CLOSING COMMENTS
Dr. Roberts: So who should invest in 650-microsecond 1064nm Nd:YAG laser? Dr. Burgess: Start with patient population. Those in urban settings or with a very international patient base, as I have, would obviously benefit though I don't think this should be pigeonholed for SOC. It's a laser for all skin types. But if you have a multiethnic demographic, it's definitely the laser for you.Dr. Campbell-Chambers: Anybody can benefit from this device, but especially for a young doctor just building a practice, you want to use your money wisely. This is an obvious choice. It's versatile, with hardly any maintenance to speak of. It's portable, it's safe, it's effective, it's a no brainer.Dr. Chilukuri: What this is, essentially, is the power of a larger device in a compact application, with a lot of science behind it. Also, it’s important to partner with the laser company. In this case I enjoy the passion these people have, and they respond rapidly to my questions and needs.Dr. Roberts: What about user- and patient-friendliness, having safety built into a device or treatment, and not having to depend on numbing or cooling? Dr. Saedi: It is important to note that in general, cooling and numbing increase the risk of complications, because we do depend on patient feedback and numbing or cooling allows us to treat beyond patient tolerance, causing injury that may advance beyond the therapeutic level. With cooling we need enough to facilitate treatment but not so much that skin is damaged. With many devices you need full contact in order to have adequate cooling.Dr. Campbell-Chambers: With lasers, patients are always concerned about the pain, so the confidence of a safe, gentler treatment improves compliance. Needing no consumables reduces the hassle as well as cost of treatment.Dr. Henry: I notice that patients appreciate the time savings, especially those with treatment experience where they've had to sit with numbing for 15 to 20 minutes, they really enjoy the ease of coming in and out of the office, having the procedure, and getting out in under 20 minutes. That's a strong selling point.
