VTCT Level 4 Laser and IPL Treatments

Course Itinerary:

Day 1-

Tea and coffee in the morning - 10:00am start

• Introduction to Lasers and IPL
• What does Permanent Hair Reduction mean?

Laser Physics

• What is a Laser? What is an IPL?

• Electromagnetic Spectrum
• How Laser and IPLs are built
• Specifications & Variables
• Difference between Laser and IPL
• Advantages & disadvantages of Laser & IPL

Different types of Equipment

• Different types of Laser and IPLs
• Types of Cooling Devices

Hazards & Safety of Laser/IPL

• Laser/IPL Safety
• Hazards of Lasers/IPL & Treatment room

Hair Anatomy & Biology

• Parts of the hair
• Types of hair

• Hair Growth Cycle
• Correct time intervals for Face and Body treatments
• Hair growth chart
• Factors affecting hair growth

Fitzpatrick Skin Types

• Evaluation of different skin types

How Laser works

• Laser and Light depilation – mechanisms of action

Laser Parameters

• Selecting correct parameters - spot size, pulse duration, Fluence

• End points which determine success of the treatment
• Effects of changing the parameters
• Dealing with untoward cases – Burns

• Factors which influence success of Laser treatment, Hormonal conditions & other underlying medications.

Practical Hands on

• Afternoon Practical Exercises
• How to correctly handle equipment
• Laser and IPL safety
• Correct Goggles for client and therapist
• Practical exercise on Laser and overlap theory
• Role play - selecting correct parameters

Day 2 –

Tea and coffee in the morning - 10:00am start

Consultations and Medical Check

• Medical History
• Contraindications
• Conditions to be cautious of
• Photosensitive medications
• Underlying medical conditions that affect treatment
• Client concerns and & Expectations from treatment
• Assessment of Hair & Skin Type
• What to expect during & after treatment
• Pre, peri and post-op considerations, what can and can’t do before & after treatment
• Possible Side Effects of treatment
• Pre and post treatment care
• Effects of Sun Exposure
• Giving client an opportunity to ask Questions
• Importance of Photographs
• Consent Forms & Record Sheets

Performing Treatment

• Preparation of Skin before treatment
• Performing a Test Patch
• Waiting time between test patch & treatment
• Requirement of Recording treatment Parameters

Challenging cases

• Managing client expectations

• How to deal with challenging cases
• Laser and IPL – issues with “permanent” hair removal
• Main points to be careful of

Practical Exercise

• Role play - Practical consultations
• Role play - choosing parameters
• Procedure for performing a Test Patch

Practical Hands on Laser Hair Removal

• Afternoon full demonstration of Laser hair removal treatments.

• Practical on performing Laser hair removal treatments on various hair and skin types.
• Product knowledge and professional products used.

Day 3 –

Tea and coffee in the morning - 10:00am starts

Advanced Skin treatments

• Introduction to Lasers & IPL in the use of Skin treatments
• Skin Rejuvenation - Superficial Damage, Redness, Brown Pigmentation, Fine Lines
• Skin Tightening - How wrinkles are caused, Collagen production, Selecting Patients for skin tightening, Mechanisms of Action, Techniques, Clinical endpoint.
• Pigmented Lesions - What are they?
• Epidermal Pigment: Age Spots, Sunspots, Freckles, Cafe au lait, birthmarks, Beckers Naevi.
• Dermal Pigment: Nevus of Ito, Nevus of Ota, Blue Naevi, Congenital Melanocytic Nevi (CMN)
• Mixed Component Pigment: Melasma/Cholasma, Naevus Spillus, Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH), Drug-induced pigmentation (e.g. Minocycline).
• Warnings of Melanomas: how to detect and what to do.

Vascular

• Vascular: Port Wine Stains, Hemangiomas, Cherry angiomas, Venous Lake, Spider Nevi, Facial Veins, Leg Veins.
• What causes them?
• What you can treat & what you cannot treat?
• Which Laser & IPL devices you can use?
• Vessel diameter
• Depth of penetration
• Vessel actions
• Vascular Lasers
• Selecting correct Parameters
• Epidermal Cooling
• Vessel visualisation
• Clinical Endpoints
• Consent Forms, Record Sheets, Advice Sheets for skin treatments.

Practical Hands on

• Afternoon, Practical on performing Skin Treatments.
• Role play - Consultation for skin treatments.
• Demonstration of how to perform skin treatments.

Day 4 –

Practical performing treatments

• Practical performing Laser skin tightening
• Practical performing Laser skin Rejuvenation
• Practical performing Photo Rejuvenation
• Practical performing Pigmented Lesions – Face and Body
• Practical performing Vascular Treatments – Face and Body
• Product knowledge and professional products used.

Clinic Management (optional)

• Basic Laser Maintenance
• Adhering to Local Rules and Regulations – Regulatory requirements
• Requirement for Laser controlled areas
• Insurance Guidelines
• Correct use of Log books.
• Clinic documentation including consent forms, record sheets, advice sheets
• Choosing correct equipment