Risk of botched laser job runs high

PHOENIX - Medical spas and retail clinics offer laser services that promise cosmetic fixes such as hair removal, skin resurfacing and age-spot elimination.

But the seemingly minor, aesthetic procedures have had major consequences for men and women across the country, ranging from common skin injuries such as burns and blisters to scarring from botched laser jobs. And two young women, including one from Tucson, died when incorrectly using medicine to prepare for laser jobs.

In Arizona, a consumer seeking a smooth or blemish-free body runs a more than 50-50 risk of entering a clinic that hasn't been inspected in more than a year, and a significant, though lesser, risk of being treated by a technician without proper licensing or training.

Metro Phoenix doctors say and records filed with Arizona regulators show that severe burns and blistering can occur when a laser operator uses improper techniques. More than a half-dozen reports have been filed with state regulators claiming minor injuries over the past year. Medical professionals say that many incidents are likely to go unreported.

"I see patients all the time getting burned from going to medical spas," said Susan Van Dyke, a dermatologist who also offers a range of cosmetic procedures, including lasers.

While the federal government has strict guidelines for the types of lasers that can be used for aesthetic purposes, it does not regulate who is authorized to provide laser treatments. That duty is left up to individual states with standards that vary widely.

Arizona has 923 certified laser technicians, who are allowed to perform minor procedures as long as they get a license. That process requires a total of 64 hours of training on powerful devices that remove hair, tighten skin or etch out skin spots, including 24 hours of hands-on instruction. Laser technicians must operate under the guidance of a medical director such as a doctor or nurse practitioner, but those licensed medical professionals need not be on site.

Technicians who perform aesthetic procedures at spas and retail clinics are supervised by the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency (ARRA), which also oversees X-ray equipment and monitors radiation exposure, rather than by the state licensing boards for doctors, nurses or other medical professionals. The state licensing boards for medical professionals oversee laser use for medical procedures.

The agency has two inspectors who are charged with inspecting laser clinics, among other obligations.

"There are more than we can get around to," said Aubrey Godwin, executive director of ARRA.

Original post:
Risk of botched laser job runs high