Abstract
Many studies regarding near-infrared, have used near-infrared resources without a water filter or a cooling system, and have proven its thermal effects. With these methods near-infrared energy is mainly absorbed in the superficial tissues and cannot be delivered sufficiently to deeper tissues. As solar near-infrared is filtered by atmospheric water, a water filter is essential in order to simulate solar near-infrared. Thus, these approaches could not sufficiently evaluate the effects of incident solar near-infrared that reaches the human tissue. We have clarified that the near-infrared that simulates solar near-infrared non-thermally affects subcutaneous tissues, including muscle. Importantly, the biological effects of near-infrared have both beneficial applications and deleterious effects. Near-infrared induces dermal heating thermally and non-thermally induces collagen and elastin stimulation, which results in skin tightening, and induces long-lasting vasodilation that may prevent vasospasm and may be beneficial for ischemic disorders and flap surgeries. Near-infrared also non-thermally relaxes and weakens dystonic or hypertrophic muscles to reduce wrinkles and myalgia. Its long-lasting induction of subcutaneous adipocytes may have an application in volume augmentation. However, continuous near-infrared exposure may induce photoaging and thinning of superficial muscles, which results in skin ptosis. Protection against near-infrared should be strongly considered, as over half of the solar energy is near-infrared. Although plastic surgeons are not familiar with the effects of near-infrared, its potential appears to be high and significant. This paper reviews the effects of near-infrared and introduces the new findings and applications of the biological effects of near-infrared in the field of plastic surgery.
Highlights
Many studies have demonstrated the effects of sun and ultraviolet (UV)exposure on human tissue
As solar near-infrared is filtered by atmospheric water, a water filter is essential in order to simulate solar near-infrared
Near-infrared induces dermal heating thermally and non-thermally induces collagen and elastin stimulation, which results in skin tightening, and induces long-lasting vasodilation that may prevent vasospasm and may be beneficial for ischemic disorders and flap surgeries
Summary
Many studies have demonstrated the effects of sun and ultraviolet (UV)exposure on human tissue. Various types of UV blocking materials, such as sunblock, sunglasses, films, and fibers are often used to prevent skin damage from UV exposure, and despite the world-wide use of these blocking materials, unwanted physiological effects such as rosacea, erythema ab igne, long-lasting vasodilation (Tanaka, 2009a; Tanaka, 2011a), long-lasting muscle thinning (Tanaka, 2010a, 2011b), and sagging and skin ptosis still occur (Tanaka, 2011c; Tanaka, 2012a, b) Both superficial muscle thinning and skin ptosis develop with age, and though face lift surgeries and skin tightening procedures are proven effective treatments, the mechanisms underlying their development remain unclear. NIR increases the surface temperature and induces thermal effects, so a contact cooling is needed to pursue the properties of NIR (Tanaka, 2011c; Tanaka, 2012a, b)
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