Tampa Medical Spa Praises Florida Hair Removal Law

    TAMPA, FL, September 10, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Florida Department of Health requires laser technicians operating within the state to carry a laser certification, making Florida one of only two states in the nation to do so. Caroll Delo, a board-certified laser specialist at Simply Smooth Laser Center (http://simplysmoothlasercenter.com), feels that having this law in place improves patient safety as well as ensures that patients see better results from their laser procedures, including hair removal.

According to Florida Statute 458.348 (3) under Title XXXII, Regulation of Professions and Occupations, any procedures "[...] relating to electrolysis or electrology using laser or light-based hair removal or reduction by persons other than physicians [...] shall require the person performing such service to be appropriately trained and work only under the direct supervision and responsibility of a physician."

"Only Florida and Texas have additional regulations relating to laser hair removal practitioners," says Delo, a board-certified laser hair removal specialist in Tampa who has been performing laser procedures for over 15 years. "I think certification is important for ensuring that patients a positive experience as well as consistent results."

Although typically the State Medical Board would oversee the licensing and regulation of medical procedures, the Board may delegate these responsibilities to another organization. In Florida, the responsibility for regulating laser hair removal lies with the State Electrolysis Board.

The State Electrolysis board requires that all laser technicians who perform procedures in the State of Florida complete an approved 30-hour continuing education course, as well as obtain national certification from an organization approved by the Electrolysis Council and the Board of Medicine. The licensing regulations further stipulate that technicians may only use the devices upon which they've been certified, and work under the direct supervision of a physician who has also been trained and licensed in laser hair removal.

"For many people, laser hair removal and other laser treatments seem pretty minor compared to surgery," says Delo, who worked as a surgical nurse for many years before pursuing her own laser certification. "In reality, lasers are capable of causing damage in untrained hands. State-mandated certification improves patient safety and offers a higher standard of care."

Although Florida and Texas are the only two states to currently require national certification for laser technicians, laser hair removal was one of the top five nonsurgical procedures performed in the United States last year. Laser hair removal appointments in Tampa and throughout Florida typically take place at a medical spa or private plastic surgery practice. However, the majority of states do not have licensing requirements for medical spas, or regulations on how laser treatments should be performed.

Having worked with skin and laser technology since 1998, Simply Smooth Laser Center's (http://simplysmoothlasercenter.com), Caroll Delo is dedicated to helping patients rejuvenate and restore their skin. A staff member at Castellano Cosmetic Surgery Center, board-certified laser specialist Delo opened Simply Smooth Laser Center to bring patients personalized laser skin treatments in an atmosphere that maximizes value. By offering education, expertise and amazing results, Simply Smooth Laser Center's has fast transformed what patients expect from a skin treatment center, cementing the practice as one of Tampa's best values in the industry.

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