For any practice, the addition of a new aesthetic laser is an important capital equipment investment and deserves thorough consideration.

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When buying a laser, you&#;re also starting a relationship with the laser manufacturer&#; it&#;s worth it to make sure the company will take care of you.

Here is a suggested list of 10 questions worth asking to ensure that you&#;re making the best decision for your practice:

1. Will this tattoo removal laser suit my needs?

This is obviously the most important question when considering a laser purchase. Different practices have different goals &#; it&#;s important to find the right tattoo removal laser for your specific needs:

• Is the system powerful enough for you?
• Does the system treat the ink colors you want it to?
• Do you care about how long it takes the laser to warm up?
• Is your treatment room somewhat cramped so the size of the laser matters?
• Do you plan to use the system for additional applications?
• Does a track record of reliability matter to you?
• Are you wanting to start out with the most advanced equipment or eventually upgrade from something more basic?

Envision performing laser tattoo removal daily and think about what features for functionality, reliability, and efficacy are critical to you.

2. Is the company trusted by leaders in the field?

Since laser tattoo removal became widely available in the early-to-mid &#;s, some front runners in the field have emerged. These leading skin specialty and laser practices often have been performing laser tattoo removal for ten years or more and have witnessed trends in the industry rise and fall.

These leading practitioners often have:

• multiple clinic locations
• high volume of patients
• wide variety of tattoo ink colors to treat
• patients of all skin types
• valuable reputation to maintain
• upgraded their equipment over the years

Look to see which systems these practices are choosing to replace their older equipment and what brands they trust for their clinics &#; they&#;ve seen it all and choose equipment from established manufacturers that makes sense for their high-volume needs.

3. How comprehensive is the laser training?

Even if you have experience with performing laser treatments, adding on a new procedure means adding on a whole new set of patient questions, side effects to manage, protocols to learn, and more.

Here are a few things to look for in training:

• Will your trainer have in-depth knowledge of tattoo removal in particular?
• Does the manufacturer have an established history in the laser tattoo removal field or is it relatively new technology for them?
• How much time will the laser company commit to the training?
• What topics are reviewed in the didactic portion of the training?
• Will the training include supervised hands-on practice?
• Will the laser company help you schedule patients for the training?
• Does the training include certifications for trainees? What certifications?
• Will the company provide patient forms and paperwork for your use?

Your training is your opportunity to get off to a good start with laser tattoo removal &#; make sure the laser company equips you with the right knowledge.

Also ask the laser manufacturer what will be provided when additional training is needed.

Most practices have some level of employee turnover, and even laser clinics that have a single owner-operator tend to hire on more staff after establishing themselves. Training from the laser manufacturer is important to making sure practitioners feel comfortable and confident with the procedures they perform.

For example, Astanza can provide complimentary additional training during our preventative maintenance visits to your practice and waive the tuition fee for any of your new staff members attending our training program, New Look Laser College.

4. What is included in the marketing support?

For laser tattoo removal &#; just like many other aesthetic procedures &#; marketing is key to profits. Effective marketing brings patients in the door and helps you achieve a return on your laser investment.

Because of the importance of marketing, many laser companies offer some level of marketing support to those buying a laser. Some companies claim that their included marketing support would be valued at tens of thousands of dollars or more.

It&#;s important to look at what they&#;re really giving you &#; not just what they say it&#;s worth. 

Realistically, most companies provide some printed marketing materials (brochures, posters, etc), a directory listing, and a printed marketing guide&#; no real services, nothing custom to your practice.

If your practice is just starting out or looking to expand your marketing on a budget, finding a laser company that provides valuable complimentary marketing services (custom content creation, press release writing, PPC management, etc) can save you both money and headaches versus going with an agency or trying to do it all internally.

5. What is the turnaround time for service calls?

Lasers for tattoo removal are highly complex devices that require periodic maintenance to perform optimally.

Unlike a car which you can take to a wide variety of mechanics for service, your laser can only be serviced by experienced laser technicians with the right parts and tools &#; which makes you dependent on the responsiveness and expertise of your laser manufacturer&#;s service department.

Most veterans of the laser industry have at least one horror story of working with an irresponsible laser company that leaves them high and dry in face of a technical service need. We&#;ve heard of some companies having two-week waiting periods for service support of critical issues &#; meaning the practice was faced with rescheduling two weeks&#; worth of patients. For any practice, extended downtime can be hugely damaging to both revenue and reputation.

Ask your laser manufacturer what&#;s the longest any client has had to wait for an emergency service visit and what the average system downtime is per year. Ask them to tell you about an instance where the service department went above-and-beyond to keep things running smoothly for a practice (hint: a good laser company should have many examples to share).

Most importantly, speak to existing clients (not paid luminaries) &#; they&#;re the ones that will have the best insight into the quality of the support from the service department.

6. Is technical service provided directly or by freelancers?

Some companies (typically small start ups and used laser dealers) don&#;t have internal capability to service the lasers they sell. It takes extensive knowledge in lasers, access to highly specialized parts, and precise technical ability to service a Q-switched laser &#; not all companies have the funds or expertise to have a dedicated service department.

For companies without internal service departments, they rely on external freelance laser technicians to provide service for the systems they sell. These freelancers typically don&#;t specialize in servicing one type of laser technology or brand and often have limited access to parts &#; sometimes compromising the quality of service they provide. Ask your laser manufacturer who provides the service for the systems and make sure that you&#;re comfortable with the answer they give you.

7. How much will an extended warranty cost?

Most new tattoo removal lasers come with a standard one-year limited warranty on the equipment with a separate pulse count warranty on the flashlamp. However, quality tattoo removal lasers are designed to last 5 to 10 years or more with regular maintenance &#; that&#;s were extended warranties come into play.

Many practices buy extended warranties/service contracts to have peace of mind about their investment and have regularly scheduled preventative maintenance visits. While what&#;s covered by an extended warranty is fairly consistent between laser companies, the prices are not. Some companies fairly price their extended service contracts based on the costs associated with providing the service, but some laser manufacturers charge triple the price because they look to profit from their service department and have a recurring revenue stream from their clients.

How do they get away with charging triple for their service contracts? Some major manufacturers refuse to provide service unless you&#;re under an extended warranty &#; forcing you to buy a warranty if you ever want service on your laser again.

Don&#;t worry &#; not all laser companies are looking to gouge their customers. Just make sure that you ask about the prices for extended warranties, if preventative maintenance visits are included in the cost, and if service is available to out-of-contract customers.

8. What are my options for upgrading in the future?

Tattoo removal lasers come with a wide variety of features and capabilities at a wide range of price points. Some new practices or those looking to test the waters for laser tattoo removal wish to start with an entry-level tattoo removal system, some practices wish to start out with the most sophisticated laser available, and many purchase somewhere in-between.

If your practice starts out with an entry-level or mid-level system (as many practitioners do), you may wish to eventually upgrade once you&#;ve built a base of tattoo removal patients and have the monthly revenue to cover the cost of a more advanced laser.

The advantages of upgrading may include:

• faster tattoo removal results
• effective removal of resistant ink colors
• faster treatments
• newly warrantied equipment
• better functionality/usability

Unfortunately, many laser manufacturers do not take in used equipment (even from their own customers) for a trade-in value toward new equipment (Astanza, however, does). If you think you may wish to trade up or add on an additional system (such as a laser for treating resistant inks), ask the laser company what upgrade options will be available for you in the future.

9. How will the company help with financing?

Tattoo removal lasers are a capital equipment purchase, and the majority of laser buyers choose some form of financing for their laser purchase. While all laser companies are eager to get you qualified for financing, some companies will help you with the process more than others.

There are many options for financing a laser, but most laser buyers either finance through a capital equipment leasing firm or through their local bank.

If you intend to approach an investor or your local bank for a loan, you may wish to have a business plan or more detailed information on the return on investment of tattoo removal lasers. Creating such a business plan can be quite an undertaking for those new to the industry or purchasing capital equipment, so look into the support and resources the laser manufacturer can provide to help you.

Also, even if you aren&#;t financing your equipment, some companies may be more flexible than others regarding payment terms &#; ask and find out what can be done to make payment of your laser work for you.

10. Do I feel comfortable with the company I&#;m buying from?

Unlike the other questions on this list, this one is more qualitative. Different laser manufacturers have different reputations and values, and it&#;s important to choose one that will respect what matters to you.

Some companies focus more on flashy advertising, some focus more on informing their clients. Some laser sales personnel have more of a pushy approach, some function more as trusted consultants. Some companies are publicly traded, some are privately owned.

If you&#;re looking at two quality lasers from two different reputable manufacturers, consider choosing the one that you&#;d rather have an ongoing client relationship with and which provides the best services for your practice. After all, their expertise and support could be very helpful in making your first year with laser tattoo removal a successful one.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Buying used machines, sharing of equipment to offset high initial investments is a good option but even more care is required to ensure proper functioning and maintenance.

The credibility of the dealer and company should be ascertained in order to be assured of after-sales service.

Adequate training is essential; understanding laser physics and laser-tissue interaction goes a long way in getting the best out of the machine.

It is wise to sign a contract or agreement between the buyer and seller before purchase of a laser which covers key aspects of installation, after sales service and maintenance of the machine.

Meticulous planning of the type of machine, specifications, financial aspects, maintenance and warranties is important.

Lasers and aesthetic procedures have transformed dermatology practice. They have aided in the treatment of hitherto untreatable conditions and allowed better financial remuneration to the physician. The availability of a variety of laser devices of different makes, specifications and pricing has lead to confusion and dilemma in the mind of the buying physician. There are presently no guidelines available for buying a laser. Since purchase of a laser involves large investments, careful consideration to laser specifications, training, costing, warranty, availability of spares, and reliability of service are important prerequisites. This article describes various factors that are needed to be considered and also attempts to lay down criteria to be assessed while buying a laser system that will be useful to physicians before investing in a laser machine.

Lasers have become an integral part in today's aesthetic dermatology practice. With the advent of new technology, more sophisticated devices are being developed that are both relatively safe and effective even in darker skin types. With increasing number of machines being available to choose from, it has become a difficult and often confusing task for the physician to decide upon which system to buy. Multiple technologies such as lasers, lights and other non-light energy devices are available. Choosing a laser system, maintaining the machine and after-sales service, are all vital aspects to having a successful laser practice. Likewise machines from different companies and from different countries varying in specifications and cost are available, making it difficult for a practitioner to judge which one to buy. In addition, there is a lot of hype in the marketing and exaggerated promotional material used by the laser companies, each staking claims that their machine is the best. There is considerable ambiguity with regards to the post-sales maintenance policies including annual maintenance contracts (AMC) and annual service visit (ASV). Most purchasers are unaware of the type of insurance and other terms and conditions that need to be considered for their machines. The aim of this article is to focus on practical aspects before purchasing a laser.

WHICH LASER TO BUY?

Although it is often difficult to choose a machine, certain lasers are well established in dermatology practice and remain gold standard. The most commonly used laser systems include:

Diode laser 810 nm and long pulse Nd:YAG (Neodymium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser nm for laser hair removal.[1]

Er:YAG (Erbium doped:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) nm and carbon dioxide (CO210,600 nm) ablative and fractional lasers for benign skin lesions, resurfacing and scars.[2,3]

Q switched Nd:YAG laser for pigmented lesions and tattoos.[4]

In addition other lasers which have found acceptance include non-ablative nm fractional erbium glass laser,[2]585 and 595 nm pulse dye laser for vascular lesions,[5] and excimer 308 nm laser and lamp for vitiligo and psoriasis. Intense pulse light systems and light-based targeted phototherapy machines also have their place in practice. These broad technologies have well-established roles. Choosing a laser system, between the available models in these technologies will depend on the variables such as pulse duration, spot size, energy and fluence, consumables and cost.

Key elements to be considered while deciding on a laser

First and foremost, the buyer should learn basic laser physics, indications for lasers, different technologies and complications. These can be learnt either by attending workshops, symposia, at conferences and attending established laser centres. The physician should be aware of the prevalence of different dermatological and aesthetic problems in the community and then decide which laser would be most suitable for practice in that area. Patients' attitudes, paying capacity and marketing opportunities need to be assessed. While the choice of a laser system depends on individual situation, some general recommendations are outlined.

The first laser to be bought is either a hair removal laser or a fractional ablative laser. The wide prevalence of hirsutism, increased awareness among women, and wider acceptance of the technology has made the hair removal laser a necessity. However, some doctors have preferred a fractional laser as a first laser as many beauty clinics have started laser hair removal and there has been a proliferation of hair removal machines in some towns and cities. The ablative fractional laser is popular in view of its safety and wide variety of applications.

Q switched Nd:YAG laser for treating pigmented lesions is the next choice. The current nanosecond lasers have established their role, but the cost is high and hence the machine is usually the third choice.

Intense pulse light systems (IPL) are not lasers but polychromatic (multiple wavelength) light devices that use cut-off filters and allow targeting of different chromophores and have the advantage of treating different indications with one system. Although the IPL systems are cost-effective they are generally not as effective as laser systems.

Excimer lamp devices tend to be cheaper than the excimer 308 nm lasers and are quite effective in management of vitiligo and psoriasis. They can be considered as they are cost-effective, effective and safe in dark-skin patients.

Pulse dye laser and excimer lasers are expensive lasers, and are found in only few centres and hence will not be discussed further.

Single machine versus platform lasers

Laser systems are available either as stand-alone or platform systems. Stand-alone systems tend to be of single wavelength with one hand piece (HP) designed for specific purposes such as a long pulse alexandrite 755-nm laser for laser hair reduction. Platform systems have the ability to attach multiple hand pieces to the machine and have the ability to deal with various indications. The hand pieces could be a hair removal HP or an IPL HP for treating vascular lesions or even a near infra-red HP offering skin tightening treatments, etc. At any given time one or two HP can be attached to the system and can be changed as desired. The software of the system recognises the HP attached and the settings can thus be changed as needed. Each of these two systems has its advantages and disadvantages and these are enumerated in .

Table 1

Stand-alone systems are obviously suited for large practices and established practitioners' with big budgets, while platforms are more suited for beginners or those with multiple clinics and if different doctors wish to share the machine.

Judging the suitability of a machine

Some basic knowledge of laser physics is essential before buying a machine. Laser training and understanding of the machine can be obtained in any of the below mentioned ways:

• Becoming members of societies dedicated and focused on laser dermatology and attending their meetings and interacting with experienced users, listen to lectures, attend hands-on workshops, etc.

• Educational and marketing material provided by the company.

• Training provided by the company on the machine, observational and hands-on training with another expert or on-site.

• Visit to the factory/headquarters of the parent organisation to access the commitment, research and development if and when possible. The buyer should check the company's website for details such as specifications, the scientific and white papers and testimonials.

• Know the company: Before buying, the first thing to do is to identify the correct person or organisation or company, whether they are a company or act as Messer (M/s), whether they have registered their organisation/company under companies act/local body or not; what is their total strength of man power ; do they have the provision of provident fund (PF) account; do they have a website which provides full details; how many machines have they supplied; how long are they in business; how big is the company and do they market a wide variety of machines? These points can help ascertain if the company is genuine or not.

Once basic training is obtained, the suitability of a given machine should be judged as below:

1. Laser specifications: Spot size, pulse duration, peak power, customisation options etc- These are of utmost importance and are explained below:

   • A large spot size is preferable for laser hair removal.[ 1 ] A large spot size allows deeper penetration and allows faster treatments during the laser procedure. A spot size of 10-18 mm is available in conventional LHR systems. Newer low-fluence high repetition rate hair removal systems have even larger spot sizes.

   • High peak power and ultra short pulse for Q switched laser, Gaussian vs. top-hat beam profile. Top-hat beam profile is preferable for Q switched lasers that can prevent uneven energy distribution over a given area, thus preventing &#;hot-spots&#;.[ 4

   • 2).[

     Scan density, pattern of scan, pulse width, fluence, etc for fractional lasers. The laser should preferably have variable scan density, adjustable and variable scan patters, changeable spot size of each micro-beam, high power (e.g., min 30 W for fractional CO).[ 2

   • Correct wavelength of filters, variable on time and off time, the HP of IPL should have built-in cooling.

2. Publications in peer-reviewed journals on the laser technology-to access the efficacy, side effects profile of a given system. The articles can give a clue to parameters used which can serve as a starting point for new users.

3. Feedbacks from other users of the system in question: Always make it a point to ask users about their experiences with the machine. Sometimes it may be helpful to ask a competitor company for an opinion about the machine for a frank assessment.

4. Demonstration: Always insist for a demonstration of the system before buying. The machine should be kept in the clinic for at least two treatment sessions and should be tried on different types of patients.

   If you are looking for more details, kindly visit bodesi'.

5. Engineer's training and expertise: Try to understand if the marketing person or engineer of the company has some basic scientific knowledge about the laser machine, the training they got from the parent manufacturer abroad, etc. This is very important as the technical knowhow to service is the key to maintenance. Many laser manufacturers provide training to service personnel in their plant. This needs to be verified.

6. Power Meter: Ensure that the service engineer has a power meter for the laser which is critical to ensure correct output and the parent company always suggest this for the dealer. Other requirements that need to be ensured while buying a laser:

   1. Electrical and power back-up

      • A three phase electrical connection is preferred if multiple lasers/devices are being planned.[ 6

      • 7,8,9]

        Uninterrupted power supply (UPS) online and offline is recommended and the UPS should be of 3KVA or more with 16 batteries of 60 Amps each.[ 6

   2. Air conditioning is essential for laser equipment as most lasers require an ambient temperature of 18-22° C for proper functioning. This also ensures a dust-free environment.[ 9

   3. Cooling: Most lasers require some form of cooling for protection of the epidermis immediately before, during and immediately after a laser procedure. Many devices have built in cooling either in the form of cryogen spray or contact parallel cooling or simultaneous air cooling. It is important to ensure that cooling is working properly to prevent any accidental epidermal injury. Air cooling systems such as Zimmer require regular cleaning of the filter for ensuring optimal performance. Always check the cost of cooling machine and include it in your budget.

   4. Laser System manual: Each system comes with an elaborate manual with trouble shooting guide. Always read the manual thoroughly and familiarise with it and store it in a place where it is easily accessible.

   5. Laser safety eye glasses and corneal eye shields: All lasers are shipped with their specific eye protecting glasses with the recommended optical density (OD) to block out the harmful rays from entering the operator's eyes. These are to be worn during the laser procedure by the operator and any other person present in the laser room. Ensure that the glasses are in good condition upon taking delivery of the system and take care in maintaining them as they tend to be expensive. External metal/plastic opaque eye shields are also provided with the laser to be worn by the patient during the procedure.

For detailed laser room requirements, specific articles may be referred.[6]

Financial considerations

Cost negotiation: The ultimate aim of a buyer of a laser system is to get the maximum discount possible as compared to the list price or quoted price. This will depend on the communication skills of the buyer, knowledge of the global and local pricing, discounts offered by the dealer/distributor and the approximate price paid by the other purchasers of the system. Try not to show the sales representative that you are interested in their system only; make them aware that you are looking at other competing systems. Never be in a hurry to buy a laser! Get quotes from different companies for the similar systems. This will allow better negotiation. Also, ask colleagues about the price paid by them. It is important to understand that all medical lasers depreciate as soon as they are sold. So getting the best price is more crucial. Always strike a balance between cost and quality while making a decision. This cost-quality equation has to be kept in mind while buying a laser system.[10] It is also not practical to buy and own every new laser that is launched in the marker. It is paramount to evaluate each technology in depth and choose only that system which will benefit the practice, only then will the money be well spent.[11]

Funding: A doctor may have to take a bank loan to purchase the laser. Check the interest rates and required documents to procure the loan. The following is a rough check-list of the documents needed for procuring a loan for medical equipment:

• Quotation from the company.

• Purchase contract.

• Income tax returns.

• Registration documents of the clinic.

• Clinic building documents.

• Medical council registration.

• Personal documents such as identity, address proofs, taxation documents.

Laser purchase contract (annexure-1) see online at the link

Having a laser purchase contract on paper signed by the buyer and distributor is essential. Many distributors take a brief one page purchase order (PO) from the customer, but this is insufficient as full details of the deal are not mentioned. The purchase contract should include:

1. Advance: Once a price is negotiated, and a contract is signed, an advance amount is sought by the company. Generally this should not be more than 25% of the total amount. A proper receipt clearly stating the cheque number and the amount needs to be obtained.

2. Clause for balance payment, with date of repayment; installments, if any, need to be specified.

3. Dollar /foreign currency value: Since many machines are imported, the price often depends on the price of dollar/other currency which are subject to market fluctuations. This should be properly discussed and proper understanding reached with respect to market fluctuations of currency.

4. Check the cost of the machine mentioned and note if there is any undervaluation. DO NOT UNDERVALUE THE MACHINE FOR ANY REASON.

5. Check if all costs are mentioned: Taxes, customs, transportation, insurance while transportation and installment costs.

6. Warranty: Warranty should include all parts of laser; check the fine print and see if there are any exclusion clauses. Check if the warranty is subject to any specification of laser room and associate devices such as vacuum evacuator or air conditioner. Check the frequency of servicing, need for distilled water replacement if any. Sometimes the company or parent organisation may offer an extended warranty or extra service that should be in writing and mentioned in the contract.

7. Clause on repair: Check how many hours/days will it take to attend to breakdown? Rough estimate of time frame to repair/replace parts? Installation of a standby system while the machine is being repaired so that work will not be affected should be asked for.

Transportation

Taxes can be levied while transporting the machine from the port to the place of installation. Proper documentation needs to be done for this and done accurately. Most of the laser machines are delicate and not supposed to be shifted to various centres. It does affect the life of the machine. Check if such movements can be done.

Installation

This should be done from the company representative himself and not by anyone else. During the time of installation, check if the laser room has adequate air conditioning, space for movement and other requirements &#; ask him to specify that this is done. A satisfactory installation report should be sought and kept.

Training and certificate for training

Hands on training is to be provided to the doctor and staff regarding usage, safety and maintenance of the laser. Some lasers need some optics to be cleaned periodically, de-ionised/distilled water to be topped up and filters to be cleaned or replaced. These have to be understood and learnt by the doctor and staff handling the system. After training, insist on a certificate of hands on training issued in the names of all staff who may handle it.

IEC code

• The contract of purchase always should be under the IEC (Import export code) code (of the doctor)

Serial number

• Before the purchase, a doctor should communicate with the parent organisation via or regarding the serial number of the device and the date of manufacture.

• The serial number on the machine at the time of purchase should be noted and mentioned on purchase bill. At the time of taking insurance this number should be mentioned on insurance form.

• The serial number of hand piece should also be noted and mentioned separately on purchase bill. In case hand piece needs replacement, it has to be proved that it was bought with laser.

• The manufacturing date of both laser machine as well as hand piece have to be noted separately.

• It is a good idea to click a picture of serial number of the device upon installation.

Service report and spares

• Ensure that the service engineer gives a service report after each visit signed by him with comments of the performance of the system.

• It is recommended to know the cost of spare parts from the parent organisation, well in advance; this is helpful for the future course of action.

Annual maintenance contract (AMC)

• Clinician must take the LMC (labor maintenance contract which is generally 5%-7% of the invoice value, only for servicing) or AMC (annual maintenance contract, which is generally 22% of the invoice value, includes all parts and maintenance), after the warranty period is over. The figures stated above are to give a rough idea and can vary.

• AMC is also essential for insurance purpose.

Insurance

• Insurance coverage is a must following installation of the device.

• Electronic insurance for the system-that covers all the parts and electronics of the device. Many insurance companies offer electronic insurance that may be cheaper than the AMC offered by the laser companies after the warranty period is over. While taking insurance it is important to specify which parts are covered and mention it in the policy.

• Fire and burglary insurance and insurance for mobility from one clinic to another also needs to be done.

Installation report

Always insist on the installation report, mentioning all details, regarding the device number, hand probe number if any, make/model number, installation date, warranty period, instructions regarding the electricity provision/UPS for the system. It is better to have an on-line uninterrupted power supply for safety and uninterrupted lasing during a procedure.[10]

Upgrade options

• Local partner of the parent company must keep updating the doctor about the road-map of the parent organisation and updates related to the products or devices.

Break down

• In case of a break down, the company should attend to the call within 48 hours or in case of delay in repair, should provide a stand by unit till the repair is done. This should be again mentioned in writing in the laser purchase contract.

Calibration

• Get the machine calibrated at regular intervals to ensure sufficient output.

Pre-owned machines/Used machines

As a good number of new lasers are being sold, it is inevitable that many lasers will end up in the used lasers market. Often, a machine which has been under demonstration use by the company may also be supplied. Some tips regarding the purchase of pre-owned systems are summarised below.

1. Cross-check with the original dealer if they are willing to service it upon purchase.

2. Typically the 1 year warranty most systems come with is void if the laser is sold to another person as this warranty is non-transferable. The new buyer may have to pay a &#;recertification fee&#; to the manufacturer in order for the distributor to service it in future and offer additional warranty.

3. Check the shot count, previous service reports, age of the system and availability of spares.

4. Insure the system during transport to avoid damages that may occur during transport.

5. A good website for checking prices of used medical devices is www.dotmed.com

   • While buying a used system, ensure that the laser safety eye glasses and corneal shields are also provided and that they are in good condition.

   • User Manuals: Always insist on the original user manual.

   • User video: Videos taken by the original owner while performing treatments gives a good insight into the system performance and technique.

   • How to identify if the machine supplied is new and not perused? It is possible to identify if the supplied machine is new or used by contacting the manufacturer and requesting this information by providing the model and serial number.

A check list for signing a contract is shown in text box below. The exact format will vary according to the system, the company, the cost and payment terms and conditions.

To summarise, some important points to consider while purchasing a laser system are shown in text box:

A model contract can be found in annexure 1 online

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