A few weeks ago, Hollywood actress Jessica Alba created a buzz on the Internet with her anti-age LED skin care treatment. Turns out LEDs market potential in the beauty sector extends to weight loss, and for those aiming to stay thin and slim.

Dr. Sasson Moulavi, the medical director of Smart for Life in Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. uses LEDs with a wavelength of 635 nanometers to treat patients that have hit a plateau in their weight loss program, reported 4WWL TV.

The red LEDs, NLAL, is not a miracle drug for obesity, said Moulavi. Dieters still need to stick to a strict 1,200 calories per day diet for the treatment to work.

The non-invasive cool LED treatment is used in combination with the calorie controlled diet can help patients shed on average 6.80 kilograms (15 pounds) per month, and 10.16 cm four inches from the waist line after three to four treatment sessions, according to Moulavi.

Fat cells before and after receiving NLAL red LED treatment. (Photo courtesy of NLAL)

Compared to the traditional liposuction treatment, where fat is permanently removed can be regained in other parts of the body, fat cells and tissues come back in the same areas with NLAL. Photos on the website suggest the treatment shrinks fat cell sizes. Furthermore, since the treatment is non-invasive patients do not need to undergo a recovery period.

Based on additional info from NLAL’s official website, LED systems absorption rate is higher than lasers because of the refraction and strength of the light beam. LEDs absorption rate is about 70% compared to lasers 30%.

Another difference between laser and LED designs in weight loss devices is 30 diodes are embedded in each LED pad, in contrast lasers only use 8-12 diodes.

Similar to all new LED medical and beauty applications, treatment sessions can still be fairly costly at around US $300 per session. Still, for those struggling to lose extra fat clinging onto their waist, this might prove to be an effective weight loss method.