If you answered yes, that’s good news for your patients. A nerdy laser treatment provider understands the wavelengths, watches how the skin responds, and adjusts each treatment to the patient’s unique needs. A popular dermatology podcast recently made the case for practice owners too: The right laser matters, and so does the training of the person using it.
What can practice owners learn from dermatologists about lasers?
The biggest lesson is that the provider matters as much as the laser. Dermatologists who use lasers every day talk about wavelengths, settings, and reading the skin. Those are the same skills that shape the patient experience in any aesthetic practice, and they’re worth thinking about before you buy your next laser.
Confession: One of my favorite industry podcasts is The Skin Real®, hosted by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina. Listening to it feels like being a fly on the wall while dermatologists talk shop about the industry I work in every day.
In the newest episode, “Laser Resurfacing Explained: Is Your Laser Doing More Harm Than Good?,” Dr. Mina sits down with Harvard-trained, board-certified dermatologist and laser expert Dr. Janelle Nassim to talk about the science behind aesthetic devices and common questions about CO2 lasers.
But one moment stopped me mid-giggle. Dr. Nassim joked about being a nerd when it comes to laser technology, but her point behind it was serious: It’s not just the laser. It’s the provider using it, and how well they understand the technology, that makes the difference for patients.
So let’s break the fourth wall for a minute. Here’s what a dermatology podcast taught this nerd about lasers, and what it means for your aesthetic laser practice, especially if you are considering buying a laser now.
Why does the right practitioner matter as much as the right laser?
Because a laser is only as good as the person operating it, every laser treatment comes down to selecting the right wavelength, energy, and settings for the patient’s skin type and the condition being treated. FDA-cleared technology paired with a properly trained practitioner helps shape the patient’s overall experience.
This is a message for every practice owner. Your patients aren’t really buying a laser treatment. They’re buying a solution to a problem, and they’re depending on your expertise. That’s why every laser purchased from Astanza comes with Lifetime Training and Clinical Support, including complimentary training in Dallas at New Look Laser College.
What is a clinical endpoint in laser treatments?
A clinical endpoint is how the skin visibly responds as the laser fires. Skilled providers watch it in real time and adjust their settings for each patient as the treatment goes. It’s a skill every laser treatment provider needs.
This was my favorite nerd moment of the episode. Dr. Nassim shared a line from Dr. Rox Anderson, a Harvard laser pioneer. He always taught that when using lasers, they are not just dermatologists, but also “endpoint-ologists.”
So, what does that mean for all you nerdy laser treatment providers? That’s the heart of Dr. Anderson’s lesson: Being an “endpoint-ologist” means watching the skin, not just the laser screen. Because two patients with different skin tones can react differently to the same settings, trained providers should adjust energy, density, and passes depending on every patient’s unique needs.
The real question in every pulse is whether the energy is appropriate for that patient’s skin at that exact moment. Is it strong enough? Is it too strong?
It’s important to remember that at the end of the day, a laser is a machine. Pre-set protocols like Quanta SkinApps® give providers a place to start, and the clinical endpoint tells them when to adjust from there. Laser treatments are a bespoke experience for every patient, because no two people’s skin responds exactly the same way.
What determines how intense a CO2 laser treatment is?
CO2 laser treatment intensity depends on settings like energy and density, not just the type of laser. That was one of the most interesting parts of the episode, and it’s why the provider choosing those settings, and reading the skin as they go, matters as much as the laser itself.
For example, Youlaser Prime MT puts two wavelengths in one skin resurfacing platform: A 10600 nm CO2 laser and a 1550 nm fiber laser. With Quanta Mixed Technology, providers can use each wavelength on its own or combine both in a single treatment. It also includes three exclusive SkinApps®, Quanta’s proprietary, pre-set treatment protocols: IconicPeel®, StarGaze® for periocular resurfacing, and PrimeLift®.
Ready to be the nerd your patients are looking for?
The best laser practices pair the right technology with providers who understand it. At Astanza Laser we take it one step further, matching the right laser with the right training for each practice. Start by defining the concerns your patients bring in, then choose the device that fits them. Before you buy, be sure to compare wavelengths, peak power, FDA clearance, maintenance, and training support side by side.
Dr. Mina calls it the “hot girl hamster wheel”: The feeling that you have to chase every new treatment. Practice owners can fall into their own version: Buying the device everyone is talking about instead of the one that fits their patients. Before you invest, ask:
- Which concerns do my patients bring in most often?
- Which treatments do I want to offer this year, and which can wait?
- Who on my team will perform them, and how will they be trained?
Our refreshed Laser Buying Guide walks through exactly that, in plain language, so you can shop like an endpoint-ologist instead of a hamster on a wheel.
Thanks for letting this marketing nerd break the fourth wall. Now go listen to the episode. I dare you not to giggle at the hamster wheel.
Frequently asked questions
What wavelengths does the Youlaser Prime MT use?
The Youlaser Prime MT uses a 10600 nm CO2 laser and a 1550 nm fiber laser, on their own or combined (10600 nm + 1550 nm). The 10600 nm wavelength is FDA-cleared for laser skin resurfacing, and the 1550 nm wavelength is FDA-cleared for fractional skin resurfacing and coagulation of soft tissue.
What is the StarGaze® SkinApp®?
SkinApps® are proprietary, pre-set treatment protocols designed by Quanta System. StarGaze® is a specialized SkinApp® on the Youlaser Prime MT that provides complete periocular resurfacing. As a high-precision solution, it’s designed to refresh and revitalize the delicate skin around the eyes.
What should a practice compare before buying an aesthetic laser?
Start with the concerns your patients bring in most often, then compare devices side by side. Astanza Laser’s free aesthetic laser buying guide helps you compare laser technology, wavelengths, FDA clearance, maintenance, training, and support before you invest in your next laser.