If you run a clinic or salon, your laser or IPL machine earns your living. It is also easy to forget about until it stops working. So how often does it actually need a service?
The short answer
It depends on the device. Equipment suppliers such as Lynton say IPL systems usually need one service a year, while most lasers need two or three. Very high-precision lasers can need servicing far more often. The honest answer for your machine is in the manufacturer’s guidance, so check that first and treat anything we say here as a general guide.
What a proper service should cover
- Output test and calibration: is the machine delivering what the screen says it is?
- Cooling system: fluid, filters, pump and any leaks.
- Safety checks: interlocks, emergency stop, footswitch and warning indicators.
- Electrical safety: a PAT test of the machine and its leads.
- Optics and handpiece: dust and debris can damage coatings on lenses and mirrors over time, so they need checking.
Why bother?
Three reasons come up again and again.
- Results and safety. A machine that has drifted out of calibration can under- or over-deliver, which is bad for clients and for your reputation.
- Insurance. Keeping servicing up to date helps keep cover valid. Check your own policy wording, because it is the insurer who decides.
- Cost. Small problems caught early are usually cheaper than a breakdown with a diary full of bookings.
Make it painless
Book your service in a quiet week, not when you are already booked solid. Keep the service certificate with your treatment records. And if you run more than one machine, have them done in the same visit, which saves time and money.
Our servicing and safety checks cover all of the above, with a written report after every visit. Prices are on the price guide, and we quote each job before we start.
Sources: Lynton, equipment servicing guidance. Always follow your manufacturer’s recommendations.
