Laser & IPL therapy is a medical treatment that takes advantage of focused light set to specific wavelengths to create powerful beams.
Laser & IPL therapy is not new to the medical field, and it’s here to stay. The global aesthetic medicine industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.5% (higher than average) from 2022 to 2030. And to put that in perspective, global aesthetic medicine is a $99.1 billion industry that experts predict to be worth $332.1 billion by 2030. So now is your chance to get in on the growth! As the technology develops and laser therapy demand increases, this is the desired skill you need to set yourself apart and open the door to more career opportunities.
Laser & IPL Therapy: How do they work?
Laser & IPL therapy is a medical cosmetic treatment that takes advantage of focused light, set to specific wavelengths, to create powerful beams. The word “laser” is actually an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, and it’s powerful enough to be used to cut and shape diamonds. You might not be planning on cutting diamonds anytime soon but lasers have offered the surgical and esthetic fields a new tool for so many medical therapies. The medical esthetics field uses lasers in a precise method to create controlled wounding to provoke new skin cell growth. This simple but vast concept makes lasers a multi-use tool that works in several different skin care treatments and services.
How are lasers used in Medical Esthetics?
If we are going to understand how lasers are used for esthetic application, we have to get more specific! Lasers are categorized into three main groups: ablative, non-ablative, and fractional.
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Ablative lasers target the surface of the skin with a controlled burn by heating the water in the skin and causing cell death. The result of the laser-controlled damage is that the skin begins to repair itself by forming new collagen and elastin (new skin), thus creating the desired effect.
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Non-ablative lasers leave the surface of the skin, called the epidermis, intact. Non-ablative lasers typically require more treatments to reach the patient-desired endpoint, but they are considered less invasive. There is little to no recovery time.
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Fractional lasers do remove the surface of the skin, like ablative lasers, but they do so to targeted regions. The targeted treatment reduces the healing time and offers a more gentle patient experience.
There are also sub-classifications, such as Erbium and Hybrid lasers, in this ever-evolving industry. The use of laser requires knowledge in many areas, not just “understanding your laser.” Matching patients’ skin and health conditions to their expected downtime and appropriate laser takes very specialized training.
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light. Different wavelengths of light are fired through crystals to treat specific skin conditions based on patient ethnicity and other parameters.
Why is Laser & IPL Therapy so popular?
The precision of laser and IPL treatment makes it a nonsurgical outpatient procedure. Depending on patient ethnicity, target, laser, and intensity, healing time and recovery time (downtime) can be minimal. Considering the rapid visual results, patients “in the know” are excited about and demand laser treatment as part of their professional skin program.
Applications of Laser Treatment
- Revising wrinkles and fine lines
- Revising freckles, age spots, and brown spots (sun damage, hereditary conditions, and other…)
- Tattoo fading (referred to as “Laser Tattoo Removal”)
- Revising stretch marks
- Hair reduction
- Treating toenail fungus
- Treating ingrown hairs
- Treating vascular conditions (spider veins, leg veins, etc)
- Tightening lax skin
As laser technology evolves, the list of treatable cosmetic conditions continues to grow, making laser training an increasingly valuable skill set for medical esthetic practitioners
The Benefit of Getting Trained
Becoming certified in laser therapy can vastly expand your current clinical earning capability, and will make you a more desirable employee candidate for a variety of work environments. Laser technicians also have the opportunity to work in positions with much more flexibility and variety. If you own your own clinic, you can finally stop losing patients to other practices that offer laser treatments. Laser therapy opens the door to a whole new level of treatment and patient satisfaction.
Laser & IPL Training at Swedish Institute
Swedish Institute’s Laser & IPL Program covers cosmetic laser and IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatment, offering Licensed MDs, RNs, NPs, PAs, and more the opportunity to earn a number of certificates. With this program, you will become trained in using the tools that greatly increase your skills. We offer this program on a monthly basis, from 2 to 7-day class choices, and you can apply now online. If you are interested in learning more about the program outline, pricing, certifications, and scheduling, click here or call (347) 252-9166.
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/laser-therapy#uses
https://iapam.com/aesthetic-resources/lasers-and-light-based-devices