Purpose — what “safe” looks like in Australia

Set a clear, patient‑first standard for choosing a laser clinic that follows Medical Board/AHPRA rules (assessment, consent, non‑misleading ads), ARPANSA & AS/NZS laser safety, NSQHS infection‑control, and TGA device‑safety expectations. This prevents rushed same‑day treatments, parameter guesswork, poor infection control, and weak aftercare. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

2. Scope — what’s covered

All facial/body lasers: resurfacing (Er:YAG/CO₂), vascular (Nd:YAG 1064), pigment/tattoo (532/1064 Q‑switch or picosecond), hair reduction, and non‑ablative tightening. Applies to first‑timers, Fitzpatrick IV–VI, peri‑orbital work, and any case where parameters may change. Clinics using other light devices should apply the same safety system. ³

3. Why same‑day treatment is often unsafe (especially if you’re new or higher‑risk)

For first visits and higher‑risk indications (darker skin types, peri‑orbital work, melasma, leg veins), good practice is to assess first, consider a test‑spot, and plan treatment later. Treating at the first consult without a medical exam, skin‑type assessment, baseline photos and risk discussion is a governance failure that increases avoidable risk. ¹

For people under 18, a minimum seven‑day cooling‑off period between consent and any non‑surgical cosmetic procedure is mandatory. ¹

States regulate laser operators differently; licensing never replaces proper medical assessment and consent. ³

4. Governance & roles — who is actually accountable

Doctor‑led assessment & prescription: Know who examines/prescribes, who operates, and who reviews complications the same day. Advertising must be balanced (no testimonials/inducements). ^{1 2}

Laser Safety Officer & controlled room: Door control, signage, wavelength‑matched eyewear, non‑reflective fittings, and documented safety checks — aligned to AS/NZS IEC 60825. ^{3 4}

Privacy & records: The clinic should publish an APP‑compliant privacy policy, govern image storage and cross‑border transfer, and offer access/correction; parameter logs and adverse‑event logs are part of good governance. ^{5 6}

5. The consultation you should insist on — step‑by‑step

• History & risk screen: Fitzpatrick/ethnicity, PIH/keloids, HSV history, sun/tanning, photosensitisers (e.g., doxycycline), pregnancy/breastfeeding, immunosuppression.
• Exam & diagnosis: Suspicious lesions are not lasered; refer for medical review.
• Skin‑type & parameter logic: Why this wavelength/spot/pulse/fluence, why a test‑spot, passes/sessions, anaesthesia plan, downtime, specific risks.
• Photoprotection script: SPF 50/50+, reapply two‑hourly outdoors; clothing, hats, sunglasses whenever UV ≥ 3 (BOM).
• Aftercare access: Written instructions plus an after‑hours contact channel.

6. Safety architecture — what you should see in the room

• Eye protection: Wavelength‑matched eyewear for everyone; metal corneal shields with lubrication/anesthetic for peri‑orbital work; manage shield heat build‑up.
• Plume control: Point‑of‑generation evacuation with ULPA + activated carbon filtration; wall suction is not adequate.
• Infection prevention: Hand hygiene, skin antisepsis, single‑use consumables, sharps/waste controls, cleanable surfaces, routine room turnover.

7. When things go wrong — minimum clinic capability

• Burns/wounds: Immediate cooling (not ice), sterile non‑adherent dressing, pain control, review/plan.
• Ocular symptoms after peri‑orbital work: Same‑day doctor review; urgent ophthalmology if painful/photophobic/visual change.
• Pigment change (PIH/PHH): Adjust parameters, pigment‑care plan, strict photoprotection, scheduled review.
• Infection: Escalate for same‑day clinical review and treatment.
• Device problems: Quarantine the device, capture parameters/maintenance history, and report to TGA via IRIS.

8. Photoprotection during healing — exactly what to do

Use SPF 50/50+ correctly (apply 20 minutes before, reapply every two hours outdoors and after swimming/sweating/towelling) and combine with clothing, hats, shade and sunglasses when UV Index ≥ 3. This reduces pigment complications and improves outcomes. ⁷

9. Advertising & communication — why it protects you

Expect brand‑neutral, factual wording with risks and limits beside benefits; no testimonials, no inducements/giveaways, and no consumer promotion of prescription‑only meds. For higher‑risk non‑surgical procedures, use genuine unedited images and include a ‘results vary’ statement. ²

10. Devices — what really matters

Combined 1064 + 2940 nm tightening/body protocols have prospective safety/efficacy data. Non‑ablative long‑pulse 2940 has peri‑ocular rejuvenation data. Picosecond 532/1064 outperforms nanosecond for multicolour tattoos; fractional 1064 ps helps atrophic scars in darker skin. ^{8 9 10 11}

No Australian authority names a single ‘gold standard’ brand; focus on physics, operator training and governance — not logos. ²

11. Dual‑platform coverage — a practical benchmark

A clinic running (a) Er:YAG 2940 ± Nd:YAG 1064 and (b) a multi‑wavelength picosecond/Q‑switch (532/1064) covers water, haemoglobin and melanin at short‑/mid‑/ablative pulse durations — letting intensity and downtime be staged safely. ^{8 11}

12. Questions to ask

Copy/paste to the clinic:

• Accountability — who prescribes/operates/reviews me the same day? (names/quals).
• Assessment first — full medical history and test‑spot if higher risk?
• Room safety — eyewear OD and peri‑orbital protection?
• Plume control — point‑of‑generation evacuator model/filters?
• Infection prevention — which skin antiseptic and room cleaning steps?
• Aftercare and access — downtime, what’s normal, and after‑hours contact?
• Photoprotection — exact SPF 50/50+ instructions.
• Device governance — parameter logging, adverse‑event recording, TGA reporting.
• Advertising ethics — no testimonials/inducements; brand‑neutral content.
• Privacy & photos — where are images stored, for how long, under which APPs?

13. Red flags — walk away if you see:

• No named prescriber or no same‑day clinician access for complications.
• Pressure for same‑day first‑visit treatment (esp. higher‑risk cases).
• No laser‑controlled room, no wavelength‑matched eyewear, or no plume evacuation.
• Reliance on wall suction during ablative passes.
• No written aftercare or after‑hours access.
• Testimonials, giveaways or ‘gold standard’ brand superlatives in ads.

14. Scenario tests — does the clinic pass?

A) Night‑time eye pain post eyelid tightening.

Good: urgent clinician callback and ophthalmology referral.
Weak: ‘take analgesia, see us tomorrow’. ¹

B) New dark patches after pigment treatment (darker skin).

Good: conservative settings, test‑spot, pigment‑care plan, strict sun protection.
Weak: ‘another full pass now’. ⁷

15. Paperwork to expect (ask to see templates)

• Consent listing wavelength, spot, fluence, pulse structure, passes, downtime, risks.
• Pre‑treatment checklist: photos, Fitzpatrick type, contraindications, HSV prophylaxis when indicated.
• Incident/adverse‑event log and TGA IRIS workflow.
• Privacy statement compliant with Australian Privacy Principles (APP 1–13).

16. How laser regulation works in Australia (at a glance)

Cosmetic laser operators require licences in Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia (IPLs in Tasmania). Other jurisdictions rely on workplace health and safety and consumer law; regardless, expect ARPANSA‑aligned controls and clinic‑level governance (LSO, eyewear logs, plume evacuation, infection control). ³

17. Pre‑care, pain control & antivirals

Analgesia/anaesthesia: topical anaesthetic timing/occlusion, cooling (avoid cryogenic on cornea), oral analgesia as required. HSV prophylaxis: for full‑face or perioral/periocular ablative resurfacing, oral antiviral prophylaxis (e.g., valacyclovir or famciclovir) started before treatment and continued 10–14 days reduces reactivation risk (individualise). Photosensitisers & UV: delay if recent tanning or on strong photosensitisers.^{1 7}

18. Aftercare timeline (patients can pin this)

• Day 0–3: Gentle cleansing, bland emollients, no picking; cool compresses as advised; strict indoor UV avoidance.
• Day 4–7: Introduce SPF 50/50+; reapply two‑hourly outdoors; avoid heat, saunas, vigorous exercise.
• Week 2–4: Resume actives only when skin is calm; clinic review.
• Month 3–6: Collagen remodelling phase; discuss maintenance if indicated.

19. Good vs poor practice (quick table)

Sources

1. Medical Board of Australia — Guidelines for medical practitioners who perform cosmetic medical and surgical procedures (non-surgical section)., viewed 20 November 2025, https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Cosmetic-medical-and-surgical-procedures-guidelines.aspx ↩
2. AHPRA — Advertising a regulated health service: Guidelines (balanced information, no testimonials/inducements)., viewed 20 November 2025, https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Advertising-hub/Advertising-guidelines-and-other-guidance/Advertising-guidelines.aspx ↩
3. ARPANSA — Laser safety overview referencing AS/NZS IEC 60825 series., viewed 20 November 2025, https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/radiation-sources/more-radiation-sources/lasers ↩
4. AS/NZS IEC 60825-14:2022 — User’s Guide to laser safety (practical control measures). [5] Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care — Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard., viewed 20 November 2025, https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/nsqhs-standards/preventing-and-controlling-infections-standard ↩
5. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care — Preventing and Controlling Infections Standard. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/nsqhs-standards/preventing-and-controlling-infections-standard ↩
6. Therapeutic Goods Administration — Report a problem with a medical device (IRIS)., viewed 20 November 2025, https://www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems ↩
7. ARPANSA — Sun protection and sunscreen guidance (SPF 50/50+, combined measures)., viewed 20 November 2025, https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/radiation-sources/more-radiation-sources/sun-protection-sunscreen ↩
8. Vas K. et al. — Combined 1064 nm Nd:YAG + 2940 nm Er:YAG for non-invasive tightening/body (prospective data)., viewed 20 November 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31008550/ ↩
9. Badawi A. — Non-ablative peri-ocular rejuvenation with long-pulse 2940 nm Er:YAG (prospective series)., viewed 20 November 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34146192/ ↩
10. Kono T. et al. — 532/1064 nm picosecond vs nanosecond lasers for multicolour tattoos (controlled comparison)., viewed 20 November 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32903983/ ↩
11. Disphanurat W. et al. — 1064 nm fractional picosecond for atrophic scars in darker skin (prospective)., viewed 20 November 2025, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37130437/ ↩