Acupuncture
Needle-free laser acupuncture Lugano
Up to twelve laserneedles resting on the skin stimulate several points at once. They are not inserted: only fixed on the outside. Painless and without a puncture, suitable for people who do not tolerate needles and for younger patients.
- Up to twelve laserneedles fixed on the skin
- Blue, green, yellow, red and infrared laser
- The same points as classical acupuncture, without a needle
How it works
External laserneedles
The needle-shaped tips do not puncture: they are fixed on the skin and treat up to twelve points together. The energy density can stimulate painful areas at the surface.
Several colours
The practice uses blue, green, yellow, red and infrared lasers, as described on the Laser therapy page.
The same points, without a needle
Classical acupuncture points are stimulated without a puncture. Studies of laser are fewer than of needles: the choice is made together at the visit.
When it helps
Fear of needles, younger patients, sensitive or inflamed areas where a puncture is better avoided.
Where we use it
Pain
Local treatment for acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain, when there is an indication for laser on the points.
Rehabilitation
Support for recovery after trauma or in chronic conditions, within the specialist visit, not as a fixed protocol.
Acupuncture without needles
Spinal syndromes, osteoarthritis, tendinitis and other pictures already assessed for acupuncture, when the choice is not to puncture.
What we do not promise
The procedure is painless. Indication and technique are defined at the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Does it hurt?
No: the laserneedles stay on the skin. There is no puncture.
Does it replace needles?
It stimulates the same points. Studies of laser are fewer: for many pictures needles remain the first choice. Details on classical acupuncture.
Does it work in knee osteoarthritis?
The studies disagree. In a randomised trial of 282 people with chronic knee pain (JAMA 2014), neither laser nor needles reduced pain more than sham laser. A meta-analysis of five smaller trials (2025) suggests a possible benefit over sham laser, with low-certainty evidence. We discuss it at the visit.
How many sessions are needed?
It depends on the complaint. The course is defined at the visit.
Is it covered by insurance?
The physician holds the RME quality label for acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and in Ticino the practice bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly. For acupuncture, the doctor is also recognised by Visana (ZSR number V272164, listed in Visana's therapist list): patients with Visana complementary-medicine insurance can be reimbursed according to their policy.
Scientific sources
- Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4:337–361. doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
- Navratil L, Kymplova J. Contraindications in noninvasive laser therapy: truth and fiction. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 2002;20:341–343. doi:10.1089/104454702320901134
- Hinman RS, et al. Acupuncture for chronic knee pain: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014;312:1313–1322. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.12660
- Zeng DH, et al. Laser Acupuncture for the Pain of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Pain Res. 2025;18:3833–3841. doi:10.2147/JPR.S517994
More sources on the page Laser therapy.
Related treatments
This therapy is part of Laser therapy and Acupuncture.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment plan: the first visit when the pain is in the joints, back or tendons.
Interventional pain therapy
Ultrasound-guided injections of joints and soft tissues, with hyaluronic acid or PRP when indicated.
PRP for joints and tendons
Plasma prepared from the patient's own blood and injected into tendons and joints.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Let's assess laser acupuncture together
Indication and technique (needles or laserneedles) are defined after the specialist consultation.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable by car and by train from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
Saturday and Sunday closed
Phone
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