Over the timeline of the last twenty years, members of both the medical and systematic communities have worked conscientiously to investigate the potentials that laser hair removal devices may hold for health care and cosmetic applications.  As of today, such technologies are a part of modern life, and have become integral tools to medical and cosmetology professionals.The use of laser, led, intense pulse light, radio frequency, and ultrasonic energies are now normal, and recent advances in the efficiencies of these technological breakthroughs have finally created reproducible services and procedures that meet patient and customer expectations. So what does the future hold for these amazing technologies? 

While surgical laser equipment, as an example, has become abundant in surgeries and outpatient surgery facilities, the largest segment of market expansion has obviously been in the cosmetic and medical spa industry.  At roughly $20 bln in annual sales in 2006, the medical spa industry is a an alliance to be reckoned with. Lasers and laser energy based technologies are at the center of this rising industry.  In these environments, lasers and similar devices are exploited for the permanent shrinking of unwanted hair, the eradication of tattoos or sun spots, dumping wrinkles, fine lines, the tightening of skin, the treatment of acne, acne scaring and much more.

Medical Laser discernment and plenty of other industry reporting groups have surmised that the medical spa industry will reach in excess of $110 bln in yearly sales money in the next 10 years.  As an essential component of this industry, there will doubtless be a clear relationship with the expansion of hardware manufacturing and medical spa  and dermatology support firms which will all stand to benefit from the increasing recognition of these sophisticated skincare services. With each advancing year, the medical spa and dermatology world also becomes privileged to the arrival of new techniques and exciting new applications of energy based hardware.  With each new technical threshold, the industry becomes braced and, afterwards, increasingly popular. 

The appearance of laser hair removal, laser resurfacing, skin tightening and other services over the previous couple of years have marked important milestones in the evolution of this field. As industry leaders and research groups continue to work to grasp the potential that these technologies hold, we can only expect that each passing year will be marked by new applications and new tools to further fortify this rapidly expanding industry.

Another subject of interest that will certainly receive a great deal of attention with regard to the use of lasers in skin care will be seen in related state and local legislative activities.  Currently each state has been charged with the job of controlling its medical spas, but there are no two states that operate under the same precise set of rules.  This is probably going to change as each state looks for a standard to follow. Common issues include the problem of what kind of professional is qualified to provide these services in a safe and efficient demeanour, what kind of education or coaching should be needed, what is the role of the physician, and how is the equipment itself to be regulated.  It is likely to be at least ten years or more before all of these issued may be settled and standard policies are accepted on a national basis.

The concensus is that lasers and energy based equipment are now a part of the skin care industry and are no longer a hi-tech idea.  As the esthetics industry and its clients continue to hug these technologies, the sky is truly the limit for what the next twenty years may hold.

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