Laser Scars - What Happened in Vancouver?
/Late last year, there was a story in the news about a Canadian woman who was suing her Vancouver spa for “unsightly marks caused by laser hair removal.”
At Freedom Medi-Spa, we pride ourselves on using a medical-grade laser that is very powerful and can target even very light brown hair. One of the first questions we ask clients is about their sun exposure prior to laser treatment. A laser searches for pigment. We want to ensure the laser is searching for the pigment in your hair, and not your skin. If your skin is darker than your hair, the laser will target the skin and not the hair.
As you complete your treatments, your remaining hair tends to be lighter and finer, which also means the settings on the laser need to be increased, making it more powerful. It is imperative that there is absolutely no tan, artificial or natural on that area at this time.
I can’t say for sure, but I suspect this is the issue in the Vancouver case. As the client was completing her 8th treatment the settings on the machine would have had to be high in order to properly destroy the remaining hair. Again, I can’t comment for certain, but it is unclear if the client had any sun exposure, visited a tanning salon or even used bronzer on her skin prior to her treatment.
Every client needs to be educated on the importance of SPF and no prolonged sun exposure.
I know I have had people lie about their sun exposure. What happens if you lie? YOU CAN BURN. When there is uncertainty - we will always test patch first.
What to expect during a laser hair removal treatment:
We want to ensure the area will not overheat
During treatment, we always ask "is it feeling hot?", "How does it feel?" etc.
We apply ice packs during/after treatment if we think there is a chance of overheating the skin.
We also make sure every client knows what to do if the area begins to heat up after they have left.
ICE THE AREA, COLD COMPRESSES, never apply any ointment or cream as it will seal in the heat. Ice Ice Baby. ;)
So, what about the woman in Vancouver? Unfortunately, the white circles (hypo-pigmentation) are caused by a laser hitting a tanned skin. Regular exfoliation and time will lesson the discolouration. And believe it or not, gradual, safe sun exposure (with an SPF 30) will help balance the colour. Most often the area will fully heal.
If you are starting a laser hair removal treatment, be sure to inform your esthetician of the following:
any sun exposure
planned or past vacations
are you on medication
do you use actives (Retinol, Vitamin C) - not to be used within 72 hours of treatment
any recent botox or fillers in the area - must be a minimum of 2 weeks post treatment
As a client, it’s important to follow pre and post-care instructions and be honest with your answers.
Lasers aren't toys. They are serious machines that destroy hair by heating the root enough to cause its food source to cauterize and no longer produce another hair. We need to be careful and as medical estheticians we need to ask questions at every visit. A reputable med spa with years of experience will educate you and keep you safe.