Revolutionizing Cesarean Recovery: How Light Therapy Reduces Pain and Speeds Healing
Transforming Post-Cesarean Pain Management and Wound Healing
Cesareans, while sometimes necessary brings an extra set of complications to being a new mom: pain, a longer recovery, increased risks of infection and more. Many new moms find themselves recovering from major abdominal surgery right at a time when they need to care for their newborn baby. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy—a light-based, non-invasive treatment—improves post-cesarean recovery. More and more research now suggests that PBM reduces pain, accelerate healing, and promote better scar formation without the need for additional medications. For parents wanting a smoother recovery and birth professionals seeking better tools to support postpartum clients, here’s everything you need to know about PBM for post-cesarean healing.
Timing and Frequency Matter for PBM
While PBM has great potential, recent studies emphasize that when and how often PBM is applied makes all the difference. Let’s examine three important studies on PBM for cesarean recovery and how their different approaches to timing and frequency influenced outcomes for new moms. Note that I’ve broken out the research into research on pain and research on wound healing.
1. The De Freitas Study (2024): “Influence of Photobiomodulation on Cesarean Incision Pain”
The 2024 study by De Freitas and colleagues aimed to explore PBM’s effects on pain following cesarean surgery. Here’s what they did:
Protocol: This study involved 125 women who had had a cesarean birth, each received a single PBM session 12 hours after their surgery using a laser device. Patients were divided into groups based on the wavelength of light used (660 nm or 808 nm), and the results were compared to a placebo group that received a sham treatment.
Findings: Surprisingly, the results showed no significant difference in pain relief between the PBM and placebo groups. This suggests that a single PBM session administered 12 hours after surgery may not be enough to make a measurable impact on pain.
Takeaway: A single application of PBM at 12 hours post-surgery may be too late and too infrequent to yield strong results. Timing and frequency matter, especially in the initial stages of healing. We’ve also seen a similar issue in the research when treating nipple pain - one session is not enough.
2. The Poursalehan Study (2018): “The Effect of Low-Level Laser on Postoperative Pain After Elective Cesarean Section”
In 2018, Poursalehan and colleagues examined the immediate effects of PBM on post-cesarean pain relief for 60 women in this blinded RCT.
Protocol: Patients received a single PBM session immediately following cesarean surgery using a low-level laser therapy device.
Findings: Patients who received the immediate PBM treatment reported significantly lower pain levels at 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery compared to those in the control group. This suggests that PBM, when applied immediately, can effectively reduce pain in the first critical hours post-cesarean. Studies on wound healing recommend early treatment during the early inflammation stage.
Takeaway: Timing is crucial. Administering PBM directly after surgery appears to be much more effective for pain management than waiting 12 hours, as seen in the De Freitas paper.
3. The Holanda Araujo (2019) Research: “Low-level laser therapy Improves Pain in Post Cesarean Section: A Randomized Clinical Trial
This Brazilian study again reinforces the effectiveness of laser therapy for post-cesarean pain relief, specifically using lasers (660 nm and 658 nm wavelengths).
Protocol: In this randomized controlled trial, 88 postpartum women were divided into four groups: control, placebo, and two experimental groups that received laser therapy at doses of 4 J/cm² and 2 J/cm². Pain levels were monitored at various intervals up to 48 hours after delivery, and both experimental groups showed significant pain relief compared to the control and placebo groups.
Findings: Pain was significantly reduced at 1, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hs after surgery. Both laser doses provided effective pain management. This study supports the use of LLLT lasers over LEDs for their deeper tissue penetration, making them a promising, non-invasive option for pain management in post-cesarean recovery. Again we see how starting as soon as possible after a surgery is essential.
4. The Dehghanpour Study (2023): “Evaluation of Photobiomodulation Effect on Cesarean-Sectioned Wound Healing: A Clinical Study”
Hamid Reza Dehghanpour’s 2023 study focused on PBM’s impact on wound healing with early and repeated treatment sessions in 40 women (RCT).
Protocol: In this study, PBM therapy began shortly after the cesarean surgery, with additional sessions administered over the following days using a laser device (658 nm).
Findings: The repeated PBM sessions resulted in significantly better wound healing, shown in the REEDA scale (a tool that objectively measures redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, and approximation in wounds). Patients in the PBM group showed reduced redness and swelling and faster wound closure compared to controls.
Takeaway: Starting PBM treatments soon after surgery and continuing them regularly can greatly enhance wound healing. Early, consistent PBM applications provide the body with continuous support for repair, resulting in less inflammation, better collagen production, and faster tissue healing.
Day 3 Post Cesarean
Day 10 Post Cesarean
Key Recommendations for Birth Professionals and New Parents
From these studies, we can gather important insights into how PBM can best support post-cesarean recovery:
Early PBM Application is Essential for Optimal Pain Management and Healing: Studies consistently show that beginning PBM right after surgery, or as early as possible, significantly benefits pain relief and wound healing. Immediate treatment addresses inflammation and pain when it is most needed.
Before Your Cesarean (if it’s planned cesarean) consider having a pre-surgical treatment on the lower abdomen. More and more experts are recommending pretreating surgical areas and lymphatics ahead of surgery to accelerate healing even more.
Consistency and Frequency Matter: While single sessions can provide some benefit, multiple PBM applications over the first few days after surgery, as seen in the Dehghanpour study, yield better outcomes in wound healing. Regular sessions enhance cellular repair and keep inflammation in check throughout the critical early recovery phase.
Laser vs. LED Devices: In all of the studies reviewed, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices were used. Laser devices are often preferred for their deeper penetration, which can effectively reach layers involved in wound healing and pain reduction. LEDs are also used in PBM but may be less effective for deeper tissue recovery.
Missed Opportunities in PBM Research.
To fully harness PBM’s benefits for cesarean recovery, future research should focus on:
Early, Multi-Session Protocols: Testing protocols that start immediately post-surgery and include regular sessions over the first few days to compare outcomes with single-session approaches.
Objective Wound Healing Metrics: Using objective tools like the REEDA scale, as seen in the Dehghanpour work, allows for more accurate assessment of PBM’s impact on healing.
Final Thoughts for Parents and Birth Professionals
Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) could soon become an invaluable part of post-cesarean recovery, helping mothers heal faster and feel more comfortable as you embark on the next part of your parenting journey. For birth professionals, understanding PBM and advocating for its use can make a significant difference in your clients' postpartum experience. Clients with Diabetes (Gestational or Type 1/2) may experience longer wound healing time - PBM has demonstrated accelerated healing in these populations.
As we continue to refine PBM protocols and explore its potential, we’re getting closer to a recovery approach that is gentle, effective, and perfectly suited to support new moms in their healing after cesarean delivery.
Come see me in my soon-to-open Round Rock TX office for all of your postpartum healing needs including perineal healing and nipple soreness.
Tracy
