, which is improved mitochondrial function via the CCO pathway (see research paper below or the many hundreds of similar papers on the subject).
Heat is known to stimulate TGF-β1 and consequent collagen synthesis.
Unfortunately, red light can irritate the surface of the skin (epidermis) long before it stimulates collagen production deeper (in the dermis).
So red light therapy is vastly inferior to radiofrequency in this respect.
Indeed, properly applied RF can provide intense heat deep in the tissues and safely - without irritation, inflammation hyperpigmentation etc, which intense red light treatment can cause.
So, at very high intensities red light can boost collagen but unsafely.
I hope the above answered your questions.
Please see below a succinct explanation of how red light at 630-680 nm wavelength works.
Red light stimulates mitochondrial function by being absorbed by the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CCO)…
…a key component of the electron transport chain (ETC). This interaction triggers a cascade of cellular events that enhance energy production and cellular health.
The mechanism involves:
Nitric Oxide (NO) Dissociation: In stressed or hypoxic cells, nitric oxide (NO) can bind to CCO, inhibiting electron transport. The red light photons are absorbed by CCO, which causes the stimulatory photodissociation of the inhibitory NO from its binding site.
Increased Electron Transport: With NO removed, the electron transport chain's activity is restored or increased. This enhances oxygen consumption and the proton gradient across the mitochondrial membrane (mitochondrial membrane potential).
ATP Production: The increased proton gradient drives the ATP synthase enzyme to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy source for cells.
Activation of Signaling Pathways: The process also results in a transient, moderate increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of calcium ions (Ca2+). These act as versatile secondary messengers, activating transcription factors and signaling mediators that promote anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant responses, as well as tissue repair and regeneration.
In essence, red light helps the cell's "power plant" (mitochondria) run more efficiently, providing more energy for cellular functions, repair, and overall health.
And to answer your last question:
In your treatments, do you think you get rid of the cellulite adipose tissue first or the collagen matrix that it lives in?
Neither. We use red and infrared light therapy at the clinic because, by stimulating mitochondrial respiration, it boosts the effectiveness of our deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation treatments, when applied right after those treatments.
Red light does NOT break down fat, this is a huge misconception derived by (literally) fake studies. I wish it did!
And no, we neither break down the cellulite’s collagen matrix with red light, as that would be very, very slow. We achieved this much far faster by deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation.
Mechanisms and Mitochondrial Redox Signaling in Photobiomodulation
Research paper link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5844808/
Abstract: Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves the use of red or near-infrared light at low power densities to produce a beneficial effect on cells or tissues. PBM therapy is used to reduce pain, inflammation, edema, and to regenerate damaged tissues such as wounds, bones and tendons. The primary site of light absorption in mammalian cells has been identified as the mitochondria, and more specifically, cytochrome c oxidase (CCO). It is hypothesized that inhibitory nitric oxide can be dissociated from CCO thus restoring electron transport and increasing mitochondrial membrane potential. Another mechanism involves activation of light or heat-gated ion channels. This review will cover the redox signaling that occurs in PBM and examine the difference between healthy and stressed cells, where PBM can have apparently opposite effects. PBM has a marked effect on stem cells, and this is proposed to operate via mitochondrial redox signaling. PBM can act as a pre-conditioning regimen, and can interact with exercise on muscles.
Advanced, infrared / blue / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia
At LipoTherapeia we are passionate about phototherapy (also known as photobiomodulation/PBM, red light therapy, infrared light therapy, blue light therapy, LED light therapy etc) and we use the most powerful equipment available today (up to 200mW/cm2), for best results and treatment of large body areas.
We use specialised therapy protocols for skin rejuvenation / anti-ageing, pigmentation / post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), moderate/severe acne, skin redness, sensitive/inflamed/irritated skin, wound healing, sports injuries / musculoskeletal pain and overall wellness / well-being.
Our LED phototherapy sessions are comfortable, deeply relaxing and super-safe and are great to enhance our radiofrequency/ultrasound treatments for skin tightening / cellulite reduction.
On our booking page you can book stand-alone phototherapy sessions or combine them with our other treatments, as an add-on.
Check prices and book an expert LED phototherapy treatment at our London clinic.
Have a treatment in London with the cellulite experts
At LipoTherapeia we have specialised 100% in skin tightening and cellulite reduction for more than two decades and 20,000+ sessions.
This is all we study and practise every day and have researched and tried hands-on all the important skin tightening equipment and their manufacturers.
As strong, deep acting radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the technologies of choice for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we have invested in the best RF/ultrasound technologies in the world.
(Of course, we keep looking for new technologies every day and if/when a better technology materialises we will be the first to provide it. However, we will never follow the latest ineffective gimmick, just because it’s good marketing to offer the latest hyped up - yet ineffective and/or unsafe treatment.)
Furthermore, over the last two decades we have developed advanced RF and cavitation treatment protocols in order to make the most of our technologies, for maximum results, naturally and safely.
And for even better, faster results, we now combine our RF/ultrasound treatments with high-power red/infrared light LED treatment.
Our radiofrequency/ultrasound/LED treatments are comfortable, pain-free, downtime-free, injection-free, 99.5%+ safe and always non-invasive.
(No unsafe and ineffective RF microneedling or HIFU and no safe but ineffective acoustic wave therapy, superficial RF (bipolar/tripolar/multipolar etc), low power RF/cavitation, electrical muscle stimulation, lymphatic massage, cupping, dry brushing and no ridiculous bum bum creams.)
Our focus is on honest, realistic, science-based treatment, combined with caring, professional service, with a smile.
We will be pleased to see you, assess your cellulite, skin laxity or fibrosis, listen to your story, discuss your case and offer you the best possible treatment.
Check prices and book an expert cellulite / skin tightening treatment at our London clinic.
Look Inside Your Skin™ with a Cellulite Ultrasonography™ scan, exclusive to LipoTherapeia in London, and assess your cellulite, skin laxity, post-liposuction fibrosis and more
We are proud to be the first and only cellulite clinic in the world to offer Cellulite Ultrasonography™ to our clients, for accurate assessment, better treatment and enhanced results. Since 2022 we have assessed and provided valuable insights to hundreds of clients to better understand their specific case, see how their skin looks from inside and make informed decisions.
You can now book your Cellulite Ultrasonography™ session and assess your:
Cellulite
Skin laxity
Lipedema
Subcutaneous fat levels
You can also assess the presence and severity of fibrosis and adhesions after:
Liposuction in all its forms, including vaser, smart lipo, bodytite, abdominoplasty/tummy tuck, thigh lift, arm lift, lipedema surgery etc
Cellulite surgery, such as cellulaze, cellutite, cellfina, subcision etc
Face-lift surgery
Non-surgical procedures, such as RF microneedling, extreme intensity HIFU, extreme intensity RF, extreme intensity ultrasound etc
Everything will be shown and explained to you clearly and you can see and understand how the different structures inside your skin affect your appearance.
If there is scar tissue / fibrosis, those will be clearly seen and you can differentiate between fibrosis, water retention or unremoved fat after all types of cosmetic surgery or harsh non-surgical procedures such as RF microneedling, extreme intensity HIFU etc.
(DISCLAIMER: Please note that this service is for your informational purposes only and does not constitute medical diagnosis or advice.)
The 45’ appointment includes full assessment and consultation and optional treatment plan for cellulite reduction and/or skin tightening.
If you do wish to have treatment with us, the ultrasound scan, assessment and consultation will be used to optimise your course of treatments and maximise your results.