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Operator Guidelines
The following operator guidelines are provided as an outline of the general concepts for
properly using the POLYLASE LP Pulsed Dual Output Laser, and improve the care of
patients who choose this method of hair removal. For more information regarding
training on the use of the POLYLASE LP Pulsed Dual Output Laser, please refer to page
1-2 of this Operator’s Manual.
• Possible side effects or complications that may arise from use of the POLYLASE
LP Pulsed Dual Output Laser may include, but are not limited to:
hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, depigmentation, vesiculation (blister
formation), prolonged erythema and edema, scarring and poor clinical response.
These side effects are rare and can be minimized by following established
preoperative and postoperative instructions and using proper surgical technique.
• Any hair that lies on the skin surface during treatment will absorb laser energy
and cause unnecessary discomfort or present other complications to the epidermis.
Therefore, all treatment areas should be shaved and cleared of all hair prior to
exposure to POLYLASE Alexandrite or Nd:YAG Laser pulses.
• Performing tests at different energy fluences and properly evaluating the tissue’s
response prior to initiating treatment will help determine the proper energy
fluence for each site, reducing the risk of complications and side effects.
• Vesicles (blisters) may sometimes occur at areas where the energy fluence used
was excessive. If a vesicle should form, it is important to recognize that it is
generally intra-epidermal and will usually heal without scarring. Vesicles should
be treated conservatively with gentle cleansing and application of a topical
antibiotic ointment until they have completely healed. If vesiculation or
nikolsky’s sign is encountered, the energy fluence should be reduced until these
reactions are no longer produced. If vesiculation occurs at even the lowest
fluence, then that person should be excluded from treatment.
• Residue from hair shafts that have been destroyed by exposure to POLYLASE LP
Laser energy may accumulate on the surface of the handpiece protective window
during treatment. This debris may interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment
if it is not wiped off frequently using lint-free lens cloths or Q-tips.
• It is recommended that the pulses be overlapped slightly to ensure that effective
energy is delivered to disable all hair follicles in the treatment site. The risk of
injury to the skin from overlapping pulses is very low. Overlapping using the
aiming beam as a guide is sufficient.
• Since hair follicles typically grow at angles within the skin, it is possible to affect
follicles that are not directly in the beam’s apparent path at the skin surface. For
this reason, it is not advisable to use the POLYLASE LP Laser for shaping or
sculpting precise hair-bearing areas such as eyebrows.
• Treatment of large areas may be somewhat time consuming and tedious. For that
reason, it is strongly recommended that POLYLASE LP Laser users take frequent
breaks or limit the length of each scheduled treatment session in order to
minimize eye strain of fatigue that could otherwise adversely affect the clinical
response.
