A cheap laser service could ultimately cost your clinic thousands of pounds — and potentially put your clients at risk.
Professional aesthetic and medical lasers need regular servicing to ensure they're operating safely, effectively and at the output displayed on the machine. But not all laser servicing is equal.
A technician giving your machine a quick inspection isn't necessarily providing a proper laser service. One of the most important parts of servicing is checking and recalibrating the laser's energy output, and this requires specialist equipment, knowledge and access to the correct manufacturer protocols.
So, how often should a laser machine be serviced? What should the service actually include? Can an independent laser engineer service your machine? And how much should a professional laser service cost?
Here's what clinic owners need to know.
Why Do Laser Machines Need Servicing?
One of the most important reasons for servicing a laser is to ensure that the energy displayed on the machine matches the energy actually being delivered.
For example, if you select 10 joules on the machine, you need confidence that the laser is actually delivering the correct output.
If the true output is too high, there could be an increased safety risk.
If the output is too low, treatments may not deliver the intended therapeutic effect.
During a proper laser service, the machine's calibration should therefore be checked and, where necessary, recalibrated so that the displayed settings correspond correctly with the laser's actual output.
This helps ensure treatments remain both safe and effective.
How Often Should a Laser Machine Be Serviced?
As a general rule, a professional laser machine should be serviced at least once every 12 months.
Some particularly high-specification systems may require additional servicing at shorter intervals, such as a smaller six-month service, but annual servicing is typical for most professional aesthetic laser systems.
A useful comparison is your car's MOT.
You don't decide whether your car needs an MOT based purely on how many miles you've driven. It's required at regular intervals.
Laser servicing should be viewed in a similar way.
Even if your laser hasn't been used heavily during the previous year, that doesn't mean its annual service should be skipped.
What Should a Professional Laser Service Include?
The exact service requirements will vary according to the technology and manufacturer, but a thorough laser service should typically include inspection, maintenance, safety checks and — critically — calibration.
Depending on the machine, this may include:
- Checking electrical and mechanical connection points
- Inspecting components for wear and tear
- Replacing appropriate consumable parts
- Checking the cooling system
- Checking cooling performance and temperatures
- Inspecting and replacing cooling-system filters where required
- Checking laser alignment on systems where alignment is necessary
- Testing the emergency stop and other safety features
- Inspecting the overall physical integrity of the machine
- Measuring the laser's actual energy output
- Recalibrating the machine where required
The technician should then provide a full service report documenting the work and checks completed.
This gives the clinic a record that can be retained within its health and safety documentation and, where appropriate, provided to its insurance company.
Why Is Laser Calibration So Important?
Calibration is arguably the most important part of a professional laser service.
The purpose is to establish whether the energy selected on the machine corresponds with the energy actually being produced.
If the screen displays 10 joules, for example, you need to know that the output has been checked and is within the correct parameters.
Importantly, checking laser output requires specialist measurement equipment.
Laser sensors aren't necessarily one-size-fits-all. Appropriate equipment must be used for the particular type of laser being measured, and the measurement equipment itself also needs to be properly maintained and calibrated.
Professional laser calibration equipment can cost more than £10,000 for servicing a particular type of machine, before considering the ongoing cost of maintaining and calibrating the test equipment itself.
This is one reason a genuine laser service involves considerably more than simply opening the machine, checking a few components and cleaning it.
What Happens If You Don't Service Your Laser?
Skipping your laser's annual service can create several risks for your clinic.
Insurance problems
Your insurer may require evidence that the equipment has been appropriately maintained and serviced.
If you make a claim involving a laser that hasn't been serviced according to the required schedule, this could create serious problems with the claim.
Client safety
If the machine's output has drifted and the laser is delivering more energy than expected, clients could potentially be exposed to unsafe treatment parameters.
Poor treatment results
Calibration can drift in the opposite direction too.
If the machine is producing less energy than its settings suggest, you may be delivering treatments below the intended therapeutic output.
This could contribute to disappointing results and dissatisfied clients.
Warranty issues
Laser warranties are commonly subject to servicing and maintenance requirements.
Failing to have the equipment serviced according to the manufacturer's or supplier's requirements could therefore affect your warranty.
Reduced performance and lifespan
Regular servicing also provides an opportunity to identify worn components, cooling issues and other developing problems before they become larger faults.
Proper maintenance can therefore help preserve both the performance and lifespan of the equipment.
Can an Independent Laser Technician Service My Machine?
This is where clinic owners need to be particularly careful.
The most important question isn't simply whether somebody describes themselves as a laser engineer.
The question is:
Can they actually service and recalibrate your particular laser according to the correct protocols?
Recalibration typically requires access to the password-protected backend of the machine's software.
The technician also needs access to the correct calibration procedure for that particular machine.
Without the required software access and calibration protocol, they will be unable to properly recalibrate the laser.
That creates a situation where somebody may be able to inspect or work on parts of the machine without actually being able to complete one of the most important elements of the service.
No calibration, no service, no insurance.
Why Might Laser Calibration Settings Be Password Protected?
Manufacturers and laser suppliers commonly restrict access to engineering settings because incorrect adjustments could affect the machine's output and safety.
Giving unrestricted access to somebody who isn't appropriately trained to work on that particular machine could potentially result in settings being altered incorrectly.
This could lead to energy levels becoming too high, too low or otherwise outside the manufacturer's intended parameters.
There is also a liability issue.
A laser supplier can't necessarily verify the qualifications, competency or insurance of every independent engineer who asks for access to its engineering software and protocols.
Restricting access therefore helps protect the clinic, the laser supplier and — most importantly — the clients being treated with the equipment.
The Problem With a "Calibration Chart"
In my work as a Laser Protection Advisor, I've encountered an example that demonstrates why this distinction matters.
Rather than actually recalibrating a machine so that its displayed settings corresponded with its real output, an engineer provided the clinic with a calibration chart.
The clinic was essentially expected to compensate manually.
For example, the machine might display 10 joules while actually producing 5 joules. Another setting might display 30 joules but actually produce 45.
Instead of correcting the calibration, the clinic would need to refer to a chart every time it selected a treatment parameter.
Think about your car's speedometer.
When it says you're travelling at 30mph, you expect to be travelling at approximately 30mph.
Imagine instead being given a chart telling you:
"When the speedometer says 20mph, you're actually travelling at 30mph. When it says 40mph, you're actually travelling at 20mph."
You wouldn't consider the speedometer properly calibrated.
The same principle applies to a laser.
Identifying that a laser is incorrectly calibrated isn't the same as recalibrating it.
For a clinic relying on accurate treatment parameters, that's an important distinction.
What About Non-Genuine Laser Parts?
Another consideration when choosing somebody to service your laser is the replacement parts being used.
If components aren't approved for the particular machine, there is a risk of:
- Reduced machine performance
- Increased faults
- Compatibility problems
- Potential safety issues
And if the machine subsequently has to be inspected, recalibrated or repaired by the original supplier anyway, the attempt to save money can become considerably more expensive.
It's the classic case of buy cheap, buy twice.
How Much Should a Laser Machine Service Cost?
A professional laser service isn't cheap because there are significant costs involved in providing it correctly.
These include:
- Engineer travel and time
- Technical expertise
- Specialist laser measurement equipment
- Calibration and maintenance of that test equipment
- Replacement filters and other service components
- Access to the appropriate technical protocols
- Business overheads required to maintain an ongoing technical support operation
As a ballpark figure, you should expect a proper professional laser service to cost approximately £700–£1,000.
The exact price will naturally depend on the laser, its location and what's included.
For equipment potentially worth tens of thousands of pounds and responsible for generating significant revenue for your clinic, servicing should be considered part of the cost of properly maintaining that investment.
Should a Laser Engineer Come to Your Clinic?
Where practical, your laser supplier's engineer should be able to service the machine at your clinic.
Being asked to transport a large, expensive laser back to a supplier simply for routine servicing should raise questions about the level of technical support being offered.
On-site servicing reduces disruption and means the machine can be assessed in the environment where it's actually being operated.
When purchasing a laser, it's therefore worth asking about servicing arrangements before committing to the equipment — rather than discovering your options 12 months later when the first service becomes due.
Why Using Your Laser Supplier Matters
Think about servicing an expensive laser in the same way you might approach servicing a high-performance car.
If you owned a Ferrari, would you rather have it maintained by technicians who know that particular vehicle, have access to the appropriate diagnostic systems and follow the correct procedures — or simply choose whoever offers the lowest price?
Professional laser equipment deserves the same consideration.
Your laser supplier should understand the machine, have access to its technical protocols and engineering software, use the appropriate calibration equipment and know how to return the system to its correct operating condition.
The cheapest quote therefore isn't necessarily the cheapest option in the long run.
What Should You Ask Before Booking a Laser Service?
Before allowing somebody to service your equipment, consider asking:
Will you check and recalibrate the laser's actual energy output?
Do you have access to the correct engineering software and manufacturer-approved calibration procedure for this machine?
What equipment will you use to measure the laser output?
Is your calibration equipment itself appropriately maintained and calibrated?
Will genuine or approved replacement parts be used?
Will I receive a full service report afterwards?
Are you appropriately qualified and insured to work on this specific laser?
If those questions can't be answered confidently, saving a few hundred pounds on the initial service may not be worth the risk.
The Bottom Line: Don't Choose Laser Servicing on Price Alone
The true cost of a cheap laser service can be considerably higher than the figure on the invoice.
If a service doesn't include proper output measurement and recalibration, uses unsuitable components, or isn't carried out according to the appropriate protocols, you could ultimately need to pay for the machine to be serviced again.
More importantly, incorrect laser output can potentially affect treatment safety and effectiveness.
Protect your clients, protect your equipment and protect your investment by making sure your laser is serviced regularly by technicians who can properly service and recalibrate that particular machine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Laser Servicing
How often should a laser machine be serviced?
Professional aesthetic and medical laser machines will typically require servicing at least once every 12 months. Some systems may require more frequent maintenance, depending on their specification and manufacturer requirements.
What does a laser service include?
A professional laser service may include inspection of connection points and components, cooling-system maintenance, filter replacement, safety checks, alignment where applicable, output measurement and recalibration. You should also receive a service report documenting the work completed.
Does a laser need servicing if it hasn't been used much?
Yes. Annual servicing isn't simply based on the number of treatments you've performed. Even a lightly used laser should be serviced according to the required service schedule.
Why does a laser need recalibrating?
Calibration checks whether the energy selected on the machine corresponds with the energy actually being delivered. Correct calibration is important for maintaining safe and effective treatment parameters.
Can any laser engineer service my machine?
Proper recalibration may require specialist measurement equipment, access to password-protected engineering settings and the appropriate calibration protocol for that particular machine. Always use engineers from your original laser supplier.
How much does a professional laser service cost?
As a general ballpark figure, a professional laser service may cost approximately £700–£1,000, although the exact cost depends on the equipment, location and work required.
Should I use an independent laser engineer?
No. It is extremely unlikely that they will have access to the necessary engineering settings and protocols for recalibration from the supplier. They also won't have access to software passwords or genuine replacement parts. An 'independent laser engineer' is more likely to cost you your warranty and insurance than actually save you money.
What should I receive after my laser has been serviced?
You should receive a service report documenting the relevant checks, maintenance and calibration carried out. Keep this with your clinic's equipment and health and safety records.
About the Author
Rob Knowles is a qualified Biomedical Engineer with over a decade of direct experience in medical laser technology. He is a certified Laser Protection Advisor (LPA) and serves as General Secretary of the Association of Laser Safety Professionals — one of only two professional LPA groups officially recognised by the MHRA in the UK.
From medical physics to aesthetic clinical application, Rob understands laser technology at every level — from the atom to the aesthetician.
