There are a lot of different manufacturers out there in this market and they all want you to think that their system is best. Paul Stapleton, Managing Director of Mapperley Park's training school, has written this article to help bust some of the myths.

Which of these actual ‘Sales’ statements about lasers and IPLs are true?

·         Lasers are more complex than IPLs and are therefore more expensive to run. 

·         IPLs have bigger ‘spot sizes' than lasers and therefore treat faster.

·         IPLs are more advanced than lasers.

·         Lasers are more powerful than IPLs and are therefore more effective.

·         RF is different to both laser and IPL and is completely safe. 

There is a grain of truth in each of the above; it is what is missing that hides the full truth.

·         Lasers are more complicated than IPLs but usually carry much lower consumable costs and are almost always cheaper to run.

·         IPLs do often have bigger ‘spots’ but they usually need more time to re-charge between each pulse; the fastest IPL is still slower than the fastest laser over a given area.  However, a good IPL will always be faster than a bad laser.

·         IPLs are more advanced in that lasers have been around since 1960 – IPLs developed from lasers in the early 1990’s.  However an IPL is fundamentally a laser – with the laser parts removed - but this can hardly be called an advance.  There have been few genuine ‘advances’ in any light technology – excepting LED - in the last decade.  Talk of being ‘advanced’, ‘5^th generation’ or ‘revolutionary’ is usually sales-puff.

·         Lasers are usually more powerful than IPLs but ‘power’ is not always what you need for an effective treatment; hair removal lasers and IPLs use low-power pulses; a high power pulse is not what is needed for hair removal.

·         RF is different to both laser and IPL but they all use energies from the same electromagnetic spectrum and they can all damage tissue.

How do you separate fact from fiction in the world of laser salesmanship?

It’s surprisingly easy; inform yourself, for knowledge is power.

Most laser/IPL salespeople (and they are usually salesmen) know little more than you do and what they mainly know are the sales ‘tools’ and trigger messages that experience tells them may induce you to buy.  It is a constant surprise to us that a high proportion of salespeople don’t know the basic specification of their own systems and even fewer know what that specification actually means.

So, who do you want to deal with; someone who knows their stuff and can answer your questions or someone looking to pull the wool over your eyes to make a quick sale?

It may surprise you to know that with one day of informal learning, you will know more than most of the laser/IPL sales-force.  There are of course honourable exceptions and, with this Knowledge, you will easily be able to tell these people apart and will know who you can trust.

What we are talking about is known as the Core of Knowledge and it is a handy thing to have if you have any potential interest in lasers, light and RF.  It may also be a legal requirement, if you work with laser/IPL in a CQC registered facility or come under Local Authority Licencing/Registration schemes.  It will also provide you with evidence of expertise and access to insurance benefits.

The Mapperley Park Core of Knowledge has been developing for more than 10 years and we believe, is the best in the business.  The day is delivered by Paul Stapleton, MD of Mapperley Park Clinic, course leader to the laser BTEC Qualifications and a Qualified LPA.  Paul is unusual in being able to translate scientific concepts into plain English and this is the key to de-mystifying the concepts behind the jargon that sales-people everywhere like to use to mislead and confuse.

Hamilton Fraser have recognised Mapperley Park’s training excellence through the Approved Trainer programme and Mapperley Park now offer a 10% discount on any of our courses to Hamilton Fraser customers. 

Hamilton Fraser also offer a 10% new policy discount to any provider attending a Mapperley Park training course[1] so, there has never been a better time to power up your – and your employees knowledge of lasers and light.

Finally...

Do you know what kind of system this label describes?

If you don’t, or you are not completely sure, you would benefit from the Mapperley Park, one-day Core of Knowledge.