63
A key difference between laser light and polarized light is that the laser light is coherent and monochro- matic, which means that it is of one wavelength and one color; the energies of the individual rays can be added, so on the area of application the laser light will have very high energy [5–7].
As related to the natural light, polarized light, when in contact with cells and tissues of a living or- ganism, induces new biological properties, namely:
– Energetic activity of the cell membrane is en- hanced
– Regenerative processes are stimulated – Formation of ATP is accelerated
Such action of the polarized light on the cell and its mechanisms of action can also be applied to the skin, which means that by it acting on the rearrangement of the cell membrane the revitalization of the dam- aged cells is stimulated. This also provides for better hydration and oxygenation of skin and subcutaneous tissue cells, and the well-hydrated and well-oxygen- ated skin cells give the appearance of fresh and reju- venated skin. The phenomenon of the polarized light 63.1
Introduction: Bioptron Phototherapy
The application of light as a therapeutic remedy has been known since ancient times. As early as in the age of ancient Egyptian culture, the beneficial action of sunlight on the human organism was noted. The fa- vorable effects of polarized light rays were discovered during the studies of laser light rays, and in 1981 a group of Hungarian physicists and physicians [1–3]
proved that polarized light has a stimulating effect on natural defensive and reparatory functions of an or- ganism.
Bioptron polarized light is produced with a special multilayered mirror, and its characteristics are as fol- lows:
– Polarization, which means that all emitted waves are oscillating, i.e., moving/spreading across a plane linearly.
– Incoherence, which means that every light wave is oscillating at its own wavelength and amplitude;
waves are not synchronized either in time or in space, meaning that the waves and thus their in- tensities are neither added nor changed.
– Polycromy – a spectrum of polarized light wave- lengths ranging between 480 and 3,400 nm, which means that it comprises the complete visible spec- trum (400–780 nm) and a slight part of the IR spectrum (780–1,500 nm IR-A and 1,500–3,400 nm IR-B). UV, chemically active radiation is complete- ly eliminated by a special filter.
Bioptron polarized light has a specific energy density of 40 mW/cm
2. The light is brought and applied to the required area at constant intensity and very low en- ergy, but it is constant at 2.4 J/cm
2/min.
These constant properties of polarized light rays correspond to a distance of the lamp from the area of the body treated of 10 cm in the case of the Bioptron Compact III device and 10–15 cm for the Clinical Bi- optron 2 device (Fig. 63.1). Polarized light rays pene- trate the tissue to a depth of 2.5 cm, depending on the time of exposure [4].
The Use of Polarized Light in Aesthetic Surgery
Miodrag M. Colic
Fig. 63.1. Hemifacial exposure to the Clinical Bioptron lamp
bringing increased quantities of water and oxygen, applied on the skin surface (Bioptron Oxy-Spray), deeper into the skin was also observed.
The special effects of polarized light rays for revi- talization of the skin as a whole are experimental proof of stimulated proliferation of fibroblasts pro- ducing new collagen fibers, and the possibility of rep- aration of already-produced collagen, which gives back the elasticity to the skin [8–11]. Inflammatory, infectious and viral changes are rehabilitated by acti- vation of both local and general immunity, and by acting on blood, the result is the establishment of nor- malized regulatory mechanisms at skin level.
For all its aforementioned effects, Bioptron polar- ized light has also found wide application in cosme- tology, most frequently in skins with expanded pores, energy-weakened parts of skin, wrinkles, scalp and hair problems, cellulite, acne, and herpes. Wound healing time is reduced by one third to half the nor- mal healing time [12, 13]. Macrophages might play the central role in the wound healing process, for the polarized light might stimulate them to secrete growth factors [14]. It was also noticed in vital capil- laroscopy that local circulation was improved within the area treated with polarized light [15–17]. With po- larized-light biotherapy, the healing effect is also evi- dent on the wounds resistant to all other forms of therapy (ulcers of various etiologies, pressure sores, burns, surgical wounds, wounds of various etiologies) [4, 18, 19].
The pain effect of Bioptron polarized light is ex- plained by its direct effect on nerve endings, and also on the entire nervous system by activation of neu- rotransmitters and enhanced secretion of endorphins (as the most powerful analgesic known today). Polar- ized light also affects favorably the causes of pain, re- generation, improved circulation, removal/elimina- tion of pain causing mediators, etc. [20–22].
63.2
Materials and Methods
From September 2001 a study of a total of 45 facelifts, 67 bilateral blepharoplasties and 350 facial ancillary procedures (implantation of golden and polypropyl- ene threads, temporal lift, brow lift, autologous fat grafting for lip augmentation and perioral rejuvena- tion) was performed to investigate the effects of spe- cial postoperative treatments with polarized light–Bi- optron lamp. These treatments were unilateral, which means that one side of the face and/or one eye was exposed to the light (Fig. 63.2), while the untreated side served as a control group. The exposure lasted 10 min at a distance of 15 cm three times a day, first 24 h after the surgery, and then once per day for the
next 6 days. Photographs were taken preoperatively and on days 1, 3 and 7 postoperatively.
The details observed were the signs of recovery of the treated areas and the speed of resolution of the swelling, hematomas, bruises, etc., compared with those for the nonexposed side. The evident signs of healing, i.e., cicatrization and scar formation or epi- thelialization, were also followed up.
63.3 Results
Our patients were divided into three groups, depend- ing on the recovery period (Table 63.1). The first group consisted of the patients who showed a signifi- cant difference in edema and bruises resolution be- tween the side which had been exposed to the polar- ized light and the nonexposed side. In the facelift group of 45 patients, 26 patients (57.78%), in the blepharoplasty group of 67 patients, 48 patients (71.64%) and in the group of 350 patients with facial ancillary procedures, 164 patients (46.86%) showed a significant difference between exposed and nonex- posed sides regarding the aforementioned signs of re- covery.
To the second group belonged the patients with a moderate difference between the treated and untreat- ed sides: in the facelift group of 45 patients, eight pa- tients (17.78%), in the blepharoplasty group of 67 pa- tients, 13 patients (19.40%) and in the group of 350 patients with facial ancillary procedures, 59 patients (16.86%).
Patients with no difference between the treated and untreated sides belonged to the third group: in the facelift group of 45 patients, 11 patients (24.44%), in the blepharoplasty group of 67 patients, six patients (8.96%), and in the group of 350 patients with facial
Fig. 63.2. Unilateral exposure to the polarized light (right eye)
ancillary procedures, 127 patients (36.28%) showed no difference at all between the exposed and the non- exposed side.
63.4 Discussion
We have been using polarized light therapy in the postoperative treatment of our patients regularly since 2000, with much a faster recovery period than before. The only way to try to prove its efficiency on our aesthetic surgery patients was to make an obvious comparison “on the spot”, i.e., to expose one side to the polarized light, while the other was left unexposed and served as a control group.
Clinical analysis of the patients treated with polar- ized light has shown the great benefit of this ancillary
procedure in the postoperative treatment in the short- ened recovery period. Our experience of 2.5 years confirmed that the best results are obtained in cases of blepharoplasty where in most patients edemas and bruises resolved within 2–3 days, while on nonex- posed sides the duration of that period was usually 6–7 days. Regarding the effect of the polarized light on the length of recovery of the exposed side after facelifts and facial ancillary procedures, it was proven to be successful, with a significant difference in more than half of the patients and less significance in more than 15%, which means that, in general, more than two thirds of the patients showed great benefit from the polarized light exposure. In certain cases (Figs. 63.3–63.5) comparison between treated and untreated sides showed a marked difference in favor of the side which was exposed to the polarized light on a regular basis.
Table 63.1. Clinical results of recovery period among different types of procedures
Group Number of patients Change (%)
Significant Moderate No difference
