Are Laser Skin Treatments Safe?The Truth from a Dermal Clinician with 30 Years of Experience.

Laser and IPL treatments are more popular than ever — but with popularity comes confusion, misinformation, and far too many “experts” online sharing advice without the qualifications to back it. As someone who has spent 30 years in the laser industry, trained nurses, doctors, and dermal clinicians across Australia and New Zealand, and now leads a team of highly qualified clinicians at St James Aesthetics, I can confidently answer the question:

Yes — laser treatments are safe. But only in the right hands.

And that’s the part most people don’t realise.

Why Laser Safety Depends on the Person Holding the Device

Victoria has no regulations around who can legally operate a laser or IPL machine. That means anyone — even someone with only a short course or no real clinical training — can buy a machine and start treating the public.

In my 30 years training thousands of therapists, nurses and doctors, I’d estimate that only 1–2% truly understand how lasers work. Most can’t explain what white light is made of, how heat interacts with tissue, how wavelengths behave, or how to assess skin risk factors.

Yet these same people are performing treatments on the public.

That’s why complications happen — not because lasers are unsafe, but because the operator doesn’t understand the science.

At St James Aesthetics, every clinician is degree-qualified, extensively trained internally, and deeply passionate about understanding lasers on a scientific level. We do not hire inexperienced beauty therapists for laser work. Every treatment is tailored, educated, and protocol-driven.

The Devices We Use (and Why We Use Them)

We use only medical-grade, clinically validated systems:

• Cutera Xeo platform (with Limelight IPL, ProWave, Laser Genesis, and more)

• Fractional CO₂ resurfacing

• Advanced IPL for pigmentation, redness, and collagen stimulation

These devices offer:

• Higher wattage

• Real-time cooling systems

• Pulse-delay safety features

• Built-in calibration

• Accurate energy delivery

Medical-grade devices are designed to heat the target more than the skin, meaning results with low risk when used correctly.

At-home devices and cheap machines simply don’t have the wattage or cooling systems to do this safely or effectively. What takes us 1 session might take 50–100 sessions with an at-home device — and still never reach the same result.

Real Talk: Lasers vs IPL — What’s Safer?

There’s a huge myth that IPL is safer than laser.

Wrong.

IPL and laser both convert light into heat. Both can burn you. Both can create complications — in the wrong hands.

What matters is:

• The quality of the device

• The correct wavelength

• Accurate energy delivery

• Proper skin typing

• And most importantly… the operator’s experience

What About CO₂ Laser — Is That Safe?

CO₂ is my all-time favourite treatment for full skin regeneration. It can:

• Smooth wrinkles

• Tighten the skin

• Improve scarring

• Reverse sun damage

• Restore “baby skin”

But CO₂ is powerful. Fully ablative CO₂ removes the entire epidermis and requires a 4-week recovery. Fractional CO₂ treats around 20% of the skin per session and is safer, with faster recovery.

When done correctly, CO₂ is life-changing.When done by someone inexperienced, it can cause scars, demarcation lines, or pigmentation.

In 30 years, I have never caused scarring from CO₂ — because when you understand depth, anatomy, and settings, the treatment is safe and controlled.

Common Laser Safety Myths — Debunked

Clients often come in believing things like:

“Laser thins your skin.” Only CO₂ thins the epidermis — and that’s intentional. It stimulates regeneration.

“Lasers can’t be used on darker skin.” They absolutely can — but only with the correct wavelength and correct settings.

“If it doesn’t hurt, it’s not working.” Pain is not an indicator of efficacy.

“You only need one session.” No treatment works in one session — whether for hair, pigmentation, or collagen.

“At-home devices work the same as clinic devices.” They don’t. They lack the power, cooling, and clinical calibration.

The real danger is when people take advice from influencers or unqualified writers who don’t understand skin, lasers, or medical risk.

Case Study: When Experience Makes All the Difference

Bella, a 21-year-old redhead, came to me after 12 unsuccessful laser hair removal sessions at other clinics. Red hair is notoriously hard to treat — but I used a specific IPL wavelength (640 nm) that I’ve observed over decades to dramatically reduce fine, light hairs.

Her results were so good that she eventually joined our team as a receptionist.

Experience matters.

What Makes St James Aesthetics Safer Than Other Clinics

• 30 years of laser expertise

• National trainer for Australia and New Zealand

• Clinically trained by dermatologists

• Degree-qualified dermal clinicians and nurses only

• Rigorous internal training

• Strict medical protocols

• Individualised treatment based on skin type, ethnicity, medications, sun exposure, skin health, and endpoint response

• Ability to treat complex conditions other clinics avoid (melasma, darker skin types, advanced sun damage, CO₂ resurfacing)

Most importantly:We care.We care enough to learn the science, tailor every treatment, and give honest assessments. If we don’t believe we can get you a result — we won’t take your money.

Safety and results come first. Always.

The Bottom Line: Are Laser Treatments Safe?

Yes — when performed by qualified, experienced clinicians using medical-grade devices.

Lasers are not dangerous. Inexperience is dangerous.

At St James Aesthetics, you’re treated by people who understand the technology inside out, who know how to adjust settings safely, and who genuinely want the best for your skin.