Myths & Facts about Laser Treatments

Laser treatments are often seen as a hallmark of modern technology, and at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, we can certainly attest to the fantastic results they’re capable of. But we’ve noticed that for many people, medical lasers still seem like a mysterious and not fully understood frontier, and this has given rise to myths and rumors galore, which can actually stop patients from seeking the treatments that could make a world of difference in their self-confidence. To set the record straight, we’re addressing some of the most common laser myths floating around.

Myth: Darker-skinned people can’t get laser treatments.

While your skin tone does affect the details of your laser procedure, many modern lasers have adjustable settings so they can be tailored to all or nearly all skin types. There are rare cases when the risks of side effects are too high, which is why it’s important to look for an experienced cosmetic laser treatment provider who can offer you a true recommendation.

Myth: Lasers provide instant results.

This truly depends on the laser and the procedure, but most laser treatments work with your body’s natural processes, which means it can take time for your full results to appear.

Myth: Laser skin resurfacing leaves a clear line where the treatment stops.

To give the rumor mill some credit, this was true with earlier CO2 laser technology, but most providers today (including us at Laser Lights) use fractionated CO2 lasers for skin resurfacing. This means they create tiny treatment zones for an overall rejuvenation with less healing time, exceptional results, and no “line of demarcation.”

Myth: Laser treatments require a lot of recovery time.

“Laser treatments” is a broad term, because lasers can be used for anything from laser hair removal to extensive exfoliation to scar repair. The recovery time will depend on your specific procedure, and while some do require downtime, others will allow you to immediately return to your daily activities.

Myth: Lasers can only improve the surface of the skin.

One of the factors that makes one laser different from another is the wavelength of light they use. Each laser is designed to focus on different cosmetic concerns, so while some are perfect for surface imperfections, others can go deeper to impact the blood vessels (such as in spider vein reduction and rosacea treatments) or even unwanted fat (such as in SculpSure™ non-invasive fat reduction).

Myth: Lasers can extract tattoo ink.

It’s true that lasers are the most effective way to remove a tattoo, but instead of pulling the ink up through the laser beam in a “Beam me up, Scotty!” fashion, the laser actually breaks up the ink into particles that are small enough for the body to absorb and eliminate.

Myth: Lasers can cause cancer by emitting radiation.

This is probably the scariest rumor floating around, but rest assured that your laser treatments won’t give you cancer. The wavelengths used in a cosmetic laser treatment are limited to a “safe zone” so they do not emit any radiation.

Myth: Laser treatments are too expensive.

Of course, “expensive” is relative to each person and their own budget, but laser treatments are actually more affordable than most patients think, especially when compared to the alternatives (for instance, add up how much money you’ll spend on shaving or waxing for the next several decades and compare that to the cost of laser hair removal, or compare SculpSure™ fat reduction to surgical liposuction). At Laser Lights, we also have financing available through CareCredit® so you can pay off your treatments at a slower pace.

The bottom line is that if you want to know the real deal about laser treatments, ask an expert like our licensed and experienced laser technicians. In particular, look for a facility associated with the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), of which our owner Dr. David Whiteman is a proud member. To find out more about the laser treatments you may be a candidate for, schedule a complimentary consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. Or, for more helpful tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.