What should you look for when selecting a practitioner for your laser procedure?

A laser is a high-energy beam of light that can transfer its energy through the skin to a specific part of the body. These beams of light can vary in terms of their strength and the type of tissue that they can target.

Types of lasers

Laser products are classified by the British Standards Institute into the following categories:

Class 1 (e.g. Laser printers) Considered safe as they are below the power level at which damage to the eye will occur. Some class 1 devices may contain lasers of a higher class but with measures in place that ensure access to the beam is not reasonably likely.

Class 1M (e.g. fibre-optic communications) These produce either a highly divergent or large diameter beam meaning that only a small amount of the beam can enter the eye. Even so, these products can be harmful if viewed using magnifying instruments.

Class 2 (e.g. barcode scanners) With an output power of under 1mW and a wavelength between 400 and 700nm, any danger to the eye can be averted by the body’s natural reflex action.

Class 2M (e.g. civil engineering orientation instruments) These produce either a highly divergent or large diameter beam a wavelength between 400 and 700nm, meaning that only a small amount of the beam can enter the eye. Even so, these products can be harmful if viewed using magnifying instruments.

Class 3R (e.g. some laser pointers) With a maximum output power of 5mW, there is a small risk of eye injury.

Class 3B (e.g. lasers used for physiotherapy treatments) With an output of up to 500mW, these lasers are considered hazardous to the eye, though the severity of the injury depends on the duration of exposure.

Class 4 (e.g. laser surgery) With an output greater than 500 mW (and no upper limit), these lasers are not only considered hazardous to the eye and skin, they present a fire hazard.

Due to the potential danger, Health Authority Inspectors view premises in which Class 3B or Class 4 lasers are used as falling under the scope of the Registered Homes Act 1984 (an Act relating to safety in residential care homes and nursing homes) and are, therefore, required to be registered under that Act. These premises may include beauty salons, cosmetic clinics and other premises using these lasers for any cosmetic purpose. In addition, under the Care Standards Act 2000 there are clear regulations and standards set out to ensure that all premises where Class 3B and Class 4 lasers are used on the human body are regulated and registered with the Healthcare Commission (www.healthcarecommission.org.uk).

Medical applications of lasers

Since their initial use in medical procedures as a cutting tool, the range of applications involving lasers has multiplied. However, as one patient remarked, “Many practitioners can use a laser, but some possess more expertise than others. So it is worthwhile knowing a bit about their qualifications.” The following selection of popular applications of lasers describe the kind of practitioner that should be employed to carry out each procedure.

Laser hair removal: Only trained doctors, surgeons or nurses should administer laser hair removal treatment. You should also ensure that your chosen practitioner has the experience and the equipment to treat your particular hair colour and pigmentation.

Laser skin resurfacing: All treatments involving ablative lasers should only be performed by a suitably trained doctor or surgeon with experience operating in an establishment registered with the Healthcare Commission. You should also ensure that your chosen practitioner has the necessary experience and equipment to treat your particular skin pigmentation.

Laser tattoo removal: Many practitioners are trained and authorised to provide laser treatment, however, there is an art to tattoo removal that can only come with experience. So seek out a doctor/surgeon/nurse that has the correct equipment and plenty of experience performing the procedure in an establishment registered with the Healthcare Commission (in the UK).

Laser skin rejuvenation: Only trained doctors, surgeons or nurses should operate laser or intense pulsed light equipment for skin rejuvenation, though some manufacturers have produced low-power machines that can be used by trained beauticians. All clinics offering laser treatments should be registered with the Healthcare Commission.

Laser eye surgery: When searching for a suitable surgeon to carry out your laser vision correction, it is wise to consider the experience of the practitioner, the technology available to them and their level of success with previous patients. Although no specific, specialist qualifications are required to perform laser eye surgery, the clinic should be a member of the Eye Laser Association (ELA) whose members have signed up to the Association’s Code of Practice. In addition, as laser eye surgery treats the cornea, your surgeon should be a expert in this area.

Training courses for laser practitioners

Beauty therapists can gain a BTEC National or Higher National certificate in laser treatment. In addition, the manufacturers of lasers and intense-pulsed light machines often offer courses to doctors, dentists, nurses and therapists who wish to buy and use their products, usually providing certificates to those who complete the course. You should note that training provided by manufacturers is not checked or accredited, so it is advisable to ask the practitioner what their training actually covered and how much experience they have in the operation of the equipment.

Finding the right laser practitioner for you

Before you commit yourself to a laser treatment, it is essential to carry out some research. Not only should you investigate the procedure and any possible alternatives, you also need to check up on the standing of the clinic and the qualifications of the practitioner. Lasers are becoming a common site in cosmetic surgeries around the UK as the number of applications have increased. You should, therefore, take advantage of this and ‘shop around’ for a practitioner that it ideally qualified for the treatment you require.

Learn more about laser and other non-surgical treatments.

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