Lawsuits against Non-Medically Trained Laser Hair Removal Practitioners on the Rise

Non-medically trained laser hair removal practitioners are receiving litigation and lawsuits, according to Medical News Today.

This is after patients filed claims after being burned, scarred or injured during laser surgeries performed by practitioners that were not professionally trained in the field, according to Reuters. A recent study has found that 75 out of the 175 legal cases related to laser hair removal or scar removal procedures involved someone other than a registered physician operating the laser machine.

A new study published in this month's edition of JAMA Dermatology warns practitioners to be aware of the state laws although there are currently no guidelines for laser hair removal and cosmetic laser procedures being employed. Dr. H. Ray Jalian, lead author of the study and his team point out the inherent dangers of ambiguity with the state laws saying: "For example, in Maine only a physician may operate a laser for hair removal. At the other end of the spectrum, Nevada as of June 2011 had no regulations regarding the use of laser."

Between 2008 and 2011, the proportion of lawsuits listing a nurse, medical practitioner, assistant, technician or an intern as the operator has also doubled. "It certainly makes us consider the need for better supervision and training", Dr. Murad Alam, from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago said.

"Even fairly common, well-established procedures like laser hair removal are not inherently safe," he told Reuters Health. "They are lasers; they have a variety of risks including eye injuries and burns." The American Society for Dermatological Surgery also warns that "many clinics promise results that are just too unrealistic".

Dr. Alam recommends that people consider getting laser surgery only from registered doctors and to not solely make their decisions based on convenience and affordability. "A lot of people view it as something similar to getting a haircut, but it's a little bit more involved and has greater risks. There is a chance that you could have a scar or a burn for life", he said.