Lasers and Light (LIPLED)

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What are lasers, IPL and LED?Effects and benefits The procedure Adverse effects Tips and questions to ask your practitioner Advertising and consultation About you Information sheet and standards What training does a practitioner need?

All treatments

Device type

Medical device

Consultation

Face to face with a qualified practitioner (JCCP best practice)

Cooling off period

Two to five days before treatment (none suggested for LED)

Patch test

Always, prior to any treatment

What are lasers, IPL and LED?

Lasers and IPL stand for ‘Light wave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’ and ‘Intense Pulsed Light’ respectively. Lasers can have different mediums to give different wavelengths: fluid - organic dyes; gas - CO2, Argon; solid - Ruby, Alexandrite, Nd:YAG, diode. Different wavelengths can target different depths within the layers of skin and so treat a wide variety of skin problems and conditions.

Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy is an increasingly popular methodology for the treatment of sun damage and for the signs of aging. It can be used to help soften lines and aid in a more youthful look.

The JCCP seeks to regulate lasers used for treating cosmetic procedures such as hair removal, skin resurfacing / rejuvenation, treatment of vascular / pigmented / scar / acne lesions and tattoo removal.

Effects and benefits

These are as diverse as the devices used, but they all have in common the highly effective ability to remove unwanted cosmetic concerns.

Laser skin revitalisationLaser resurfacing is a very controlled procedure in which a laser removes superficial layers of facial skin. It can remove wrinkles and lines caused by sun damage and facial expressions, and also acne scars. Cosmetic lasers work by heating tissue, which stimulates new growth of tissue, for example new collagen in the skin. Resurfacing can be ablative or non-ablative; ablative lasers visibly remove layers of skin, which poses greater risk and recovery time.

Vascular lesion removalThe blood within a blood vessel is heated and the resulting injury of the vessel wall makes it eventually disappear. This is how lasers can remove superficial blood vessels on the face e.g. in rosacea, leg veins and many other areas of the body.

Hair removalUses a laser or IPL to heat and destroy hair follicles in the skin, disrupting hair growth. IPL uses a wider range of wavelengths, so it is less focused and may require more treatment. Common areas are the face, legs, arms, underarms and bikini line. It can be helpful for women with hirsutism (excessive hair growth).

Laser scar treatmentLaser scar treatment uses laser to reach deep into the skin’s layers to break down thick scar tissue; often ablative lasers can be used for this.

Tattoo removalLasers target tattoo ink pigment with a high intensity, focused light beam, causing the ink to break up into smaller molecules which are naturally absorbed by the body, potentially fading the tattoo.

Pigmentation treatmentAlthough some pigmented lesions exist at birth, new pigment can often represent one of the first signs of aging. Lasers can be set to an optimal wavelength to remove pigmented lesions by targeting melanin; the treated lesion is then naturally removed by the skin’s healing process.

LED therapyLow-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) has numerous applications and the benefit depends on the wavelength of the light being absorbed. Reported benefits include reducing inflammation and helping tissue repair and regeneration.

The procedure

Adverse effects

Cosmetic laser treatments come with risks for the laser operators and the patients undergoing therapy. As with any medical procedure, patients must be aware they might experience complications which could be temporary or permanent, including:

Prolonged redness of the skin
Bleeding
Discomfort and/or pain
Tenderness
Skin reddening
Changes in skin’s pigmentation / skin colour changes
Scarring
Burns or other injuries from the laser’s heat
Bacterial infections
Triggering of cold sores if you suffer from them
Incomplete treatment of the problem

Tips and questions to ask your practitioner

Diagnosing lesionsFor lesions that may be caused by sun damage, ensure your practitioner can diagnose the lesion or refers you to a specialist before treatment.

Recovery time and costsMake sure you know the recovery time needed with the laser being used, whether a course is needed, and get the complete course costs upfront.

Patch testYou should always have a patch test (a small testing area with the laser) prior to any treatment to ensure you do not have an adverse reaction and that your treatment will be performed at optimal settings.

Reduced-rate offersBeware of clinics and practitioners advertising procedures at a reduced rate - they may not have the appropriate device or training.

The deviceIf you do not know the device being used, ask if it is CE marked.

Darker skin typesIf you have a darker skin type you are more at risk of burns and changes to pigmentation e.g. lighter or darker patches on the skin which can be irreversible - we advise consulting with a GMC registered doctor.

Pre and post careEnsure that you follow the pre and post care given (ensure these have been explained to you). You will probably need to avoid sun exposure or use sunblock for several weeks following treatment.

Advertising and consultation

Lasers and light-based devices do not have advertising restrictions; however, statutory regulated professionals consider that promotions which are seen to entice the public are unethical, and as such, contrary to their regulations. This standard is applied by the JCCP and CPSA.

The JCCP considers it best practice that before any laser procedure you have a face to face consultation with a qualified practitioner. It is important to understand the risks, which can be lifelong with lasers, and how and who to contact if you have an adverse effect. Some conditions require more than just laser treatments (e.g. scars from burns or surgical wounds) and may require different treatment types; in these settings it is best to consult with a GMC registered doctor.

Cooling off period

The JCCP advises a consultation prior to treatment and a cooling off period of two to five days before treatment. LED procedures do not have a suggested cooling off period.

About you

It is important to recognise what treatment you are about to have when enquiring about laser treatments. Most ablative lasers are associated with longer recovery times, e.g. 1 to 2 weeks with redness and crusting, which can have a negative psychological impact in the short term before the longer-term potential benefits come out. Be sure you know what the recovery time is and tailor your diary to your needs.

Information sheet and standards

JCCP Information Sheet - Lasers and Light (LIPLED)The JCCP information sheet for this treatment (PDF).CPSA Standard - Lasers and Light (LIPLED)Cosmetic Practice Standards Authority

What training does a practitioner need?

LEVEL7

Education pathway

Successful completion of a course with knowledge & competence assessment enables the practitioner to:

LIPLEDDeliver fully ablative (non-fractional) treatment

Restriction

GMC registered practitioners only

LIPLEDDeliver laser treatments of any sort within the periorbital rim (excludes treatments on or within the eyeball)

Restriction

Subject to oversight of GMC registered supervisor

LEVEL6

Education pathway

Successful completion of a course with knowledge & competence assessment enables the practitioner to:

LIPLEDDeliver ablative fractional laser treatments (excluding within the periorbital rim)

LIPLEDUse lasers and IPL treatments for generalised and discrete pigmented lesions (excluding within periorbital rim)

Restriction

Subject to oversight of clinical professional

LEVEL5

Education pathway

Successful completion of a course with knowledge & competence assessment enables the practitioner to:

LIPLEDUse laser treatments for tattoo removal (excluding within periorbital rim)

LIPLEDUse lasers and IPL treatments for benign vascular lesions (excluding within periorbital rim)

Restriction

Subject to CPSA supervision standards

LEVEL4

Education pathway

Successful completion of a course with knowledge & competence assessment enables the practitioner to:

LIPLEDUse lasers and IPL for hair removal/reduction (excluding within periorbital rim)

LIPLEDUse non-ablative lasers, IPL and LED for photo rejuvenation including sun induced benign dyschromia (excluding within periorbital rim)

LIPLEDUse LED for clinically diagnosed acne vulgaris

Restriction

Subject to CPSA supervision standards

Restrictions: see also CPSA standards.

Choose a registered practitioner

Check the JCCP Register to find a practitioner who meets the standards for lasers and light (lipled).

Check the Register

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