The desire to look younger and put a glow back in our skin has existed in our society for a long time. Thanks in part to the regular production of new “anti-aging” beauty products, it seems like skin rejuvenation treatments of all sorts have become a central part of many people’s health and beauty regimens. The last major anti-aging products and services market evaluation put the value of these services at $249.3 billion, with projections that this would increase during the coming years. This increase in product services, however, is not just limited to cream and over-the-counter product sales – it also includes medical procedures designed to improve patients’ cosmetic appearances, such as laser skin resurfacing.
As these markets continue to expand, it’s important for medical professionals operating skin care or cosmetic clinics to note which professional products and services interest prospective clients the most. For example, laser treatment options are becoming a much more appealing anti-aging procedure option for many people; laser resurfacing, in particular, has begun to grow in popularity since these treatments can address a range of skin problems that a lot of people experience and deal (including scars, wrinkles, skin damage and so forth). Understanding the source of this popularity can help your practice better address potential client’s needs and highlight areas where your practice could improve its operations in general.
The Popularity Of Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatments
Laser skin resurfacing has seen a rise in popularity over the past few years, with a recent study finding that multiple resurfacing treatments have seen a steady increase in the number of procedures performed over the years. The 2012 Statistical Report of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons revealed that 509,055 laser skin treatment procedures were performed in 2012 – 9% more than in 2011 when only 466,238 procedures were performed.
These numbers indicate that among skin care treatment options, medical lasers are becoming a very popular option. There are several reasons for this; for starters, the fact that the laser treatment option for patients is less invasive than other professional procedures but still more effective than over-the-counter creams is a major factor that people consider when deciding what they’ll do to address their skin problems. There’s also the fact that new technology has made the cost of laser skin resurfacing more affordable to more people while also reducing the number of side effects and decreasing the amount of time spent in a doctor’s office. This combination makes it an ideal treatment option for an increasing number of potential patients.
With the demand for this procedure rising, all dermatologists and skin care clinic owners should take the time to evaluate their equipment and ask themselves, How can I ensure that my skin resurfacing treatments will make my patients happy?
The Modern-Day Medical Laser Market
If your office still uses older medical lasers to treat your patients, you may consider upgrading your equipment to appeal to more potential patients. Certain medical lasers, while effective for the time they were developed, have dated features that limit their function in a modern-day doctor’s office or that highlight the age of the technology behind them.
Comparatively, modern laser treatment options – including those for laser skin resurfacing treatments – have advanced thanks to new technologies that have improved the treatment process. As a result of these advancements, modern medical lasers offer an effective alternative to older medical lasers due to:
- Their gentleness; newer medical lasers, including Aerolase, use a gentle 300-microsecond pulse duration instead of harsher laser wavelengths, which can increase the risk of patients experiencing side effects.
- Their ability to treat patients more quickly while also targeting certain sections of a patient’s skin; this combination saves doctors and patients time in the office while also ensuring there’s a minimal risk of patients suffering from skin irritation, burns, hyperpigmentation, and other similar side effects.
- Their compactness; many modern lasers are much smaller than their earlier counterparts. Part of this is because many lasers, including Aerolase lasers, do not require a separate cooling device (as older long-pulse lasers often did) to carry out a procedure, as these lasers are not likely to overheat a patient’s skin during a procedure. Ultimately, their compactness makes them more transportable and easier to use.
- Their capability to carry out more efficiently treat patients with darker or even paler complexions; many older lasers could not properly treat large ranges of skin tones without special settings or alterations.
These examples highlight how advances in laser technology have made skin resurfacing treatments more appealing to more prospective patients. Newer medical lasers are more likely to meet your patient’s expectations and provide a satisfying patient experience overall; unfortunately, if you’re not using a newer medical laser, you could be hurting your practice by unintentionally blocking out prospective patients who are interested in receiving the newest, quickest and most effective treatments. There is, however, a range of new medical lasers available today that could be the perfect fit for your practice – and could offer just what your patients are looking for.
Beyond Treatment Options: Boosting Your Practice’s Bottom Line
Though using up-to-date equipment will benefit your practice, it’s also important to remember that using the right laser for patient treatments is only part of boosting patient satisfaction and your practice’s results. Staying current on the latest news in your field and understanding new procedures and technology is just as important to a successful procedure as the tool being used. By combining modern knowledge, licensing, and certifications with the best equipment on the market today, your practice can set itself on the road to success.
