The Expert’s Guide to Buying Laser Equipment
By Louis Silberman
Vanity and the pursuit of looking younger are ever-present elements in many people’s lives. The practice of esthetics has been present for centuries and can be traced as far back as the days of the pharaohs in ancient Egypt. Just as a painter creating a portrait, a composer drafting a sonata or a dancer performing fluid movement with the body, the work of an esthetician is an art in its own right. Instead of oil paint and canvas, esthetic professionals let their creativity shine through by providing relaxing and restorative treatments that improve the confidence and self-image of their clients.
Early esthetic professionals only had the limited resources around them with which to work. Today, modern estheticians are able to choose from an overwhelming number of treatment options. New scientific discoveries and advancements in technology are common, with the largest leaps made in the field of medical aesthetics and cosmetic lasers. Although treatments such as laser hair removal and photofacial skin rejuvenation are some of the most popular available, shopping for the equipment necessary to offer these services can be tricky. For the professionals who are in the market to purchase cosmetic laser equipment, this article will help remove the guesswork by answering important questions and providing inside details about the shopping process.
FIND A FOCUS
The first step in the shopping process is to look at your specific client demographic to see what types of treatments would be most appealing to it. Younger clients are typically drawn to laser hair removal, and more mature clients may lean toward photofacial skin rejuvenation and fractional laser wrinkle reduction. Client skin type is also important to consider. If the majority of your clients are of darker skin types—Fitzpatrick Skin Type Classification 4, 5 or 6—they might be unable to receive certain types of laser treatments successfully. After categorizing your clientele, it is time to select the treatment modality best suited for its needs. See Top Laser Treatment Modalities for a list of today’s most popular laser-based procedures. Once you have made this important decision, it is crucial to take many details into consideration when making this purchase.
Budget. Shopping for a laser can be fun and exciting, but remember not to let the thrill of the moment get in the way of common sense. Determining your budget is critical and should be done immediately. This will help narrow the search and prevent you from wasting effort researching equipment that is too expensive.
New or used. There are pros and cons to both options. Similar to new cars, cosmetic lasers are depreciable assets and begin losing value as soon as they are out of the box. Buying new equipment costs more, but allows for the ability to offer the most effective treatments. It also provides the opportunity to market the latest and greatest services to clients. Used equipment may be more affordable, but will employ older technology, and will have experienced the wear and tear of previous use.
Payment options. The average laser can cost anywhere from $50,000–250,000, which makes it a very significant asset to a business. This is why it is important to know all of the methods available to purchase a cosmetic laser. See Buying Method Equations for real-life payment and profit estimates for the four forms of payment listed below.
Warranty. As you can imagine, equipment repairs on cosmetic laser equipment can be costly. Just one breakdown can cost up to $3,000 in parts and labor without a warranty. When considering warranty options, there are two important questions to ask: If my equipment breaks down, is there a local company that can administer the repairs, or do I have to ship it to the factory; and will I receive a loaner machine to use while my equipment is being repaired?
A great way to determine whether a warranty price quote is competitive or not is to estimate the cost of repairing your equipment two times during a year. If the yearly cost of the warranty is less than the estimated non-warranty repair costs, then this is a smart buy.
Demo. No one would ever buy a house without stepping foot in it. Likewise, no one should ever buy a laser without trying it out first. Make it a requirement during the buying process to see a demonstration of the equipment and take advantage of the opportunity to try it out in your own professional environment. Because a cosmetic laser is a large investment, it is critical to make sure the equipment is the right fit for your needs. Following is a list of things to keep in mind when testing out the equipment.
Leading cosmetic laser manufacturers are known for their customer-friendly demo programs. When shopping for a new laser, always ask about the options that are available for working with the equipment before making a final purchase.
Cosmetic laser training. Contrary to popular belief, esthetic professionals do not need to have a medical background to become a cosmetic laser specialist in most states. In the United States, each state creates its own guidelines to enter the profession. Due to the growth of the industry, many states are now adding legislation requiring that esthetic professionals complete a certain number of hours of cosmetic laser education in the classroom and clinical setting.
Whether you are self-employed or a team member at an esthetic facility, client safety is the most important part of providing laser treatments. Due to the sheer power of a cosmetic laser, a technician can burn or scar someone if they have not received proper training from a state-recognized school. Most laser manufacturers will include a half- to full-day training; however, this is not nearly enough time to master using laser equipment effectively. When considering attending a cosmetic laser school, be sure to ask these important questions before attending.
Buyer beware. Laser companies will provide clinical studies and testimonials from current owners of their lasers; be sure to spot check the studies to ensure that no one who is on the payroll of the laser company is involved in the studies. One size does not fit all—no laser on the market can perform every treatment perfectly, but some are better than others at certain procedures. No respected clinical studies have shown that lasers can treat blond hair effectively, so be wary if someone tells you their laser can. Cosmetic lasers are dangerous if not handled properly. If someone tells you that their laser could never hurt anyone, then walk away. Buy logically, not emotionally, and take a step back when confronted with bargains. There will always be deals, so think through your purchase before making any decisions.
A SMOOTH TRANSITION
The world of laser procedures is a fun and financially rewarding one. By asking the right questions, researching the various types of cosmetic laser equipment and learning how to operate them safely, the transition into providing high-tech laser services will be smooth and easy.
Louis Silberman is president of National Laser Institute, a leading school specializing in advanced cosmetic laser and medical aesthetics training for beauty professionals. As an expert in laser aesthetics education, a medical spa owner and nationally recognized author, marketing speaker and business consultant, Silberman has been a driving force behind the organization of laser safety for consumers.
For more information, call 1-800-982- or simply fill out the form on the right.
In the world of laser treatments, skin resurfacing is a common rejuvenation process used to treat all manner of cosmetic concerns. Although it can’t eliminate sagging or excessive skin, laser resurfacing can lessen the appearance of fine lines, treat loss of skin tone, and even improve complexion. Today, dermatologists and aestheticians have all kinds of options when it comes to the laser skin resurfacing equipment you choose to use on your patients. Which begs the question: how do you choose?
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Laser resurfacing treatments can be performed using a number of laser platforms. These include ablative, non-ablative, fractional, and non-fractional technologies. Before we get into specific lasers, we’ll first explain the difference between the types of technology that can be used for skin resurfacing.
In ablative laser treatments, a beam of laser energy is directed at the skin, destroying the epidermis, or outer layer of skin. This process prompts collagen formation, resulting in improved skin texture and tone. Ablative laser resurfacing generally takes between 30 minutes and two hours, depending on technique and the nature of the treatment, and usually only requires one session before noticeable results are achieved; however, recovery time is longer than non-ablative methods.
Non-ablative treatments, on the other hand, deliver milder heat deeper into the skin, promoting collagen production without damaging the skin’s surface. This process produces less dramatic results than ablative treatments, but is also gentler, requires less recovery time, and doesn’t come with some of the side effects present in ablative treatments such as redness, swelling, or even scarring.
Both ablative and non-ablative lasers can use fractional and non-fractional technology. Fractional lasers deliver a beam divided into thousands of treatment zones targeting a fraction of the skin at a time. Non-fractional lasers affect the entire area of targeted skin with a concentrated beam of laser energy.
Non-fractional lasers produce more dramatic results within a single treatment than fractional lasers, which require more treatments to produce the same results as non-fractional laser treatments. However, fractional lasers can cause fewer complications than non-fractional laser procedures, which might cause scarring, discoloration, infections, or difficulties healing.
Within these different categorizations of laser platforms, there are different laser skin resurfacing equipment options that have varying effects.
Long a popular choice for skin rejuvenation treatments, CO2 lasers use short, concentrated beams of light to remove the damaged top layer of skin to reveal tighter skin underneath. Because it is an ablative treatment, CO2 treatments usually require a downtime of about 7-10 days. Some patients may experience slight reddening of the skin for up to six months after the procedure.
Although ablative like CO2 treatments, procedures using Er:YAG lasers are less intensive than CO2 treatments. Depending on the treatment, the recovery period from treatments using Er:YAG technology is usually 3-5 days.
Pulsed dye lasers are so-called because the laser, which uses light converted into heat, utilizes a solution with an organic dye to produce the laser effect. These lasers are typically used to treat facial redness from dilated or excess blood vessels. Pulsed dye treatments deliver intense but gentle bursts of light into targeted areas on the skin, destroying damaged blood vessels while leaving surrounding skin safe.
Named after the laser medium, Neodymium: yytrium-aluminum garnet, the Nd:YAG laser was designed specifically for treatments addressing pigmentation and freckles. Thanks to new developments in laser technology, Nd:YAG treatments can be used in patients of all skin tones, although they might not be as effective on people with lighter-toned skin.
Although often confused with laser treatments, IPL technology does not actually involve a laser! Instead, this non-invasive photo rejuvenation technique utilizes broad spectrum visible light to target cells that cause pigmentation, sun damage, and redness of the skin. Because of the gentle nature of IPL treatments, they’re useful for patients who aren’t in need of extensive treatment.
With all of these options to consider, how do you decide which laser skin resurfacing equipment is right for your business? When choosing, there are several factors that might guide your choice.
The question ‘what do you need?’ in the case of purchasing laser skin resurfacing equipment can be answered with a different question: what does your clientele need? Different clienteles will seek different treatments. Older patients might gravitate towards treatments for wrinkles, age spots and fine lines, while younger ones might need procedures that target conditions like hyperpigmentation and redness.
It’s a common misconception that laser resurfacing is only available to people with light skin types. While it’s true that some lasers pose higher risks for damage in discoloration in darker skin, safe and effective options exist for people of any skin color. However, treatments recommended for Asian or Hispanic patients will be different than those better suited for people with darker toned Black or brown skin.
How do you pick a cosmetic laser machine? Well, what do you want it to do? As laid out above, different types of lasers use different methods, which means suitability for treatments varies from laser to laser. Want to focus on scarring, wrinkle removal and pigmentation? CO2 lasers might be for you. Does your clientele trend towards people seeking treatments for rosacea and blood vessels? IPL or Pulsed Dye technology would probably end up being your best bet.
The average laser can cost anywhere from $50,000-$250,000. Once purchased, however, a laser’s value depreciates quickly. If you buy equipment new, it will have to be used for many years before you actually begin to recoup costs on your purchase.
Because pre-owned equipment can be purchased for about half the price of new lasers, buying used lets your company start turning a profit in half the time! Plus, if you decide to resell your machine, the depreciation between the second and third sell will be much less, so you’ll make back a higher percentage of the money you invested in it.
If you’re seeking laser skin resurfacing equipment, you’re certainly spoiled for choice. And when you’re making that choice, make it easier by using Laser Resellers.
Some laser resellers will pull tricks like advertising equipment they don’t actually have in stock, sending broken equipment, or sometimes even shipping the wrong device. But not us! Any cosmetic laser you see on Laser Resellers’ website is guaranteed to be in stock, and the laser you order will be the laser we give you. We also provide maintenance on every laser we sell, so you never have to worry that anything you purchase will arrive in anything less than top condition.
Ready to purchase laser skin resurfacing equipment for your practice? Contact us today!
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