For many of us, cosmetic and non-surgical procedures such as laser hair removal are a welcome change from other, more painful procedures such as waxing or threading. With proper laser hair removal treatment, you can have smoother, hair-free skin, if not permanently, at least for a long time. But since there are more people undergoing laser hair removal, there are more incidents of injuries as well. Why is that, and what can you do if you have suffered from a laser hair removal injury?
What are the regulations for laser hair removal treatment?
Unfortunately, there is hardly any regulation when it comes to laser hair removal procedures. What’s more alarming is that there are other procedures involving lasers which are not regulated as well, including tattoo removal, skin rejuvenation, and skin resurfacing. The fact is that laser treatments (non-surgical ones, that is) can be carried out or performed by virtually anyone, even if they have no proper training or skills to speak of. So if you have suffered an injury such as a laser burn, skin discolouration or damage, scarring, and the like, you have no regulations to fall back on other than the ‘duty of care’ of the beautician or technician.
However, the technician still has certain responsibilities. They still need to follow particular guidelines, such as performing a skin test and medical analysis and making sure the setting or frequency of the machine is correct.
What if there was no testing done prior to the procedure?
Before the procedure can be performed, the technician needs to do a thorough assessment of your medical condition – and this includes performing a test on your skin to determine the type of skin you have. They also need to determine the type of hair you have, as this will help them decide on the proper setting for the equipment. With testing, the technician should be able to determine not only the wavelength to use, but the duration of the pulses as well.
What if the settings were incorrect?
The most common cause of injury in laser hair removal treatment or IPL treatment is incorrect settings or frequencies. If the setting is too high, this can result in injuries such as burns, blistering, and discolouration. If the duration of the procedure is too long, the same can happen as well.
What can I do?
If you have had an injury, whether it’s a temporary injury or a permanent one, you may well have the right to file a claim. You can consult with an expert laser burn lawyer to determine what you need to do and how to do it. With the right help, you can get the compensation you need and deserve, and even do your part in making sure it doesn’t happen to other people in the future.
