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FDA-Approved Laser Hair Growth

In 2002, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved low level laser therapy (LLLT) as a safe and effective treatment for hair loss.

  1. Features

    • LLLT, also referred to as cold laser therapy or soft therapy, involves the use of light energy to stimulate hair growth and thicken thinning hair. Treatment is painless and free of side effects.

    How It Works

    • The light energy is absorbed by the cells and hair follicles of the scalp, stimulating cell processes that trigger hair restoration. This type of laser treatment does not involve the use of thermal (heat) energy, so there is no risk of damaging or burning the skin tissue.

    Procedure

    • Patients do not require anesthesia or pain medication, as the process is painless and does not involve any downtime or recovery time. Multiple panels of light energy address all of the scalp simultaneously in a treatment session that lasts from 20 to 45 minutes.

    Benefits

    • In addition to being painless and free of side effects and downtime, LLLT restores hair growth and thickens hair without a chemical dependency to sustain effects after treatment. It can also be used in conjunction with other hair restoration treatments.

    Drawbacks

    • LLLT requires multiple, consistent treatment sessions in order to produce results. the number of sessions required depends on the hair and scalp condition. Bernstein Medical Center for Hair Restoration, for example, offers a 12-month LLLT hair restoration program that starts off with three sessions per week, tapering to one treatment per month.

    Home Products

    • In January 2007, the FDA approved the first home-use LLLT product, a comb that uses the same technology and function (though less intense and more compact) to thicken thinning hair and prevent baldness. The product is called the "HairMax Laser Comb."

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