Celebration of 50 years of laser technology
Our practice makes use of several lasers for cosmetic purposes, including hair and tattoo removal and skin resurfacing. These treatments are all made possible by the accumulation of 50 years of research by dedicated scientists.
2010 is the 50th anniversary year of laser technology. Many people don’t know that the word LASER is actually an acronym. The letters represent the phrase Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser technology goes all the way back to Einstein, who wrote a 1916 paper about Plank’s law of radiation. Essentially, Plank’s law states that when an atom in an excited state contacts a photon of the same energy, a second photon with the same energy is released. In 1916 this was considered to be a very rare phenomenon, if it happened at all. However, history proves that Einstein was right, and laser technology grew from that one paper into what we have today: lasers for use in industry and the military and for beauty purposes as well.
Long before cosmetic lasers were even thought about, lasers were created to target and scout the enemy in the jungles of Vietnam. These military uses actually provided for extensive public funding for laser development which otherwise might not have occurred.
The first laser used for cosmetic purposes was approved by the FDA in 1996; it was a hair removal laser. Prior to laser hair removal, the only long-term option was electrolysis, which was fairly uncomfortable and took a long time to accomplish. In comparison, laser hair removal can be completed in less than half a dozen visits, it is not painful, and isn’t invasive.
Since that first laser was created for hair removal, laser technology continues to bring more opportunities for rejuvenation. In my practice, the CO2 laser rejuvenation system provides effective skin resurfacing that, in my opinion, cannot be duplicated with other types of skin resurfacing lasers. Our Lumenis Light Sheer laser for hair removal provides for a comfortable and complete hair removal solution for both men and women. Lastly, as body art has become more and more popular, we’re often called upon to remove tattoos. As time marches forward, I’m convinced that lasers will become even more popular, to the point where they may replace aesthetic rejuvenation that now requires surgery.
To your health & beauty,
Dr. Martin O'Toole
