Ultrasound and Laser Treatment
At Bloom, we offer both therapeutic ultrasound treatment and laser treatment for management of breast conditions such as blocked ducts, mastitis and cracked nipples. We can also use these machines to help with healing perineal tears and episiotomies.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Therapeutic Ultrasound for Breast Care
If you are breastfeeding and experiencing a painful, red or swollen lump in your breast, you may be dealing with a blocked milk duct or early mastitis. A blocked duct is caused by severe tissue swelling and inflammation around the outside of the milk duct, which compresses or pinches the tube narrow and stops milk from flowing. Therapeutic ultrasound uses targeted sound waves to treat this swelling and inflammation.
How does it work?
Therapeutic ultrasound works by:
-
Reducing swelling: the ultrasound device creates a deep, micro-vibration that gently shifts trapped fluid away from the inflamed breast tissue, relieving pressure on your milk duct
-
Improving blood flow: it creates a gentle, deep warming sensation within the breast tissue. This increases circulation and lymphatic drainage, helping your body clear the inflammation
-
Rapid tissue healing: it increases cellular activity to help damaged or inflamed breast tissue recover faster.
Therapeutic ultrasound for breast care is pain free and all you will feel is a gentle warming sensation from the ultrasound. Most patients will experience significant relief within 1 to 3 consecutive daily sessions and it can be utilised alongside antibiotic medication for those suffering from bacterial infective mastitis.
Therapeutic Ultrasound for Perineal Recovery
Therapeutic ultrasound can also be used on perineal tears or episiotomies, both immediately postpartum and a few months down the track if needed.
How does it help an acute perineal tear or episiotomy?
If your tear is recent, and is bruised, swollen or very sore, therapeutic ultrasound can be used in a cold setting to provide gentle mechanical vibrations into the skin layers to rapidly clear bruising, reduce painful swelling and help speed up your bodies natural tissue repair processes for rapid tissue healing.
How does it help chronic scar tissue at the perineum?
Therapeutic ultrasound can also be used for perineal scars 6 weeks or older to help with persistent pain, pulling, tightness or pain with sexual intercourse. In this instance, a continuous warming setting is used and the soundwaves deeply penetrate the descen scar matrix.
Laser Treatment
Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a pain free type of laser treatment that is used to help with rapid tissue healing. LLLT is a cold, non-thermal light therapy that uses specific wavelengths that travel safely into your skin. It works similarly to photosynthesis in that the damaged cells (ie the skin that has cracked on the nipple) absorb the light energy and use it to fast track the natural healing process, regenerate healthy new skin and dramatically reduce pain.
How does it help cracked nipples?
When you have a deep skin fissure or graze on your nipple every feed can reopen the wound. LLLT steps in to break this painful cycle by providing three core benefits:
-
Rapid pain relief: the laser light blocks painful nerve signals providing fast relief so you can feed with less discomfort
-
Accelerated skin healing: the light therapy triggers cells to produce more collagen and elastane, helping deep skin cracks close up and knit back together much faster than they would on their own.
-
Reduce inflammation: it improves microcirculation to the tip of the breast, settling throbbing inflammation and helping to clear localised swelling.
Book for an ultrasound or laser treatment