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Laser Treatments Best Left up to Doctorsby Dana Benson 
Ramsey Markus, M.D., cautions consumers to know more about who is behind the laser before undergoing these surgical procedures. Laser treatments for procedures like hair removal and skin rejuvenation have soared in popularity in the last decade. In fact, Baylor College of Medicine dermatologist Ramsey Markus, M.D., said, "If there's something you don't like about your skin, there's a chance we can fix it using a laser." But consumers need to remember that laser treatments—which use a light to penetrate the skin—shouldn't be taken lightly. "People tend to minimize the procedure," said Markus, Associate Professor of Derma-tology at BCM. "They say, 'It's just hair removal, not surgery.' But in fact it is a surgical procedure." Hair removal is one of the most common laser treatments, but other procedures include photofacials, tattoo and scar removal and vein treatments. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks with laser treatment, including blisters, infection, scarring and vision damage. Laser technology was first invented in the 1950s and 1960s. The term laser stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation." The use of lasers increased in the 1990s. Today, the use of laser technology is everywhere, Markus said. That use extends beyond the offices of dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Other physicians—including internists and obstetricians and gynecologists—are performing laser procedures. The use of lasers has even gone beyond the physician arena. Another common place to find laser treatments being performed is in day spas. Markus suggests consumers think twice before having a laser procedure done at such an establishment or by a doctor who is not specially trained in laser surgery. Laser technology is not well regulated, Markus explained. "Often spas have a medical director who bought the laser, but he or she isn't the one who operates it," he said. There are no requirements about how much training a laser operator must have. A proposal in the Texas Legislature a few years ago that would have required 24 hours of training and on-site supervision by physicians failed to pass, Markus said. Three things determine if you get good treatment—training, experience and the technology being used, which can vary from equipment that costs as little as $10,000 to upwards of $70,000, according to Markus. There are a lot of options available to consumers who are considering laser treatment, but Markus recommends that patients have treatments done by a trained dermatologist. Patient Chris Cravey researched the issue extensively before deciding to forgo treatment at a spa. He is undergoing a series of laser procedures by Markus to treat a skin condition called rosacea. "Lots of spas advertise the type of treatment that I'm getting, and I could have had it done at a place like that for less money," Cravey said. "But for me, I just had a greater comfort level knowing this is being done by a trained physician who does it day in and day out and in a sterile environment. "At the end of the day, this is my face, and it's well worth the money," he said. People who experience skin problems after visiting a spa should see a dermatologist, Markus said. "What we'll do is start from scratch by evaluating the skin—what the target is and the skin type and we'll just explore what we can do to help," he said. The Low-Down on LasersRamsey Markus, M.D., Associate Professor of Dermatology at BCM, recommends those considering laser treatment ask the following questions. Who is doing the treatment, and is that person a doctor?My recommendation is to make sure that the physician in charge of your treatment is focused on cutaneous laser surgery. The best scenario is having a laser treatment performed by a physician specialized in treating the skin (such as a dermatologist), perhaps even with extra laser training during a fellowship. The more training and experience, the more likely a patient will have an effective treatment without unanticipated side effects. As there is currently very little laser regulation, some non-skin oriented physicians offer laser treatment despite minimal laser training and little experience with skin treatment. If the laser operator is not a doctor, what training has that person had? How long has this person been doing laser treatments and how many has he or she performed? Although there are some excellent non-physician laser specialists, the lack of regulation allows virtually anybody to operate a laser. The worst case scenario is having a treatment performed at a non-medical establishment by a person without any qualification and a few hours of training and under pseudo-supervision by a non-present physician. If a non-physician performs laser surgery, make sure to ask about type of training and years of experience with the laser to be used. Also ask whether the supervising physician will be present and what qualifications he or she has. What type of equipment is being used?There are many lasers sold and some are more effective and safer than others. The best technology can be more expensive in the short term but less expensive in the long term when number of treatments and side effects are factored in. I tell patients to do their own research and look for a practice with multiple technologies so that the right technology can be used based on skin type and target. |
FeaturesTreatments on the Horizon: Chapter and Verse on a Brain Killer Two Brains are Better than One SpotlightCaring for Community at Home and Abroad Injecting a Little Scientist in Every Doctor Designing a Building in the Eyes of a Researcher Laser Treatments Best Left up to Doctors BriefsFalls in Elderly Indicate Illness Findings may Increase Survival after Injuries Some Like it Hot! Structure of Receptor for Chili Pepper and Pain Revealed Beware of Drinking Margaritas in the Sun Development/AlumniBCM Family Participates in Fundraising Campaign BCM Alums take D.C. Fellowships Seed Funding Leads to Breakthroughs Father, Daughter Team up for Health Care
Steps to Discovery and Innovation
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Volume 4, Issue 2, Summer 2008 |
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