Information about lasers

What is laser?

The word Laser is an acronym that stands for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation.  A laser machine can produce a very pure beam of light which can be concentrated to generate heat.  Different types of laser systems can produce different colours of light.  The effect a laser beam has on your skin depends on the colour of the laser beam.

What can be treated?

The potential list of conditions responsive to laser technology is huge.  The important thing is making sure you have the right type of laser to give the optimal result for a particular problem.  At the Cosmetic & Laser Medical Centre we have a range of medical grade laser systems allowing us to optimise treatment by selecting the most appropriate laser for your skin condition, skin type and skin sensitivity.

What types of lasers are there?

Lasers are primarily distinguished by the wavelength of the light they produce.  For example the Alexandrite laser produces light at 755nm and is ideal for targeting hair for hair removal, a vascular laser produces light at 595nm and is ideal for targeting blood vessel problems such as broken capillaries, a blue light laser produces light at 410nm and is ideal for targeting acne whilst a 1064nm laser can be used to target tattoo ink.

Are lasers safe?

In the hands of a properly qualified and trained medical practitioner laser treatment is very safe.  There is no damaging radiation and it is safe to treat children and even pregnant women in most situations with laser based technology.  The most important safety consideration is the correct use of eye protection.

Do lasers hurt?

As a laser produces a concentrated light beam it can be felt on the skins surface.  However, most patients find this quite tolerable.  For some circumstances when treating very sensitive areas of the body such as the face anaesthetic cream or even local anaesthetic injection can be used if necessary.  Many of our laser systems utilise cooling devices to reduce the sensation of skin heating.