As complex medical procedures increase in popularity, so do the mistakes that accompany them. According to Medical News Today, the number of litigated cases involving malpractice in laser hair removal treatments has surged in recent years. In 2011, Medical News Today reports, “dermatologic surgeons carried out 1.6 million treatments” in the U.S.—one of the most common cosmetic operations performed in the nation.

The major risk with laser hair removal practices comes most often from non-physicians “who may have minimal training,” reports The New York Times.  In addition to the figures compiled by Medical News Today, the Times suggests that there may be several unreported operations performed annually as well. “The percentage of lawsuits over laser survey that involved a non-physician operator rose to 78 percent in 2011 from 36 percent in 2008,” the Times reports.

Eleven states do not have regulatory laws concerning laser hair removal. According to the State of Connecticut Medical Examining Board, in 1996 such regulatory measures were approved in the state, making it illegal for any physician without a specific license to employ lasers for hair removal. “In making this ruling,” the report states, “the Board is choosing to err on the side of safety to best protect the public.”

Risks associated with laser hair removal can be permanent, though the procedure itself may not be. According to The New York Times, risks can include (but are not limited to:

• Disfiguring injuries;
• Severe burns in sensitive areas (“like the bikini line and the mustache area above the lips”);
• Death. 

Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery Director Dr. Tina Alster told the Times that, “there’s a perception by the public that anybody can do this. People need to remember, it’s not the laser doing the work, it is the operator.”

If you or someone you know has been injured or disfigured by a laser hair removal treatment in Connecticut, you may be eligible for compensation. The most important first step is to seek the counsel of a legal professional. Contact the law offices of Richard R. Raphael for a free initial consultation today.