Your neighborhood skin laser center is the kind of facility where you may bid a fond farewell to unsightly acne scars, tattoos, stretch marks, and other skin blemishes that threaten to destroy your self image. Perhaps bikini season is right around the corner and you are taking a critical look at your thighs or abdomen; maybe pregnancies, bodybuilding and even weight loss have left their marks on you and it is time to reveal the healthy skin you know is underneath these marks. Laser skin treatments are becoming more popular yet consumer advocacy groups warn that there are a lot of scam artists which are now entering the field, wreaking havoc not only with the reputation of the procedures but also with patients’ health!
How to pick your skin laser center is not that hard – as long as you use common sense judiciously. For example, skin laser center treatments are often considered surgical treatments yet if the staff of the mall center consists primarily of beauticians or so called spa therapists it is time to move on. These individuals usually only have a rudimentary understanding of the procedures they are performing and next to no medical background. This puts patients at high risks as the practitioners cannot differentiate between a dangerous or slightly abnormal reaction to the procedure. A physician or nurse practitioner and also nursing staff are required.
Remember that an initial consultation is free of charge! Take advantage of this fact and visit the center to meet the staff and take a look around. Is it clean? Does everything look modern and well kept? Check to see the little labels affixed to the equipment that identifies the last time it was inspected. These labels should be readily visible. If they are not, you might have a problem on your hands and it is wise to check with the specialist.
Referrals are another great way to pick a good skin laser center. Friends or family members who had their stretch marks treated, blemishes removed, or the visibility of acne scars lessened will provide great first hand experiences for you. Do not be shy but ask a lot of questions. Knowing the answers to some of the more intricate questions will also allow you to get a feel for the knowledge of the staff you are dealing with as well as the experience they may have had in dealing with the public.
Last but not least, check with your Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if there are any outstanding complaints. While a complaint is not bad in itself, it is a warning flag if it is not dealt with. The BBB reveals whether complaints are being acted upon and resolved or if the Bureau has to step in repeatedly to get any help for the consumer. Sometimes a local extension of the Bureau will be connected to blogs or forums where the procedures are discussed further. This is a great source to help you flesh out some of the more generic information you might find on the Bureau website.
