If I walk you through an InvisaRED visit at my Bowie office, I spend as much time on what happens after the pads come off as I do on the session itself. People often ask what to do after laser body contouring, and the answer is usually simpler than they expect.
Short answer: What to do after laser body contouring is usually a return to your ordinary day, with two practical habits I often suggest: stay comfortably hydrated and include light movement if it feels good. In our office, the visit also includes time on a vibration platform after the laser pads, which we use to support circulation and lymphatic drainage as part of the session. These after-visit habits are recommendations, not a proven way to increase your measurement change, and individual results vary.
What to do after laser body contouring?
Most people can get up and go back to work, errands, or a walk when they leave. There are no needles and no required downtime. I explain aftercare before you go so you are not guessing later.
Here is what that usually looks like for us:
- Drink water regularly through the rest of the day, based on thirst and what feels comfortable for you.
- Keep moving in an ordinary way, such as a walk or your usual light activity, if it feels good.
- Skip lotions or creams on the area we just worked on, unless we give you a different instruction.
- Call us if something does not feel right, including blistering, worsening pain, or a skin reaction that does not settle.
I also want expectations to be clear. The invisa-RED ELITE is an FDA-cleared laser (K192275) that uses 680 nm and 980 nm wavelengths. Its cleared use is a non-invasive aesthetic application for the temporary reduction of waist, hip, and thigh circumference. It is not cleared for cellulite, and it is not a weight-loss device or a promise of permanent fat loss. Measurements can change from person to person, and keeping a change often depends on your overall habits, not on a single visit.
If this is your first appointment, our first InvisaRED session guide walks through what happens in the room. If you are wondering about comfort, our laser body contouring comfort guide covers that separately.
Why do we talk about lymphatics after a session?
"Lymphatics" can sound technical, so I keep this in plain language. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and nodes that moves lymph, a fluid, from your tissues back toward the bloodstream. MedlinePlus describes it as a system that helps keep body fluids in balance and also plays a role in immune function. I mention it after a session because it is part of how we talk about the visit in our office, and because our appointment includes a short period on a vibration platform after the laser pads.
I want to stay conservative here. I do not claim that walking, water, or the vibration platform has been proven to increase your InvisaRED measurement change. I also do not claim this visit is a way to clean the body out. Those kinds of marketing phrases go further than what we can support.
What I can say is this: in our office, after the laser pads come off, you typically spend about ten minutes on a vibration platform. We include that step to support circulation and lymphatic drainage as part of the visit. The laser portion of an InvisaRED session is usually about fifteen minutes, and the whole visit is often around thirty minutes. After you leave, everyday movement is simply a way to get back to your day. It is not a medical protocol I am prescribing for a lymphatic condition. If you have swelling, a history of lymphedema, or another medical concern, that is a different conversation and may need evaluation outside of a contouring visit.
How much water should you drink afterward?
We usually recommend drinking water regularly after a session. Water is the basis for the fluids in your body, and MedlinePlus notes that all the cells and organs need water to function. I suggest keeping a bottle handy and drinking when you are thirsty, with meals, and through the rest of the day.
I do not give a rigid number as a rule that will change your results. MedlinePlus also notes that there is no single recommended amount of drinking water for everyone, and that individual needs depend on factors such as activity, age, and medical conditions. If you have a condition that limits fluids, follow the advice of the clinician who manages that condition.
What I will not say is that extra water has been proven to boost InvisaRED results. Hydration supports ordinary body function. That is the reason I mention it.
Can you move and go back to your day right away?
Yes, for most people. There is no required downtime after InvisaRED, which I also cover in our comfort and safety posts. You can usually return to work, drive, and do light activity the same day.
I often suggest a comfortable walk later that day if it feels good. Movement is part of a sensible routine around your contouring goals, and many people feel better getting back into their day than sitting still and wondering what they "should" be doing. I do not present walking or exercise as a proven way to increase the measurement change from the laser itself.
If something feels off, or if we have given you a more specific instruction because of your health history, follow that instead. A harder or unfamiliar workout is a question you can ask us at the visit, rather than something I want you to guess about from a blog post.
What else should you know before you leave the office?
A few practical points I review in the room:
- Skin products. We typically ask you not to put lotions or creams on the treated area after the visit, unless we tell you otherwise.
- How you feel. Let us know during the session if anything feels painful or too hot. After you leave, contact us promptly about blistering, worsening pain, or a persistent skin reaction. New vision changes need urgent medical assessment, not a wait-and-see approach.
- Measurements, not the scale. InvisaRED is a body-contouring laser, not a weight-loss plan. I measure circumference. The number on the scale can stay steady even when measurements change, which I explain in our inches versus pounds post.
- A plan, not a one-time event. If we decide more visits make sense, we talk about a schedule and about the daily habits that help you keep changes. Nothing here is a promise of a specific result.
New patients can start with a $59 first session. Consultations are free. You can learn more about InvisaRED or schedule a visit.
Who in Bowie and Prince George's County is this aftercare for?
I see people for InvisaRED at my Bowie office who live or work in Crofton, Mitchellville, Glenn Dale, Upper Marlboro, Lanham, and Largo, and who commute along US-50, MD-197, US-301, MD-450, and Route 214. Aftercare is the same conversation whether this is your first session or a follow-up: what you do when you walk out should feel clear and manageable.
If you want a broader look at non-surgical contouring options first, start with our non-surgical body contouring overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to rest after an InvisaRED session?
Usually, no. Most people return to their day when they leave. There are no needles and no required downtime. If we give you a more specific instruction based on your health history, follow that.
Is drinking more water required for the laser to work?
No. I recommend staying comfortably hydrated because water supports normal body function. I do not claim that extra water has been proven to increase InvisaRED results, and MedlinePlus notes there is no single required amount of drinking water for everyone.
Why is there a vibration platform at the end of the visit?
We include about ten minutes on a vibration platform after the laser pads as part of our session, to support circulation and lymphatic drainage. I describe that as our office process, not as a proven way to increase your measurement change.
Can I work out the same day?
Light movement and a comfortable walk are usually fine. If you have a harder workout planned, ask us during the visit so we can talk about your specific situation. I do not present exercise as a required step that makes a better result certain.
Should I put lotion on the area afterward?
We typically ask you not to apply lotions or creams on the treated area after the session, unless we give you a different instruction.
When should I call the office after a session?
Contact us promptly about blistering, worsening pain, or a skin reaction that does not settle. New vision changes need urgent medical assessment. During the visit, tell us right away if anything feels painful or too hot.
How much is a first InvisaRED session?
New patients can begin with a $59 first session. Consultations are free. You can schedule a visit at our Bowie office.
Visit Total Wellness Chiropractic in Bowie
Total Wellness Chiropractic 6000 Laurel Bowie Road, Suite 202 Bowie, MD 20715 (301) 352-3454
Individual results may vary. This post is for general information and is not medical advice or a promise of a particular outcome. InvisaRED is not a weight-loss program. The invisa-RED ELITE is cleared for temporary reduction of waist, hip, and thigh circumference. It is not cleared for cellulite or for permanent fat loss. Talk with us about your health history before you start.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 510(k) Summary and Indications for Use, invisa-RED ELITE (K192275). https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf19/K192275.pdf
- MedlinePlus. Water in diet. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002471.htm
- MedlinePlus. Lymph system. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002247.htm
- MedlinePlus. Lymphatic Diseases. https://medlineplus.gov/lymphaticdiseases.html
