Many people talk now about laser surgery to quit smoking. It seems that we can do everything with lasers: listen to music, fix eyesight and now even possibly cure smoking.
The term “laser surgery” to describe this method to quit smoking is a misnomer.
Usually the connection between lasers and health is in the form of surgery, however when used to help cure this addiction, the procedure is totally invasive and the skin is not broken and nothing is destroyed or burned..
How Does It Work?
A quit smoking laser works by focussing laser light onto a specific part of the body. By doing this, it is said to stimulate endorphins in the body which many people call the body’s “pleasure chemicals” or “feel good chemicals”. Thus, a person is supposed to be more calm and relaxed after a treatment and better prepared for stopping smoking.
Also, some people report that the cravings disappear after a typical session too.
Comparison With Acupuncture
The theory behind lasers is very similar to acupuncture. During acupuncture, needles are inserted into the skin to achieve the same effect of stimulating endorphins. The advantage of the laser is that it is totally non-invasive and also painless.
How Long Does It Take?
This will depend on where you have treatment as there are still differing opinions on what is the best way to use this relatively new application. Typically though, you can expect each session to take one hour and to need a total of three sessions. All in all, it takes about a week to do all the sessions.
Does It Work?
The jury is out on whether this treatment works. There is no doubt that immediately after the treatment is finished, some people stop smoking. But is this the treatment living up to its promise or just the placebo effect? One independent study carried out by the Peninsula Medical School came to the following conclusion:
There is no consistent evidence that acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy or electrostimulation are effective for smoking cessation, but methodological problems mean that no firm conclusions can be drawn. Further research using frequent or continuous stimulation is justified.