Lasers in Skin

Today, Mike and Lisa tackle the darker side of running a laser business: the fear of getting sued and the importance of protecting your intellectual property. Mike shares his personal experiences with ‘ambulance chasing’ law firms attempting to bully him into settlements over frivolous claims, breaking down exactly how their business model works and why you shouldn't be intimidated. He also provides actionable advice on how to handle aggressive legal letters. Hint: It involves checking your insurance policy's fine print and demanding evidence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Many legal letters demanding compensation for alleged injuries are tactic-driven attempts to scare business owners into quick settlements. If you know you've done nothing wrong, don't let aggressive language frighten you into paying up.

Before engaging with a claim, demand concrete evidence, such as up-to-date, date-stamped photographs of the alleged injury. Frivolous claims often fall apart when proof is required.

Read the fine print of your insurance contracts. Some policies require specific protocols (like ‘before and after’ photos for every treatment) to be valid; missing a step could leave you uncovered.

Once a claim escalates or legal action is threatened, direct all communication to your insurance company. Do not attempt to resolve it yourself or speak to the claimant or their lawyers directly.

Trademarks expire. Ensure you keep your business name and branding registrations up to date to prevent others from capitalising on your hard-earned reputation.

BEST MOMENTS

"There is a fear out there of being sued. It’s after burning their clients, it’s the biggest fear." 

"They are bully boys, these people. That’s all they are. They will try to frighten you with highly intimidating letters."

"If it's not recorded delivery, throw it in the bin."

"If it's in your policy wording as a 'must,' then you're technically not covered for anything if you don't do it."

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru.

Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring.

Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining

https://mikemurphyblog.com

https://www.dermalasetraining.com

In this episode Mike and Lisa sit down with Dr. Marc Reid, author of "You Are Not a Fraud: The Scientist's Guide to Imposter Syndrome." Together they delve into the complexities of imposter experiences, exploring their origins, manifestations, and strategies for managing them. With personal anecdotes and insights from Dr. Reid's research, including a survey of over a thousand participants, the discussion highlights the commonality of these feelings among professionals, particularly during career transitions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Imposter syndrome, or the imposter phenomenon, is a common experience where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of their competence.

Scoring high on imposter syndrome assessments (like a 76% score) is not inherently good or bad; it highlights the importance of awareness about one's feelings and experiences rather than labelling them negatively.

Major life changes, such as career shifts or becoming a parent, can trigger feelings of imposter syndrome. These transitions often lead to self-doubt and the perception of inadequacy.

The terminology used to describe imposter experiences can influence how individuals perceive their feelings. Referring to it as an "experience" rather than a "syndrome" can help normalize the feelings and reduce the stigma associated with them.

It's essential to recognise that imposter feelings can resurface, especially during new challenges. Strategies for managing these feelings include self-reflection, understanding the origins of these feelings, and reframing them as a normal part of growth and ambition.

BEST MOMENTS

"There is no good or bad or ugly. There's only awareness. That's what the whole scoring system is about."

"If I had my time again, I wouldn't even call it imposter phenomenon. I would call it the imposter experience."

"The very first paper written on it mentioned imposter phenomenon. Yet, if you ask 100 people in a room, have you heard of imposter phenomenon? Maybe one or two wee hands."

"I would first off tell you that if I did this now, I would be in the nineties. Oh, a hundred percent. I am worse now than when I did that."

"It's highly likely if there was ever going to be a scenario in which someone would start to have those questions or self-doubts, that's when it might happen."

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru.

Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring.

Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining

https://mikemurphyblog.com

https://www.dermalasetraining.com

What really happens when tattoo ink hits your skin? In this episode, Lisa and Mike zoom in on the histology of tattoos, unpacking how ink is deposited, why your body treats it like a foreign intruder, and how your immune system wages a losing battle to make tattoos permanent. They then shine a (literal) light on laser tattoo removal, explaining how light energy turns to heat to break ink into tiny fragments your body can clear away. Along the way, they answer listener questions, bust myths like the much-hyped R20 method, and dig into the risks behind the controversial 'glass slide technique'.

KEY TAKEAWAUS

Tattoos persist because ink particles are too large for the body's macrophages (immune cells) to carry away. The ink gets trapped inside these cells within the dermis, creating a permanent mark.

Tattoo ink exists in the skin as clumps or 'aggregates' of tiny particles. Lasers work by heating these aggregates rapidly, causing them to shatter into smaller pieces that the immune system can then flush out.

The rapid heating of ink by a laser causes the water inside the cells to boil instantly, creating a steam explosion. This mechanical force is what actually breaks apart the ink clusters.

Mike and Lisa discuss the 'R20 method' (doing multiple laser passes with 20-minute intervals) and conclude that there is little evidence to support its effectiveness over standard treatments, suggesting it may cause unnecessary trauma to the skin.

Effective tattoo removal relies on the body's lymphatic system to clear the shattered ink. Since the macrophages involved in this process live for about 30 days, rushing sessions doesn't speed up the fading - it only risks more damage.

BEST MOMENTS

"When the ink is introduced into the skin, the skin responds by saying, 'Oh my god, what the hell is this? We don't like this stuff, let's get rid of it.'"

"Tattoos fade eventually over time, because those cells die every 30 days, the ink is then re-released back into the skin, and new macrophages come along and pick up those released particles."

"Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. One millilitre of water will form 2,000 millilitres of steam. Steam is very powerful for that reason."

"We are surrounded by water. If we weren't, then laser tattoo removal would not work."

"If you have a little hot ink particles inside a macrophage surrounded by water, the ink will heat up very rapidly, in less than a nanosecond."

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru.

Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring.

Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining

https://mikemurphyblog.com

https://www.dermalasetraining.com

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, Lisa and Mike zoom in on the world of benign pigmentation, and how lasers can help fade it safely and effectively. Before anyone goes zap-happy, they stress one crucial rule: always make sure pigmentation is benign first. They break down how to assess it properly (because guessing is not a treatment plan).

From there, the duo explores different laser options like Q-Switch YAG and IPL, unpacking wavelengths, absorption, and how these tools actually target melanin without causing chaos to the skin. Lisa also shares her real-world treatment tips, including her go-to cooling techniques to keep skin calm and trauma-free.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Before treating any pigmentation, it's crucial to confirm that it is benign. If there are any changes in size, colour, or texture, or if the pigmentation has appeared recently, it should be referred to a medical professional for further evaluation.

Various lasers can be used to treat pigmentation, with the Q-Switch YAG laser at 532 nm being highly effective due to its strong absorption in melanin. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is also a viable option, especially for larger areas, but it may carry a higher risk of thermal damage.

When treating pigmentation, practitioners should monitor the immediate response of the skin, looking for signs such as erythema, darkening of the pigment, or frosting. Adjustments in fluence may be necessary based on the observed reactions.

Ice cooling is essential both before and after treatment to protect surrounding skin tissue and minimise swelling. This technique has been shown to reduce pain and improve recovery times for patients.

The approach to treating pigmentation can be more aggressive compared to other treatments like hair removal or vascular lesions. This controlled aggression is necessary to achieve effective results, but it requires careful monitoring to avoid excessive damage.

BEST MOMENTS

"The first thing that if you're going to be treating any sort of pigmentation, you must be clear that it is benign."

"The good thing about melanin is it absorbs light across the whole visible spectrum and even into the near-infrared spectrum."

"I would do a Q-Switch 532. 100%."

"You don't get that thermal damage that you would with an IPL. So it's a different process, different mechanical process."

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru.

Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring.

Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining

https://mikemurphyblog.com

https://www.dermalasetraining.com

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today, Lisa and Mike take another look at the fascinating world of laser physics, particularly in the context of medical aesthetics. They explore various pulse regimes - nanoseconds, picoseconds, and femtoseconds - discussing their implications for energy delivery and tissue reactions. Mike explains the significance of these time scales, including the concept of zeptoseconds, and how they relate to the behaviour of atoms and light.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Different pulse regimes (nanoseconds, picoseconds, femtoseconds) affect how energy is delivered to tissues. Shorter pulses (like nanoseconds) allow energy to be absorbed quickly, leading to higher temperatures in the target area, while longer pulses (like milliseconds) allow heat to dissipate, resulting in lower peak temperatures.

The type of reaction elicited in tissues depends on the pulse duration. Longer pulses tend to produce thermal reactions, heating surrounding tissues, while shorter pulses can create photomechanical reactions, where rapid heating leads to physical disruption of target materials, such as tattoo ink.

To prevent unwanted thermal damage during laser treatments, proper cooling techniques are essential. Cooling the skin and surrounding tissues can mitigate excessive heat generation, reducing the risk of burns and other adverse effects.

When purchasing aesthetic lasers, it is crucial to look beyond marketing claims and focus on technical specifications, such as output power, wavelengths, fluence range, and pulse widths. High fluences are associated with better treatment outcomes.

Effective training for non-physicist clinicians involves breaking down complex physics concepts into tangible, relatable ideas. Using everyday analogies can help clinicians grasp the fundamental principles of laser physics, making it easier for them to apply this knowledge in practice.

BEST MOMENTS

"The shortest ever unit of time that's been successfully measured by scientists was an event that lasted 247 zeptoseconds. This is the time that it took for a photon to cross a hydrogen molecule."

"I didn't think hydrogen atoms were that big because 0.1 nanometers isn't really so small, is it, when you think about it?"

"If you have a long pulse, like in the millisecond regime, then because the heat is escaping during the pulse, we tend to get a thermal reaction."

"Generating too much heat is very easy to do. It's quite hard to be precise because it depends on where the absorbing targets are and how deep they are."

"If they're not giving you the technical spec, it's a bit dubious."

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Mike began his career in medical lasers in 1986 with a physics degree and a post-grad in bioengineering. He helped develop the scar-free removal of tattoos using a Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Glasgow, and the world's first IPL system. Known well in the industry for his hard truths, no BS attitude and logical answers. As the author of three books, articles for medical journals, a well read blog, a Laser Protection Advisor and contributor to the BMLA, Mike is the Laser Guru.

Lisa's claim to laser fame is being Mike's daughter. Growing up with lasers and never avoiding a physics lesson from her Dad, it was natural to enter the industry. Leaving a corporate career with a baby to jump into self employed life came with challenges. Despite that Lisa has been well recognised for her teaching style, practical tips, bringing the compassion to the science, and laser mentoring.

Instagram: @dermalase_lasertraining

https://mikemurphyblog.com

https://www.dermalasetraining.com

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/