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Do Med Spa Laser Treatments Need to Be Administered by Doctors?

By Racheline Maltese | Published on February 19, 2009 | 0 Comments

Laser-based cosmetic procedures are increasingly popular. Lasers are currently being used for a range of outcomes including hair removal, minimization of acne and other scarring, mole removal, tattoo removal and spider veins. While it is not required that a doctor administer these treatments, it’s in your best interest to receive your laser treatments from a doctor.

One main reason to get your laser treatments from a doctor is ensuring effectiveness. Laser treatments can be expensive, and you want to make sure the treatment you’re paying for is going to be the most effective one for you. Laser hair removal, for example, is great at the long-term reduction of unwanted hair growth, but for women with certain hormonal imbalances, it’s not necessarily an effective option unless those imbalances are also addressed. By choosing to receive your laser hair removal treatments from a doctor, you can address any concerns or suspicions you may have about this type of issue before the treatment begins.

A doctor’s ability to consider your total health when conducting a laser treatment procedure is also important. If you are having mole removal, a doctor will know if those spots need to be checked for skin cancer or other serious illnesses. A doctor addresses not just the cosmetic aspects of your health, but long-term matters of well being.

Despite how common laser treatments are, they do carry risks of pain, swelling and burning. Scarring and blistering are also a possibility, and blistering always raises the concern of infection. Skin staining is also a risk for many patients and seems to be an outcome that increases in likelihood if the skin is cooled after laser treatment. In extremely rare cases, death has been reported as a result of laser treatments.

By having your laser treatment performed by a doctor, you can have a greater sense of security. Should you experience an adverse reaction, your doctor will be prepared to address the problem quickly and competently in a way that will cause you as little discomfort and cosmetic concern as possible.

Because many laser procedures must be done several times in order to get full results — this includes the treatment of tattoos, scarring and hair removal — a doctor who is looking at your overall well being will be a better judge of how the treatment is working. A doctor is going to spend more time with each patient than a laser technician would.

While receiving your laser treatments in a medical setting may be less fun and more expensive than receiving them in a pure spa setting, seeing a doctor for these types of cosmetic services is only going to increase your confidence in the procedure and improve your outcome.

*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

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