Hair Color biochemistryLaser based infrared technology is used for permanent hair reduction. It is important to assess to color of hair to be treated prior to a Laser hair removal treatment. The type of melanin can affect the outcome of the treatment
The use and delegation of Laser based technology differs from state to state. Treatment providers are required to know the state laws that govern the use of Laser and Light based technology. Some states mandate that the physician be physically present and supervise procedures such as Laser Hair removal and vascular treatments. While other states mandate that the physician can delegate Laser based treatments to staff that have recieved adequate training. The physician is not required to be physically present when the Laser Hair removal or vein treatment is performed.
USE OF LASERS/DELEGATION OF MEDICAL FUNCTIONS REGULATION BY STATE
Last Updated: 7/1/2008
It is important for treatment providers to be familiar with legal issues of operating an Aesthetic medical practice. The regulations for the use of Laser based technology vary from state to state on who can perform the treatments. In some states Laser hair removal may be delegated to "an employee under the physician's supervision" while in other states the person performing the treatment must be a licensed healthcare professional.
New Report Outlines Key Legal Issues for Medical Spas and Aesthetic Medical Practices
Source: The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine
www.IAPAM.com
Laser Safety
Source: Betty Minor, BS, RN is President of Laser Resource, Inc., Aurora, Colorado since 1986 actively consults and teaches laser safety programs, facility safety audits and overall laser safety development across the country. She was the Operating Room Director of Surgical Services; Director of Education east coast based Laser Company. She is a Sitting Member of the ANSI Z136.3 Safety Committee. She was instrumental in the development of the Medical Laser Safety seminar, which is recognized throughout the country as the most informative and practical for any health care laser facility. For more information, please contact her via e-mail at bettyminor@ds-int.com.
Potential patients are bombarded with advertisements for Laser Hair Removal, Laser vein treatment, skin tightening and skin rejuvenation. It is important for treatment providers differentiate themselves from the competitors.
Aesthetic Profits Releases the Highly Anticipated How To SeriesAfter great anticipation Aesthetic Profits Inc. is trilled to announce the launch of it’s much awaited How To: Series - Effective Patient Attraction Tools for Aesthetic Physicians. This compilation contains essential strategies aesthetic doctors need to build a reliable database of returning patients, to enhance their presence within their community and see a steady boost in revenues.
Current titles include: ‘How to Differentiate Yourself From All the Others’, ‘How to Make the Most of Your In-House Marketing’, ‘How to Effectively Communicate With Your Patients’, ‘How to Become Famous in Your Community’, ‘How to Conduct a Successful Aesthetic Patient Consultation’, ‘How to Coordinate a Successful Open House’, ‘How to Promote Retail Profitably’, ‘How to Promote Minimally-Invasive Procedures’, ‘How to Build a Word-of-Mouth Practice’ and many more.
Source: International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
Reward you patients with the
VIP (Very Important Patient) Promotion.
Promotions can be for Laser Hair removal, Laser Vein treatment, skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, chemical peels or advanced skin care products. How to Develop a Very Loyal FollowingWe all know your best aesthetic patient is the referred patient. They are not as price conscious and are already pre-sold on you. You do not want to take these referrals lightly. Every aesthetic practice or medical spa has their group of cheerleaders and you do too.
Source: International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine
There are many things to research and learn about starting an Aesthetic practice. The physician may want to offer skin rejuvenation with chemical peels and Laser based technology or a more advanced skin care practice with Laser hair removal, vein treatments or skin tightening.
Physician Aesthetic Medicine Certification Training Aesthetic Practice Startup Workshop Ensures Adding Aesthetic Medicine is a Profitable OptionAfter completing this workshop, participants will leave with a comprehensive business plan for their aesthetic medicine practice. This program will cover all aspects of creating a business plan for a profitable medical spa, including:
• Financing options for physicians;
• Target demographics for tailored aesthetic procedures;
• Developing a menu of treatments and pricing strategies;
• Establishing aesthetic practice protocols and HR for aesthetic practitioners;
• Creating an effective marketing plan;
• Finding the right location;
• Staffing;
• Federal and state legal and regulatory issues; and
• Startup costs and reading financials.
Souce: International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
Record number of patients seek laser based technology for laser hair removal, laser vein treatment, skin tightening and skin rejuvenation.
RECORD NUMBER OF PATIENTS SEEK LASER TREATMENTS
Limelight may be used to treat pigmented lesions. Sunscreens are helpful to prevent the formation of pigmented lesions. It is preferable to avoid sun exposure when performing skin rejuvenation treatments, Laser hair removal or vascular treatments.
Sunscreens and PhotoprotectionEncouraging photoprotection is the leading preventative health strategy used by physicians involved in skin care. Although sun avoidance is most desirable, outdoor occupations and lifestyles make total avoidance impossible for many individuals.
Author: Stanley B Levy, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Pseudofolliculitis of the BeardLaser based technology offers a solution to both Laser hair removal and as treatment for pseudofolliculitis barbae. This condition is often found in men with curly hair but can also affect women also. Infrared technology of the Nd:YAG 1064nm Laser offers a solution to skin types V - VI. In addition to treating pseudofolliculitis permanent hair reduction is often an added benefit.
Article - Author: Thomas G Greidanus, MD, Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Parkview Medical Center
Coauthor(s): Beth Honl, MD, Dermatology Associates, PC; Private Practice
VitiligoVitiligo is an acquired pigmentary disorder of the skin and mucous membranes, and it is characterized by circumscribed depigmented macules and patches. It is a progressive disorder in which some or all of the melanocytes in the affected skin are selectively destroyed.
Depigmentation most often begins on the fingers, hands, and wrist but soon spreads to the face and feet. Depigmentation is progressive. The individual lesions progress from hypopigmentation to depigmentation. The white skin is more susceptible to sunburn.
It is important to determine if the depigmentation is true vitiligo. Any physical, chemical, or infectious agent that destroys the epidermis will destroy the pigment cells located along the basal layer. If the injury extends deep into the dermis and involves the hair bulbs and the other appendages, the normal reservoir of new pigment cells is destroyed, the skin will probably remain permanently white.
It is important when working with Laser based technology to properly identify the root cause for the loss of pigment. If the loss of pigment is from trauma, chemicals or infectious agents then it may be safe to use Laser based technology for laser hair removal, Laser vein treatment, Limelight for pigmented lesions and Laser Genesis for new collagen production.
Laser Hair removal and permanent hair reduction.
Lasers and noncoherent light sources have recently been introduced to induce selective damage to hair follicles. The mechanisms by which these systems induce selective damage to hair follicles are based on the principles of selective photothermolysis. This principle predicts that selective thermal damage of a pigmented target structure will result when sufficient fluence at a wavelength, preferentially absorbed by the target, is delivered during a time equal to or less than the thermal relaxation time of the target.
Laser-Assisted Hair RemovalAuthor: Nili N Alai, MD, FAAD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Clinical Faculty and Preceptor, Department of Family Practice, University of California, Irvine; Clinical Faculty and Preceptor, Department of Family Practice Residency Training, Downey Medical Center; Medical Director, The Skin Center at Laguna; Expert Medical Reviewer, Medical Board of California
Coauthor(s): Arash Michael Saemi, BS, University of Vermont College of Medicine;
Jennifer M Ang, BA, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine
Laser based technology may trigger a cold sore eruption. This may occur with any aesthetic laser system. A skin care treatment plan may include prophylactic treatment with an anti-viral medication. It is important to perform a complete medical history during the initial consultation to help identify clients that are risk of an outbreak. It is important to remember that Laser hair removal in the genital area may trigger an outbreak of genital herpes.
Cold Sores - How to Prevent and Treat ThemThe facts about cold soresThe fact about genital herpes
I came across Dr. Fairfield's
article on writing copy in an Advance for Healthy Aging web site. He highlights many excellent points.
When creating any kind of advertisement, remember you must ask yourself this "what does my patient want to know" and "why should they care?".
Dr. Fairfield feels that mentioning brands of lasers is unimportant. I disagree -- if the branded laser has received great media coverage, then you should leverage that visibility in your ad (i.e. Pearl Laser as seen on TV show, The Doctors or Titan as seen on Access Hollywood or Extra!). Consumers want to look like stars and have treatments that celebrities may have experienced.
Advertise what you can offer patients and why they should come to you for those procedures (injectibles, permanent hair removal, skin rejuvenation, vascular treatments, fractional skin resurfacing or skin tightening) with copy that appeals to them.
Laser based technology used for skin rejuvenation may produce vaporized tissue resulting in Laser Generated Airborne Contaminates (LGAC). This is often referred to as "Laser Plume" or "Laser smoke".
LGAC may be generated during a Laser hair removal or any aesthetic laser system capable of ablating tissue. Ablative procedures are becoming more common in advanced skin care and require that the treatment providers be aware of the non-beam hazards. The standards for control of LGAC may be found in ANSI Z136.3
7.4.2 Control Measures. Airborne contaminants shall be controlled by the use of ventilation and respiratory protection. Ventilation techniques can include general room or local exhaust ventilation or a combination.
ANSI Z136.3 - 2005 Pg. 18
Use of Medical Lasers and LGAC
Skin Rejuvenation, Laser Hair Removal, Pigmented Lesions and Vascular Treatment
Laser based technology and treatment has advanced steadily for treatment of many cutaneous conditions, including a host of vascular and pigmented lesions, wrinkles, tattoos, scars and unwanted hair during the past decade. Demand for aesthetic treatments by skin ablation (resurfacing), and more subtle non-ablative treatments, has increased. Safety and ease of using lasers and high-energy flashlamps, has improved to the point that treatment can in some settings be given by non-medical personnel. Unwanted, preventable complications and side-effects are not uncommon. This article briefly reviews theory, clinical applications and potential for further progress of laser surgery in dermatology.
Source: Skin and Aging
VOLUME: 12 PUBLICATION DATE: Jun 15 2004
author:
By Hirotaka Akita, M.D., Ph.D., and R. Rox Anderson, M.D.
Performing Test Spots serve several different purposes and are an important part of a skin care treatment plan. Infrared technology used in laser-tissue interactions produces thermal effects on the tissue.
The primary reason for performing a test spot is to observe epidermal response and to determine safe treatment parameters when treating tissue because of absorption by the chromophore. Immediate epidermal damage presents as a blanching or graying of the skin (common with the Nd:YAG). Epidermal damage may take up to 72 hours to be visibly evident especially when treating melanin. A burn from an IPL may take 48-72 hours to appear. It is very important to perform a test spot when treating pigmented lesions.
A test spot may be beneficial for skin types IV-VI to evaluate risk for developing post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. However, this test spot must be evaluated 4-8 weeks post procedure as it takes this amount of time for the PIH to develop. Laser based technology on skin types IV-VI may increase the risk of pigmentatary changes.
Port Wine Stains require test spots as the parameters will vary widely due to the different types and involvement of these vascular malformations. Starting parameters for vascular treatments are usually lower then an average vascular treatment. A cluster of veins is a better target then a single leg vein so there is a higher risk of a burn.
There are advertisements on the internet offering "Free Test Spots" prior to Laser hair removal in order to determine if the treatment "will work before the client pays for the treatments". This perhaps could be beneficial to help determine proper parameters; however, the time period for evaluating the test spot for efficacy may be 4 to 12 weeks or longer depending on the growth cycle.
Test spots are considered an "Industry Standard of Care" and therefore have Medical/Legal implications. The elements of a malpractice suit are the "Breach of a duty that causes harm".
Informed Consent should be obtained for Test Spots and should include any potential complications that can occur from performing a test spot. It is better for the practitioner see the patient back to observe the test spot rather then allowing to patient to report on the results. This allows the practitioner to learn what the end result is and eliminates uncertainty if there is a complication.
Do you have fantastic patient results with great before and after photos?
Subject to HIPAA and patient permissions of course, you may be able to tell a compelling story to your patients and potential patients on your web site.
Take a look (and scroll down) at what Dr. Grant Stevens of Marina Plastic Surgery in Southern California did with one of his patients - an exciting case study on her great outcome.
Definitely show off your best before and after patient photos on your website and in your waiting and exam rooms but consider also listing testimonials, case studies, patient diaries and other information that shows your patients what you can do and how you do it.
Let your website visitors know that now is a great time to start working on summer-worthy legs (leg vein treatments) or permanent hair reduction packages. New Years resolutions often include diets - let your clientele know about Titan and that skin tightening procedures can help with lax skin. Are you an expert in fractional skin resurfacing with Pearl Fractional? Do you combine Pearl full face epidermal resurfacing with Pearl Fractional for deeper imperfections? Use lasers with fillers and injectibles such as Radiesse and BOTOX? Talk up those combination treatments and brag a little, both online and in your practice!
This myth might be the cause.
"8. MYTH: Let winter-ravaged skin hibernate — cut back on pro treatments.
TRUTH: Actually, winter is one of the best times to start in-office laser treatments like laser hair removal, as pre-laser skin shouldn't be at all tanned, and post-laser skin won't tolerate sun exposure."
To expand on this particular myth, many of Cutera's aesthetic laser and light treatments such as Titan, Laser Genesis, CoolGlide Laser Hair Removal and CoolGlide Excel Laser Vein Therapy are color-blind; they can be performed on all six skin types and can be performed year-round, irregardless of tanned or tanning skin.
Let your patients know they don't have to wait for Spring or Summer to start laser or light-based cosmetic treatments. In fact, they will appreciate that they can get a head-start now!
Fox News reports that an enterprising Arizona cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Semone Rochlin is offering layaway payment plans to patients to enable them to afford the aesthetic treatments they desire.
"I call it a savings account for my patients," said Rochlin, 42. "Offering a payment solution where no credit is needed is a financially sensible alternative in today's market. It's my answer to the economic recession."
To read the complete article, click here.
In the article, the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Richard D'Amico is quoted saying "It appears more consumers are choosing the less invasive cosmetic procedures because of the economic downturn".
While the article reports using layaway plans for cosmetic surgery, it could be expanded for package treatments such as laser hair removal or combination skin rejuvenation packages (chemical peels, Pearl Fractional, IPL such as LimeLight and/or Laser Genesis).
It's time to get really creative! Your patients will appreciate it.
Skin Inc had an interesting article on cosmeceuticals recently. "Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology’s academy, dermatologist Patricia K. Farris, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, discussed how to separate fact from fiction when evaluating cosmeceuticals and tips for gauging the validity of product claims."
Read the article
here.
After all - a successful, thriving aesthetic practice not only offers procedures such as
permanent hair reduction or
skin tightening but offers PRODUCT to sell their clients.
Don't forget to offer attractive gift certificates which your clients can use (purchased from you or part of a package gift) to give to friends and family - driving more potential clients into your practice. Impress them with your service and attention to detail and they'll be booking procedures with you as well.
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