Protecting patients, guiding clinics: Laser risks and regulation with Dr Samantha Hills

In this episode of the Aesthetics Business Cast, Vicky Eldridge and Eddie Hooker are joined by Dr Samantha Hills, Clinical Director at Lynton and Honorary Lecturer at the University of Manchester. With more than two decades in laser safety, education and research, Sam is a faculty member for the British Medical Laser Association, a registered laser protection adviser, and has contributed extensively to laser education through publications, university teaching and practitioner training. Laser and IPL treatments have become a cornerstone of aesthetic practice, but with opportunity comes real responsibility. In this conversation, Sam unpacks why laser safety is about competence rather than compliance, and what clinics can do to build safer, more confident laser services. In this episode, Dr Sam discusses: - How the laser industry has changed over the last 30 years and where the biggest gaps in practitioner knowledge lie - Why insurance companies are effectively regulating the sector at the moment, and what needs to change - The three types of training every laser practitioner should have: treatment specific, system specific and core of knowledge - The most common adverse events, from burns and blistering to pigmentation changes and rare but catastrophic eye injuries - Why consultations and patch testing are the most important safety tools a practitioner has - Plume inhalation, trailing wires and the "other" laser risks people forget about - The reality of tattoo removal, coloured inks and why lip liner is often best left alone - What the incoming licensing regime is likely to mean for clinics, and why proportionate regulation matters - Safeguarding and chaperoning considerations for intimate area treatments - Pain-free treatments, prejuvenation and the shift towards combination protocols - Why CE marked medical devices and proper machine servicing matter for both safety and insurance A must-listen for any clinic owner or practitioner offering laser or IPL treatments, or considering adding them to their portfolio. For more laser related content, guides and podcast episodes, visit the Hamilton Fraser Content Hub.