Mapperley Park Clinic

Lasers & light

Lasers & Light

We began using lasers in 1993 with a Q-switched Ruby for tattoo removal - amazingly, this system is still working today, although it is now backed up by other Q-switched lasers and a whole suite of long-pulse lasers for treatments other than tattoo removal.

You may hear many things about lasers and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and some of these things will even be true. Everyone (including us) has an interest to represent - laser providers will tell you that their systems deliver a single 'pure' wavelenght (and are therefore better than an IPL), IPL users will say that their systems deliver a range of wavelengths (making them better). While both statements about wavelength are true, any further interpretation is subject to much debate and some wild claims.

When we started using lasers in 1993, they were only used in the medical community and IPLs had not even been invented. There were perhaps 5 laser companies selling 5 different systems to less than 100 service providers, mainly in hospitals. By 2009, the technology had extended significantly and laser and light treatments are now delivered by GPs, dentists, beauty therapists and even completely unqualified 'civilians'. IPLs now make up 90% of equipment sales and there are at least 20 companies offering over 100 models servicing thousands of service providers, only a minority of which are legally registered with the Care Quality Commission.

This rapid expansion of the sector has not necessarily been matched by experience, skill or knowledge and many unsupportable claims are made about what lasers and IPLs can and cannot do.

The main things to remember are:

There are different horses for different courses: there is no single system that can do everything - if there was, we would use it. We use a range of 10 laser and light systems to cover the range of treatment option.
Not all systems are equal - there is a huge choice of systems available from first-class to economy-class.
You will get what you pay for. If a treatment is cheap; it is cheap for a reason.
There is no such thing as a free consultation - there are consultations paid up-front and consultations paid for by other means. If something has no price - it has no value.
Not all expertise is equal - there is a huge range of experience available from expert to novice so make sure you get advice from an expert..
Not all claims are equal - overselling is common in this sector and you should question any claims that are made - including this one!

Lasers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission to be used legally and illegal users may not hold valid insurance in the case of a negligence claim. Make sure you choose from a Registered service provider. Look for evidence of HCC registration and ask to see a Registration Certificate:

Laser and IPL - truth and fiction: download as pdf