Some people can get confused of what a cosmetic laser actually is. We have seen or heard people mistaken Hifu or CoolSculpting as a laser, they are not. Those devices are not cosmetic lasers but they are cosmetic devices. Additionally, a IPL is not a laser! There are many different types of lasers and again they can be defined by wavelength to determine what they can be used for or what their property is. Going back to what a laser means which is again, Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation is the process of a normal atom being excited and created a chain reaction releasing photons of laser light. The characteristics of laser is coherent or a wave patterns are locked in phase, Collimated or stays together as a tight beam of light, or monochromatic which is produces pure colors of light.

Its important to look at monochromaticity when thinking of cosmetic lasers and that monochromaticity means that laser produces pure colors of light. This does not mean that only 1 color is produced. Surgical lasers are used for thermal effects and color is only grossly important because it determines how well the energy is coupled as heat into tissues. Deramtology and cosmetics is an area where color specificity is becoming important. For example, treatment of different pigmentation issues like portwine stains and other vascular issues.

People do get confused and think an IPL is a laser but it is not. They also get confused with BBL or IPL which are the same thing. BBL is broad band light which uses a high powered lamp in the head of the unit to put out bright white or broad spectrum light. Filters are then placed in the head of the unit to limit the output to a various wavelength. The filters must be kept clean and scratch free as these are what mimics or creates the wavelength. They do have wide spread use, IPL cannot be compared to the intensity and effect of a laser. A true laser is superior to a BBL or IPL