FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is laser therapy safe?
Yes.
Low-level
laser
therapy
has
been
practiced
for
nearly
thirty
years
in
a
wide
variety
of
applications
and
has
never
given
any
indication
of
producing
adverse
side
effects.
In
fact,
almost
every
effect
of
correctly
applied
laser
therapy
is
beneficial
to
the
well-being
of
the
body. Our
therapists
are
thoroughly
trained,
and
the
FDA
has
ruled
laser
therapy
equipment
as
essentially
safe,
non-significant
risk
devices. This low-level laser emits less energy than a 60-watt light bulb and is as safe as walking outside on a sunny day.
Does it hurt?
Not
at
all.
Our
soft,
non-thermal
therapeutic
laser
creates
no
heat,
and
no
pain
is
experienced
whatsoever.
Most
people
feel
absolutely
nothing.
Some
people
experience
a
tickling
or
tingling
sensation,
or
sometimes
a
warmth
that
is
due
to
the
focused
increase
of
blood
flow to the applied area.
How does your program compare to other methods of quitting smoking?
Several
studies
devoted
to
determining
the
success
of
smoking
cessation
therapies
have
been
conducted.
These
studies
have
concluded
that
laser
therapy
has
a
higher
success
rate
than
all
other
smoking
cessation
methods
on
the
market.
Most
methods
used
today
address
only
one
aspect
of
the
addiction
to
nicotine,
whereas
the
Gateway
Laser
Wellness
Center
program
is
a
multi-dimensional
approach
combining several techniques. Here is a list of some of the methods and information about them.
Cold
turkey:
An
honorable
approach,
but
very
difficult
for
most
people
without
some
aid
to
relax
cravings
and
withdrawal
discomfort.
Less than 5% who try are able to quit cold turkey.
Cutting
down:
By
far
the
worst
way
to
quit
smoking.
It
trains
the
brain
to
believe
smoking
is
more
desirable
and
prolongs
the
misery.
Less than 2% who try to cut down ever quit smoking.
The
Gum:
Similar
to
the
patch,
however
you
must
chew
the
gum
up
to
15
times
daily
for
6
months.
Again
you
are
still
addicted
to
nicotine
as
well
as
the
possibility
of
negative
side
effects
such
as
nausea,
constipation,
severe
angina
pectoris
and
vasopastie
disease.
Success rate: 5%
The
Patch:
Simply
a
different
way
to
ingest
nicotine.
The
intention
is
to
gradually
reduce
the
dosage
over
time,
but
most
people
end
up
becoming
addicted
to
the
patch.
It's
an
approach
very
similar
to
cutting
down,
which
is
the
worst
way
to
quit
smoking.
The
patch
can
cause
several
negative
side
effects
such
as,
skin
disease,
vascular
disease,
insomnia,
dizziness,
nausea
and
at
best
only
a
rash. Several
organizations
still
believe
that
nicotine
replacement
products
are
'proven'
methods
for
quitting,
but
no
studies
suggest
a
Success
rate
any higher than only 16%.
Prescription
Pills:
Zyban
and
Chantix
are
the
most
common
drugs
currently
used
for
smoking
cessation. They
are
expensive
and
must
be
taken
for
many
weeks.
They
come
with
the
risk
of
serious
possible
side
effects
such
as,
seizure,
insomnia,
high
blood
pressure,
dizziness,
dry
mouth
and
hallucination.
Chantix
was
developed
as
a
way
to
mimic
the
way
laser
therapy
works.
The
difference
is
that
laser
therapy
triggers
your
body
to
naturally
medicate
itself,
while
Chantix
injects
artificial
chemicals
into
your
body
that
don't
work
as
well as your own medicine and often causes serious side effects. Success rate: 27%
Hypnosis:
An intriguing approach that unfortunately has yet to garner significant acceptance in the medical community.
Acupuncture:
Attempts
to
rejuvenate
the
body's
flow
of
energy
by
stimulating
meridians
points
along
energy
channels.
This
can
help relieve
cravings,
among
other
affects.
The
concept
is
quite similar
to
the
principles
of low-level
laser
therapy,
but
acupuncture
is
invasive to
the
body
and
can
be
painful
for
some
people.
It
also
requires
many
treatments
over
several
months.
Laser
therapy
can
produce longer lasting results with fewer treatments.
Counseling:
Therapy
helps,
when
done
in
small
groups
or
individually,
but
must
be
done
often,
especially
during
the
first
two
weeks.
It
is
recommended
you
attend
at
least
twice
a
week.
This
works
best
when
combined
with
other
methods,
which
is
exactly
what
we
offer
at Gateway Laser Wellness Center.
Will my medical insurance cover the cost of your program?
Laser
therapy
for
the
treatment
of
smoking
addiction
is
not
eligible
for
medical
insurance
coverage.
The
cost
of
many
smoking
cessation
programs,
including
laser
therapy,
are
tax-deductible,
so
consult
your
accountant.
Also,
some
companies
will
pay
for
part
or
all
of
the
cost of your smoking cessation program because it saves them a lot of money in several ways.
How can your program save me money?
Besides
offering
you
the
terrific
health
and
emotional
benefits
of
being
a
non-smoker,
quitting
smoking
with
this
program can
save
you
money in several ways.
•
You
will
save
over
$2,200
in
just
one
year
because
you
will
no
longer
spend
money
on
cigarettes.
Smoking
just
a
pack
a
day
adds
up
to over $2,200 a year for the average smoker.
•
You may get sick less often and pay less for medications.
•
You will enjoy significant savings (about 40%) on your health and life insurance premiums by being a non-smoker.
•
And
again,
check
with
your
tax
advisor
to
be
sure
you
can
deduct
this
from
your
taxes,
and
see
if
your
company
will
pay
for
at
least
part of the program, saving you even more money.
How long does the treatment take?
The laser treatment takes about 30 minutes, although you should allow an hour for the initial consultation.
How many treatments will I need?
Laser
therapy
can
be
very
effective
after
just
one
treatment,
but
we
offer
two
extra
treatments
-
free
of
charge
-
to
reinforce
the
benefits. It's best to receive these booster treatments within two weeks of the initial treatment.
Will I gain weight?
Weight
gain
is
not
a
necessary
response
to
smoking
cessation,
and
it
is
less
likely
when
you
quit
smoking
with
laser
treatments.
Laser
therapy
studies
and
clinical
experience
have
found
weight
gain
to
be
less
than
other
ways
for
quitting.
If
weight
gain
is
a
concern,
ask
us
to explain how you can avoid weight gain.
Are there any health conditions for which laser therapy is not recommended?
Low-level
laser
therapy
for
smoking
cessation
is
a
very
safe
modality
that
can
be
used
under
almost
all
medical
situation.
It
is
however
not
recommended
for
those
who
have
tumors,
active
cancers,
or
for
those
who
are
undergoing
radiation
or
chemotherapy.
We
also
choose
to
decline
laser
treatments
if
you
are
pregnant. If
you
have
any
health
concerns,
consult
Gateway
Laser
Wellness
Center
and
your
physician prior to treatment.
Is there anything I need to do before my first treatment?
No.
Just
relax
and
look
forward
to
starting
a
new
life
free
from
smoking.
If
you
want
you
can
drink
more
water
for
a
few
days
before
your
treatment
and
take
extra
vitamin
C.
Alcohol
reduces
the
effectiveness,
so
refrain
from
alcohol
for
at
least
12
hours
prior
to
treatment. Please wear loose fitting pants for your treatment so we can access points on your legs.
How can I set up an appointment?
Simply give us a call. We'll answer any questions you may have and prepare you for your initial treatment.
Do you offer gift certificates?
Yes,
you
can
purchase
gift
certificates.
A
word
of
advice,
though:
since
part
of
the
addiction
is
emotional
and
mental,
it's
important
that
the
person
coming
in
for
therapy
has
a
genuine
desire
to
quit
smoking.
Most
smokers
want
to
quit,
but
not
all,
and
Gateway
Laser
Wellness
Center
respects
a
person's
choice
to
continue
smoking.
While
laser
therapy
will
work
even
on
reluctant
participants,
Gateway
Laser Wellness Center wishes to work with those who truly want to quit smoking with laser therapy.
For more information about laser therapy and our programs please give us a call, we're happy to talk with you.