Cosmetic Laser Treatments

Even when the correct laser instrument is chosen for a given treatment, there is a risk of temporary effects, including immediate pain, reddening of the skin, bruising and swelling. Some lasers are equipped with cooling devices to reduce this risk. Other possible side effects include the formation of blisters, burns and infection. In some cases, there may be lightening or darkening of the skin, but these complications are rarely permanent.

If the wrong device is used or if a procedure is not done properly, the desired results may not be obtained and there is a risk of permanent scarring. There is also a risk of eye damage if you do not wear proper eye protection during laser treatments.

Infection risk:

Laser Tattoo Removal

While laser tattoo removal is generally considered a non-invasive procedure, laser treatment may cause superficial burn wounds, blisters, or scabs. Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections can occur if the skin layer is damaged and microorganisms are introduced to the site. The potential sources of these microorganisms are:

Use of contaminated and/or improperly reprocessed equipment.

• Contaminated environment.
• Client’s own bacteria on the skin
• Unclean hands touching the treated area.

Common side effects of laser tattoo removal include pinpoint bleeding, edema, crusting of the skin and blistering. Blisters and pinpoint bleeding are generally more common in darker skin types.  Local allergic reactions can occur in the form of papules, nodules or plaques. Rarely, systemic reactions following laser treatment of allergic tattoos have been reported. In a large prospective study of laser tattoo removal, adverse effects were observed in 6.2% of patients with hyperpigmentation. Spot size, fluence, and pulse duration are important considerations in laser tattoo removal.

Laser Rejuvenation (PicoWay® Resolve Treatments)

Intense pulsed light uses high intensity pulses of visible light to improve the appearance of skin, such as acne and removal of unwanted hair. The energy penetration and wavelength in this procedure is generally longer than that of cutaneous and diode laser systems.

Infection risk:

Intense pulsed light may result in various side effects, including changes in skin pigmentation, blisters, crusts and folliculitis or infection of the hair follicle. With too much melanin in the adjacent skin, the light energy can be absorbed into the surrounding epidermis, causing epidermal damage. This is less common for intense pulsed light than for cutaneous and diode lasers.

The potential sources of infections are:

• Contaminated or improperly reprocessed equipment.
• The client’s own bacteria on the skin.
• Contaminated environment.
• Unclean hands touching the treated area.

Infections can be bacterial (e.g., Mycobacterium chelonae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), fungal (e.g., Candida spp., Aspergillus spp.) or viral (e.g., herpes simplex virus).67 Rare side effects include post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and burns with blisters.

Source: Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Personal Service Settings

Other Concerns

Incorrect Devices

Lasers that have not been licensed for use and sale in Canada should never be used to treat the skin. To find out whether your provider is using a licensed laser in Canada please search the device or manufacturer name in the Medical Devices Active Licensing (MDALL) database.

Absence of Intellectual Property Registration

Where a provider is using a laser device that does not have its brand registered in Canada this can pose a risk, since there could be counterfeit and harmful devices in the marketplace. You can search whether the device brand has been registered in the trademark database at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office "CIPO". A properly protected brand name offers protection since the brand owner is obligated to keep any counterfeit, or infringing (similarly named devices) off of the market.

Signs of Risk

If the device cannot be located in the MDALL database, and if the brand name cannot be found at CIPO then there is a good chance that the treatment offered from the provider is potentially unsafe.

Unregistered devices typically result in lower treatment price points, since the cost of the machine is substantially less when snuck into the Canadian marketplace. Some importers will attempt to circumnavigate detection from Canadian Border Services by providing direct to business sales with undeclared/misdeclared contents and values.

If the provider has not conducted a thorough consultation process, including precare and aftercare advice, this is also a sign that the treatment is high risk.

Finally, if the provider has not taken the necessary precautions of using personal protective equipment in the treatment, this is also a sign that the treatment is high risk.

Medical Devices Bureau,
Therapeutic Products Directorate
Health Canada
Room 1605, Statistics Canada Main Building
Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa, ON K1A 0L2
Telephone: 613-957-7285 

and/or

Consumer and Clinical Radiation Protection Bureau, Health Canada
775 Brookfield Road
Ottawa, ON K1A 1C1
Telephone: (613) 954-6699

To report problems associated with the use of medical devices, including laser systems, call Health Canada's toll-free hotline at 1-800-267-9675.

Also, see the following Web sites:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site:

• Frequently Asked Questions About Lasers.