Full Body Red Light Therapy: What to Expect

Full body red light therapy is the version most people picture when they hear the phrase. You lie on a bed, light pads are placed across the front and back of your body, and 20 to 35 minutes later you get up. That's the short answer. The longer answer covers what wavelengths actually do, what to wear, how often to come back, and which clinics in Perth and Melbourne are running clinical-grade systems versus underpowered alternatives.

This article is written from Beyond Rest's experience running Contour Light beds at five centres across Australia: Hawthorn East, Moonee Ponds and Prahran in Melbourne, plus East Perth and Wembley in Perth. We've delivered tens of thousands of sessions. The patterns below come from that volume.

What "full body" actually means with red light therapy

There are two ways clinics deliver full body red light therapy.

Bed-style systems (the better option): Contour Light, UltraSlim and similar FDA-cleared platforms. Flexible pads sit directly against the skin on the abdomen, hips, thighs, lower back, upper back and chest. Because the pads contact the skin, irradiance is high and consistent. Sessions run 20 to 35 minutes. This is what Beyond Rest runs.

Standing booth or wall-panel systems: Wall arrays the user stands in front of, rotating to expose different body parts. The light intensity drops sharply with distance from the panel, so the effective dose is lower than a bed. Sessions tend to run 10 to 20 minutes per side.

For most outcomes (body contouring, lymphatic drainage, recovery, skin), the bed format outperforms standing booths because contact delivery means light isn't lost to room air or angle.

What to wear and bring

Wear loose, comfortable clothing. For Contour Light, most clients strip down to underwear so the pads sit directly against the abdomen, hips and thighs. Sports bras are fine. We provide a towel or robe before and after.

Don't apply moisturiser, sunscreen or oils to your skin before a session. Anything between the pad and your skin reduces light penetration. Shower or wipe down first if you've come from the gym.

Bring a phone or book if you want, but most clients close their eyes for 20 minutes. There's no UV, no goggles required, and no heat sensation beyond a mild warmth.

What you'll feel during the session

Honestly: not much. That surprises people. A clinical-grade red light session feels like lying under a slightly warm blanket. There's no muscle stimulation, no tingling, no sound. Some clients fall asleep.

The mechanism is photobiomodulation. Red light at 635nm and near-infrared at 810-850nm penetrate the skin a few millimeters and are absorbed by mitochondria. That triggers a cascade: ATP production rises, cellular energy increases, lymphatic flow picks up, and in the case of subcutaneous fat cells, the cell membrane briefly opens micro-pores that release stored triglycerides into the lymphatic system. The body then clears those metabolites through the liver and kidneys.

You won't feel any of that happening. The effect shows up across days, not minutes.

Frequency and session count

For body contouring, the clinical data points to 6 sessions as the minimum. Most Beyond Rest clients book a 6 to 12 session course over 4 to 8 weeks. That works out to two or three sessions per week.

For recovery and general wellness, single sessions can feel useful immediately but visible changes (skin texture, energy, sleep) typically need 4-6 weeks of consistency.

For maintenance, once a fortnight is enough. Most clients drop to a maintenance cadence after the initial course.

Results timeline (the honest version)

Session 1: relaxing, no visible change.

Sessions 2-3: some clients report better sleep that night or the next.

Session 4-5: visible skin tone changes start showing, especially on the abdomen and thighs. Lymphatic drainage often produces a temporary increase in toilet trips (this is the body clearing metabolites and water weight; normal).

Session 6: measurable circumferential reduction. The Contour Light clinical data shows an average 6.3cm total reduction across a 6-session course. Individual results vary based on starting body composition, hydration, movement between sessions and food choices.

Sessions 7-12: results compound. Skin tightening becomes visible. Clients often book additional sessions for specific areas (lower abdomen, inner thighs, upper arms).

Who shouldn't do full body red light therapy

Red light is very safe but there are a few exceptions:

• Pregnancy (we don't run sessions on pregnant clients; the mechanism is unlikely to cause issues but there's not enough data to clear it).
• Active cancer (clinical clearance from your oncologist required).
• Photosensitivity medications (some antibiotics and acne medications increase skin sensitivity to light; let us know before booking).
• Open wounds in the target area (let the wound close first).

Outside those exceptions, red light is broadly safe. No UV means no skin cancer risk. No heat damage. No drug interactions for typical medications.

Full body red light therapy in Perth

Beyond Rest runs Contour Light at East Perth (125 Edward Street) and Wembley (1/252 Cambridge Street). Both are private rooms (no shared space), both run the same Contour Light bed, both priced identically.

For FIFO clients and shift workers, Wembley opens at 6am Monday and East Perth runs flexible afternoon and evening slots. Pre-rotation recovery sessions are common. Both centres see significant athlete and corporate-team bookings.

Full body red light therapy in Melbourne

Beyond Rest runs Contour Light at Hawthorn East (2/96 Camberwell Road), Moonee Ponds (14 Hinkins Street) and Prahran (26 Regent Street).

Hawthorn East is the only Beyond Rest centre that also runs the Cocoon Wellness Pod, which combines red light with infrared heat, chromotherapy and vibration. If you want to stack modalities in one visit, Hawthorn East is the only centre that does it.

Collingwood, our fourth Melbourne centre, doesn't run red light - it runs contrast therapy (sauna and ice bath). North-east of the CBD, Hawthorn East is the closest Contour Light option.

Pricing

Single session: $119 (intro offer for new clients).

6-session course: $99 per session.

12-session course: best value, longer commitment.

Cocoon Wellness Pod (Hawthorn East only): $99 for a 45-minute session.

FAQ

Can I do full body red light therapy and infrared sauna in the same day?

Yes. Many clients pair them. Order doesn't matter much, though we typically suggest sauna first (sweat) then Contour Light (no heat) so you're not dripping during the red light session.

How long until I see body contouring results?

Measurable circumference change typically shows from session 4. Full 6.3cm average reduction lands across the 6-session course.

Do I need to drink extra water?

Yes. The lymphatic system needs hydration to clear metabolites. Drink an extra litre on session days. Skip alcohol for 24 hours after.

Is full body red light therapy safe for skin?

Yes. It increases collagen and elastin production rather than damaging skin. No UV exposure. Long-term users typically see improved skin tone rather than degradation.

Book a session

Pick the centre closest to where you live or work. The Contour Light service page has full clinical details and links to each centre's booking calendar. Or call any centre directly: we'll help you decide which suits your schedule.