My name is Jo, a registered nurse with years of experience in many facets of skin care and laser therapy, I hope this account may help you make an important technical and financial decision for your practice. I am writing to share with physicians and associated health care professionals what I have experienced, first hand, with aesthetic lasers.
Some time after working for a brilliant plastic surgeon, I went to her and the practice manager and had a discussion. Our Alexandrite laser, was prohibiting me from expanding our business and on a side note, so far this year we had spent over $16,000 on this machine (3+ years old). I had just come from another practice where I operated an Nd:YAG, where I was able to treat dark pigmented skin, as well as treat leg veins and perform skin rejuvenation. It was agreed we needed a new laser, and I was put to the task of finding the best out there.
I spent the next 3 months weeks doing my due diligence and explored aesthetic lasers of all kinds. At the International Cosmetic Laser Conference in Las Vegas, I was able to screen out all of the ones I had researched yet had no personal experience with. Two other conferences also helped narrow my search and define my needs and objectives. Now I just needed to find that laser! I found and we purchased a Fotona Laser Nd:YAG and Fotona Er:Yag.
During my first five days with the Fotona Nd:YAG laser, I had the ability to see, hear and experience all of the qualities about the laser I had spend months looking for.
The education I received during my training brought me into a different level of understanding about the physics and practical applications of the laser.
Here are a few experiences from my first days, on my own, with the Fotona Lasers.
A staff member came in so I could practice. This was to be her second treatment on her axilla for unwanted hair. I continued to be amazed at the scanner! I am amazed how quiet the machine is! I am amazed that Jody is smiling! Previously, for me, that was unheard of when doing axilla. This scanner automatically covers an area with 13% overlap, so I don’t have to move anything while covering the area. This and the Fotona beam profile and the non-contact cooling make this treatment so different!
Another patient came for her 2nd treatment for facial hair on upper lip, chin, and cheeks. My patient seems SO comfortable compared to her last time with my alexandrite laser! And the scanner doesn’t allow for missed spots. I am amazed how precise I can be.
Exactly 100% of my patients, that very first day, stated they were amazed at the comfort level compared to our old laser. I am not exaggerating, that is a fact.
I was also so excited to treat veins, I was meticulously taught in my training how to do vascular treatments with the Fotona system and what settings to use.. By the end of my first day of doing vein treatments, I find, there is a waiting line for staff members that want treatments. I was amazed how much more comfortable this treatment was compared to Cutera, Sciton, and Candella It just is so much more comfortable.
My next day I had two men scheduled for full backs, and one for full chest as well. How unlucky can I get? Based on my previous laser experiences, Ughhh, these were my least favorite procedures. Previously I found that laser hair removal for men requires more time because there are so many really painful areas on their upper body (particularly neck, chest, and flank areas). It would require treatments that consisted of doing several pulses with the laser, immediately followed by a few seconds with ice. Actually, come to think of it, I would have to do the same thing (use ice to cool) on women as well, particularly when lasering axilla and bikini and upper lip and chin. This translated into procedures taking much longer.
I sailed through my first patient’s back, and even flank area, in sheer astonishment. Actually, for both of us! He must have repeated “I can’t believe how much better this is” dozens of times. Second guy: same thing. Only I had the privilege of treating his chest as well, with equally positive comments. I’m not saying that these are painless procedures, just that patients feel so much more comfortable. Even wimpy men!
Since our purchase, personally, there has been a profound change in my understanding of lasers. Understanding the “perfect wave form” about this completely unique laser has brought me to appreciate its superior effectiveness, and I can explain this in simple terms to my patients as well. The training included the basics and went into the details which I thought I, knew/did best. Wrong! I learned everything from greatly improving my consultations, as well as explanations of how the laser works during my treatments, as well as even improving post-care instructions.
The training and the experience of Fotona’s Clinical Director has helped me tremendously. I never got timely responses when working with other laser companies, let alone detailed advice and guidance. When we decided on buying the Fotona, I had no clue that the help and training would make such a difference in my effectiveness as a laser operator.
Sincerely,
J.D, RN