Laser hair removal is often marketed as a low-risk cosmetic procedure, but when carried out incorrectly, it can cause severe—sometimes permanent—injuries. Burns, nerve damage, and skin discoloration from cosmetic lasers can occur when untrained or unsupervised technicians perform what is legally considered a medical procedure. State law requires that only licensed medical professionals may use lasers for hair removal.

If an unqualified person carried out your treatment and caused you harm, you may have grounds for a negligence lawsuit. A Modesto laser hair removal burn lawyer at Curtis Legal Group could advise you on your rights. Our burn injury attorneys are experienced in strongly advocating for the financial compensation you deserve.

What Are the Limits of Informed Consent?

Many medical spas and salons require you to sign a waiver before undergoing treatment. These documents often reference known risks such as redness, swelling, or temporary sensitivity. However, as our attorneys could explain in detail, state law prevents a signed consent form from protecting a Modesto laser hair removal provider from liability when their negligence or illegal conduct caused you thermal injuries.

You cannot consent to being treated by an unlicensed person, nor can you waive your right to safe and competent care. For example, if the person operating the laser was not a physician, nurse practitioner, or registered nurse under proper physician supervision, your procedure was unlawful under California Business and Professions Code § 2052.

Laser Burn Injuries Often Involve Negligence

Blistering, severe burns, or permanent pigmentation changes are strong evidence that your provider did not perform your laser procedure correctly. Common causes of injury include:

  • Using the wrong wavelength for your skin tone
  • Failing to test a small area before full treatment
  • Not adjusting the settings for sensitive areas of the body

Our Modesto lawyers could work with dermatologists and other experts to document how your laser hair removal burn injury occurred and which industry standards were violated.

Professional Certifications and Licensing Requirements

Laser hair removal is classified as a medical procedure and must be performed by a licensed physician or a medical professional working under their supervision. This includes nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and registered nurses. Licensed vocational nurses may also perform laser treatments, but only under direct physician supervision. Even professionally licensed estheticians and cosmetologists cannot legally perform laser hair removal.

Facilities that advertise medical spa services must have a physician medical director who is legally responsible for overseeing procedures, staff training, and compliance. If a Modesto cosmetic laser technician lacked the correct license or worked without medical oversight, our lawyer could investigate and use this evidence to strengthen your thermal injury case.

How To Document Scarring, Skin Discoloration, or Nerve Damage

In the days and weeks following a laser burn, take daily photos of the affected area, starting on the day of the procedure. Seek medical care at a licensed dermatology clinic or hospital.

Do not rely on the medical spa that injured you to evaluate or treat your injuries. Your medical records should describe any experienced blistering, permanent discoloration, or pain consistent with nerve damage. Retain all discharge summaries, prescriptions, and specialist referrals. If your injury results in permanent scarring or requires revision procedures, ask a board-certified plastic surgeon for a written prognosis. Your lawyer could use these records to calculate damages for your insurance claim or lawsuit in your Modesto laser hair removal burn case.

Contact a Lawyer About Your Laser Hair Removal Burn Injuries in Modesto

Here at Curtis Legal Group, we have extensive experience handling medical and cosmetic injury lawsuits. We bring more than seven decades of litigation experience to every case. Call us today to schedule a free case review with a Modesto laser hair removal burn lawyer.