Edit How to choose a laser clinic in our unregulated market.

<p>Even under CQC regulation their requirements for training were minimal. The problem with only having a COK certificate (a one day course on the principles of laser and light – nothing to do with actual laser treatments), is that the only training received then falls on that given by the equipment manufacturer. And let’s face it, with a market flooded with cheap and nasty pieces of kit, the ‘training’ they provide is inadequate to say the least. Medical grade lasers however, generally come with good manufacturer training.  To be really sure however, that your laser technician has the best possible laser qualifications, always choose a clinic which insists on staff obtaining a nationally recognised qualification in addition to manufacturer training. At my laser clinic in Bournemouth we use only medical grade lasers and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) systems and the training from Lynton Lasers happens to be fantastic. In addition, I insist on staff obtaining the BTEC Laser & Light Award which takes up to a year to complete and has both written exams and practical assessments. Beware of laser clinics stating that you will be ‘treated by a doctor or a nurse’. Medical qualifications are all very well, but they are not laser qualifications. Being a doctor or a nurse does not automatically make you a laser expert. It’s the laser qualifications and experience that counts, not the fact you went to medical school. </p> <p><strong>Equipment: <br /></strong>Once you’re satisfied with the qualifications that your practitioner holds, it’s time to turn your attention to the equipment being used. There is no point having an extremely well qualified laser technician if the equipment they are using is sub-standard.</p> <p>In the laser world, size matters. Bigger is generally better. Cheap IPLs like the ones being bought in from China are generally small and sit on a beauty trolley. That said, many of the cheap lasers being imported from China are being built with bigger plastic casing, generally filled with air, and not the medical grade technical equipment it would have you believe it to be.</p> <p>Always ask where your laser has been manufactured. Is there a service contract in place to maintain it? If they claim it is ‘medical grade’, ask which hospitals currently use their equipment. Are they currently insured to use the equipment? How many different lasers and IPLs do they operate? Are they able to offer you a choice of equipment depending on your hair and skin type and the application it’s being used for? Can they explain why one laser type would be better for you over another? A competent and knowledgeable clinic will be able to answer questions like these on the spot. </p> <p>Lastly, make the time to have 2 or 3 consultations at different clinics. Most clinics offer a free consultation and will be only too happy to answer all your questions. Listen to your instincts. If like me you get a gut feeling about things, having 2 or 3 consultations, armed with the right questions should put your mind at ease and make choosing a clinic very easy.</p>

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