"Jess, which one should I get?"
Well, this is a question I answer a lot, but before I tell you which device is right for you, I want to clear up something important, because it changes how you'll use either one.
Our red light is not just for contouring.
Yes, the LipoWrap built its reputation on helping people reshape stubborn areas. But the 635nm red we chose for every NuShape lipo device does far more than that. It was a deliberate choice, and it's the reason both of these devices belong in your recovery, pain, and skin routine, not just your body-shaping one.
Why 635nm, and not 660nm?
Not all red light is the same. Most red light panels on the market are built around 660nm, and some go deeper, up to 680nm. NuShape “lipo” devices use 635nm, a slightly shorter, brighter red, and that difference matters.
Shorter red light concentrates more of its energy in the upper layers of your body: the skin, the tissue just beneath it, and the fat cells sitting right under the surface. Longer reds like 660nm and 680nm spread their energy a little further down. Neither is "better" across the board, but for certain goals, 635nm has a real edge.
635nm is the red behind FDA-cleared pain lasers. A low-level laser using 635nm received FDA clearance for the temporary relief of chronic musculoskeletal pain, based on double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in chronic low back pain, plantar fasciitis heel pain, and neck and shoulder pain.
635nm is built for the surface of your skin. Because it concentrates its energy in the upper skin layers, the 630 to 635nm range is the red most often used in research on breakouts, post-breakout redness, surface texture, and skin recovery.
635nm is the red behind the contouring research. The landmark body-contouring trials were done at 635nm, because it reaches the fat cells that sit just under the skin.
Both devices pair that 635nm red with 850nm near-infrared light, which travels much deeper, into muscle, joints, and connective tissue, where it supports mitochondrial energy (ATP) and recovery. Together, they cover your body from the surface to the deep tissue.
So whichever device you choose, you're getting light that can support pain relief, skin, recovery, and contouring. The real question is how you want to deliver it.
The one question that decides it
Do you want to focus on one area, or do you want to change how your whole body feels?
If you can point to one spot, whether it's a stubborn area, an aching low back, or a painful heel, you want the LipoWrap.
If you're sore, puffy, tired, or achy all over and want to feel better everywhere at once, you want the LipoMat.
The LipoWrap: concentrated light, exactly where you need it
The LipoWrap packs 600 high-powered 635nm and 850nm LEDs into a 5 x 20 inch panel. That's roughly 6 LEDs per square inch, about seven times more densely packed than the LipoMat, all pressed directly against the one area you're focusing on.
It's a soft neoprene belt, 51 inches long, with extender straps if you need more length. The LED panel zips out so the wrap can be washed. Add the power bank and it goes completely cordless, so you can cook, work, or walk around the house during your session.
Why you'll love it:
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Focus. Every bit of light goes exactly where you need it.
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Freedom. Wear it while you live your life. No lying down required.
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Frequency. At 20 minutes a session, you can fit up to three sessions into a day, which matters when you're managing pain.
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Portability. It fits in a handbag and has been through more airport security lines with me than I can count.
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Price. It costs well under half the price of the LipoMat, so it's the easiest way to start.
6 goals the LipoWrap does best
1. Chronic lower back pain
This is where 635nm truly shines. The same wavelength used in FDA-cleared pain lasers, paired with deep 850nm near-infrared, sits right against your lower back while you go about your day. For desk workers, drivers, parents, and anyone who carries tension low, the LipoWrap can become your daily go-to.
Protocol: Wrap snugly around the lower back for 20 minutes, up to three times a day with a 2-minute break between sessions. Wear it while seated at your desk or walking around.
2. Heel and arch pain
If your first steps in the morning make you wince, the LipoWrap can wrap around your foot so the panel sits against your heel and arch, delivering the same 635nm red studied in clinical trials for plantar fasciitis heel pain. The mat simply can't reach the bottom of your foot like this.
Protocol: Wrap around the heel and arch for 20 minutes, once or twice daily. Ideal in the morning and before bed.
3. Stubborn lower belly and love handles
The area the LipoWrap was born for. The curved belt hugs your midsection so the panel stays in full contact with the zone that refuses to budge, no matter how clean you eat.
Protocol: 20 minutes around the lower abdomen, followed by 15 to 20 minutes of movement. Once or twice daily.
4. Saddlebags and inner thighs
The mat only reaches your thighs from behind. The wrap goes all the way around one thigh, so the front, outer, and inner thigh all get direct light.
Protocol: 20 minutes per thigh, alternating legs. Follow with squats, lunges, or a brisk walk.
5. Upper arms
Arms are almost impossible to treat well lying on a mat. The wrap spirals around your upper arm and stays put.
Protocol: 20 minutes per arm, followed by a few minutes of arm work or resistance bands.
6. One sore muscle or joint after training
A tight calf after a run, a cranky knee after hiking, sore quads after leg day. Strap the wrap around the area you worked and let 850nm near-infrared reach deep into the muscle to support blood flow and help it bounce back faster.
Protocol: 20 minutes before training to warm up, or 20 minutes after to recover.
Choose the LipoWrap if: you have one area that needs real attention, whether that's pain or a stubborn spot, and you want concentrated light you can wear while you live your life.
The LipoMat: full-body light in one session
The LipoMat takes everything we learned from the wrap and scales it to your entire body. More than 1,600 medical-grade 635nm and 850nm LEDs cover a surface of 67.5 x 29 inches (172 x 74 cm), delivering 36 mW/cm² of professional-grade output from your shoulders to your calves at once.
And it does something the wrap can't: it offers three modes, each designed for a different intention.
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Mode 1, Fat Release & Lymphatic Flush: continuous 635nm red and 850nm near-infrared for contouring, skin tone, and lymphatic support
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Mode 2, Inflammation & Recovery: a gentle 10 Hz pulse for sore muscles, stiff joints, and widespread aches
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Mode 3, Energy & Cellular Function: a 40 Hz pulse for cellular energy, focus, and a full-body reset
Add five levels of adjustable warmth (L1 to L5), adjustable brightness, and a timer from 10 to 90 minutes, and you have a home spa treatment you'll actually look forward to.
Why you'll love it:
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Coverage. Your whole back body in one session.
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Versatility. Three modes means one device for pain, skin, recovery, energy, and contouring.
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Warmth. The gentle heat makes it deeply relaxing, especially for stiff, achy bodies.
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Efficiency. Treating your body area by area with a wrap could take hours. The mat does it in one session.
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Travel-ready, too. It rolls up, weighs about 6 pounds in its bag, and comes with plug heads for the US, UK, EU, and Australia.
6 goals the LipoMat does best
1. Neck, shoulder, and upper back pain
Neck and shoulder pain is one of the conditions behind the FDA clearance for 635nm. Stress, screens, and long days pile tension along your entire spine, and the mat reaches all of it at once, from the base of your skull to your lower back, with warmth that helps everything let go.
Protocol: Mode 2, 20 to 30 minutes lying face up, with a small pillow under your knees. Ideal in the evening.
2. Widespread aches and stiffness
When it isn't one spot but everywhere, a wrap simply can't keep up. Whether you're waking up stiff, recovering from a long-haul flight, or just feeling your body ache all over, the mat covers you in one session.
Protocol: Mode 2, 30 to 40 minutes with warmth set to your comfort, 4 to 5 times a week.
3. Back and body breakouts, uneven skin texture
Because 635nm concentrates its energy in the upper layers of the skin, it's a natural fit for skin that's prone to breakouts, lingering redness, or rough texture. Your back is nearly impossible to treat with a handheld device or a wrap. On the mat, it's covered every session.
Protocol: Mode 1, 15 to 20 minutes lying face up on clean, bare skin, 4 to 5 times a week.
4. Cellulite on the backs of the thighs and glutes
Cellulite rarely lives in one spot. It spreads across the backs of the thighs, under the glutes, and onto the hips. The mat treats all of it at once, with surface-focused 635nm red and lymphatic support that help smooth the look of your skin.
Protocol: Mode 1, 20 to 30 minutes, 4 to 5 times a week. Follow with dry brushing or a walk.
5. Full-body soreness and puffiness after training or travel
After a big race, a heavy training block, a long flight, or a salty weekend, your whole body feels heavy. Mode 2 helps sore muscles recover, while Mode 1 supports your lymphatic system everywhere at once.
Protocol: Mode 2 for 20 minutes, then Mode 1 for 20 minutes. Drink plenty of water afterward.
6. Low energy, brain fog, and a body that feels flat
Some days you don't need contouring. You need your battery recharged. Mode 3's 40 Hz pulse is designed for exactly that, supporting cellular energy across your whole body.
Protocol: Mode 3, 20 minutes in the morning or early afternoon. Avoid late evening if it leaves you feeling too alert.
Choose the LipoMat if: your pain, skin, or recovery goals cover more than one area, and you want one relaxing ritual that supports your whole body at once.
Side by side
Wavelengths: Both use 635nm red and 850nm near-infrared.
Best for: LipoWrap targets one area at a time. LipoMat treats the whole body.
Pain: LipoWrap is ideal for one focused area like the lower back, a heel, or a knee. LipoMat is ideal for widespread aches and the full length of your spine.
Skin: LipoWrap supports skin in one area. LipoMat reaches your entire back and the backs of your legs.
LEDs: LipoWrap has 600 packed into a 5 x 20 inch panel. LipoMat has more than 1,600 across a 67.5 x 29 inch surface.
Light concentration: LipoWrap packs its LEDs about seven times more densely. LipoMat trades density for coverage.
Modes: LipoWrap runs one continuous program. LipoMat offers continuous, 10 Hz, and 40 Hz modes.
Warmth: LipoMat has five adjustable heat levels. LipoWrap keeps it simple.
Session length: LipoWrap is 20 minutes, up to three times a day. LipoMat runs 10 to 90 minutes.
During your session: LipoWrap lets you move around with the power bank. LipoMat is a lie-down ritual.
Travel: Both travel. The wrap fits in a handbag; the mat rolls into its own 6-pound carry bag.
Investment: The LipoWrap costs well under half the price of the LipoMat.
Why many of our clients end up with both
Someone starts with the LipoWrap for their lower back, loves how it feels, and then wants that same relief everywhere. Or someone buys the LipoMat for full-body recovery and then wants extra focus on a painful heel or a stubborn belly.
Together, they work beautifully. Use the LipoMat in the evening as your full-body foundation, and the LipoWrap during the day as your spotlight on the one area that needs the most attention.
Get the most from whichever you choose
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Hydrate. Drink a liter of water before your session and another after, especially for contouring and lymphatic sessions.
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Move. After contouring sessions, follow with 15 to 20 minutes of bodyweight exercise, a brisk walk, or our EMS Pulse Belt, a sauna session, or ten minutes on a vibration plate. After pain and recovery sessions, gentle stretching is enough.
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Give your liver space. For contouring sessions, avoid eating for 30 minutes before and after, and keep alcohol to a minimum.
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Use bare, clean skin. Lotions and heavy oils can block light. Our Sculpting Accelerator is designed to be used with red light.
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Be consistent. Regular sessions over weeks will always outperform the occasional long one.
What the research says
Red light therapy has decades of research behind it, and 635nm has some of the most compelling clinical backing in the field.
For pain: In 2019, the FDA cleared a 635nm low-level laser for the temporary relief of chronic musculoskeletal pain. That clearance was based on double-blind, placebo-controlled trials covering chronic low back pain, plantar fasciitis heel pain, and neck and shoulder pain.
For contouring: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine in 2009 found that participants receiving 635nm light therapy saw meaningful reductions in waist, hip, and thigh circumference compared with a placebo group. The most consistent results showed up as inches and contour, so measure and take photos rather than relying on the scale.
For skin: Dermatology research on LED therapy has documented red light's role in skin rejuvenation, breakout recovery, and healing, with shorter reds in the 630 to 635nm range concentrating their energy in the upper layers of the skin where these concerns live.
Read the contouring study here and explore more research on our Science & Studies page.
The bottom line
Choose the LipoWrap if you have one area that needs real attention, whether it's a painful lower back, a sore heel, or a stubborn belly, and you want concentrated light you can wear anywhere.
Choose the LipoMat if you want your whole body to feel better: less achy, less puffy, clearer skin, more energy, all in one relaxing ritual.
Still torn? Send us a message and tell me what you're working toward. I'll tell you honestly which one I'd choose in your shoes.
With light,
Jessica
Disclaimer / The Fine Print (Yes, We Have to Say It) We read the studies so you don't have to, but sharing research about light, the body, and wellness now comes with a mandatory footnote, thanks to the big tech giants. So here it is: this article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Our devices are wellness tools, not medical devices, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Results vary from person to person. Please check with your healthcare provider before starting anything new, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, managing a health condition, or taking medication. Now go forth, stay curious, and get some good light.
