What you need to know about laser treatments Your laser consultation
Once you've decided on a clinic, you should have a thorough consultation prior to treatment. This will be a general assessment of your needs and what results you hope to see.
Ask the right questions
A good consultation should leave you feeling confident about your practitioner
Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions at your first consultation. You should be clear on how many sessions you will need, possible side effects and the type of results you should achieve from having a laser treatment.
You should also make sure you aren't committing to undertaking any treatments when you book a consultation.
Make the most of your pre-treatment consultation:
- Find out as much as possible about the treatment that you are considering
- Be clear about how the treatment works, for example whether it will involve laser or IPL
- Find out how many sessions you will need
- Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions to find out what kind of results to expect
You should come away feeling confident that the practitioner is qualified and experienced.
What should be covered
Your consultation should cover your medical history including any previous skin problems, heart conditions or diabetes, and what medication you are taking.
It's very important that you provide thorough information about your medical history. These details will be used at future treatments and your practitioner should refer back to them during each visit. Make sure that you inform your practitioner of any changes such as whether you're on new medication.
You should also be given a patch test which will determine the type of laser or IPL that is appropriate for your skin tone or hair/tattoo colour and the safest setting for you. You might be charged for this test, but some clinics will take this money off the cost of the treatment.
How long will I have to wait until treatment?
The length of time you have to wait from consultation and patch test to treatment depends on your skin type and the treatment you're planning.
With higher risk skin tones, which tend to be darker, the wait could be at least two weeks.
The clinic should compile a written record of your test results as well as your medical history and other details. Every time you go for a treatment your clinician/practitioner should refer to your notes.
How much will it cost?
Some clinics may charge per session, while at others you will pay for a course of treatment. When we visited eight laser clinics in 2007, the costs we were quoted for having laser hair reduction for the underarms ranged from £40 to £200 per session, with around £80 being quoted most frequently.
At some clinics the price of each session may reduce as the treatment proceeds: for example, a tattoo may get smaller in size as well as fade during treatment, so the cost of later sessions may be reduced accordingly.
You should also check if you will have to pay the full cost if you change your mind during a treatment and decide not to complete it.
