What you need to know about laser treatmentsHow to complain

Contact the clinic

If you're unhappy with your treatment, contact the clinic before you consider an official complaint

If you're not satisfied with your treatment or you don't think it was carried out properly, you should contact the clinic. They may be able to address your concerns, particularly if the healing process is not complete and your body needs time to settle down.

If you're still not happy once the healing process is complete, they might also offer further treatment to put things right.

More serious cases involve skin burns, resulting in permanent scarring, and can need for further treatment. If you think your skin has been damaged by laser treatment, you should see your GP who can refer you to a dermatologist.

Complain to the regulator

If you want to make a complaint about a laser treatment clinic you should first check if it is registered with the Quality Care Commission or the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales.

If it is, the regulator can take action on your behalf if the clinic has breached the required standards of care.

It is an offence under the Care Standards Act 2000 for healthcare providers to use a class 3B or 4 laser without having registered with the Quality Care Commission or the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. In 2008 the Healthcare Commission - the forerunner of the Quality Care Commission -  successfully brought a prosecution against an unregistered laser provider.

Legal action

If you've been injured by laser treatment or believe your clinic didn't act with reasonable care, you may also be able to take legal action. To find out more information on how you can get legal advice contact Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA).

When to walk away

You should do your homework before having a laser treatment.  But if you're in doubt, it's best to be safe and wait.

Here are some reasons why you should consider walking away:

• If your laser clinic is in England or Wales and is not registered with the Quality Care Commission or the Healthcare Inspectorate Wales
• You are not given a patch test
• You are not given safety goggles
• Your practitioner hasn't got qualifications in laser treatments or doesn't convince you that they are experienced
• You have a sun tan, are wearing fake tan or are about to spend time in the sun
• If treatment is causing you a lot of pain tell the clinician to stop and end the treatment