CLT Patient Consultation & Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient discloses they are taking isotretinoin (Accutane). What is the appropriate course of action before laser hair removal?
- Proceed but reduce fluence by 25%
- Wait at least 6 months after the last dose before treating (Correct answer)
- Apply extra cooling and treat normally
- Use a longer wavelength to compensate
Correct answer: Wait at least 6 months after the last dose before treating
Isotretinoin increases photosensitivity and impairs wound healing, so laser treatments should be postponed at least 6 months after discontinuation.
Question 2: During intake, a patient reports a history of keloid scarring. How does this affect laser treatment planning?
- It has no effect on laser safety
- It is only relevant for ablative procedures, not laser hair removal
- It represents an increased risk of abnormal scarring and requires informed consent and conservative settings (Correct answer)
- Keloid history is only a contraindication for facial treatments
Correct answer: It represents an increased risk of abnormal scarring and requires informed consent and conservative settings
Patients with keloid history are at greater risk for hypertrophic scarring or keloid formation after any laser procedure, requiring conservative parameters and detailed informed consent.
Question 3: Which question is MOST important to ask when assessing a patient's candidacy for laser tattoo removal?
- Whether the patient has ever had a sunburn
- Whether the tattoo ink colors include greens and blues (Correct answer)
- Whether the patient prefers morning or afternoon appointments
- Whether the patient has ever had acne
Correct answer: Whether the tattoo ink colors include greens and blues
Certain ink colors (especially greens, blues, and purples) are more resistant to standard Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers and significantly affect treatment planning and expected outcomes.
Question 4: A patient with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V presents for laser hair removal. Which additional consultation step is MOST critical?
- Requesting a medical referral for all Type V patients
- Performing a patch test and assessing for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk (Correct answer)
- Advising the patient that laser hair removal is not effective for their skin type
- Scheduling treatments only in winter months
Correct answer: Performing a patch test and assessing for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk
Darker skin types (IV–VI) carry a higher risk of dyspigmentation; a patch test and thorough discussion of PIH risk are essential before full treatment.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of the medical history section of a laser consultation form?
- To determine the patient's insurance coverage
- To identify contraindications, risk factors, and medications that could affect treatment safety (Correct answer)
- To document the patient's aesthetic preferences
- To establish a baseline for billing purposes
Correct answer: To identify contraindications, risk factors, and medications that could affect treatment safety
Medical history identifies conditions, medications, and risk factors that may contraindicate treatment or require parameter adjustments for patient safety.
Question 6: A patient reports a cold sore outbreak two weeks ago and now wants laser resurfacing around the mouth. What should the technician do?
- Treat the area but avoid direct contact with active lesions
- Proceed as planned since the outbreak has resolved
- Recommend antiviral prophylaxis be prescribed by a physician before treatment (Correct answer)
- Use a lower fluence and treat immediately
Correct answer: Recommend antiviral prophylaxis be prescribed by a physician before treatment
A history of HSV-1 (cold sores) requires antiviral prophylaxis before ablative or perioral laser procedures to prevent viral reactivation and potential dissemination.
Question 7: During consultation, the patient states they had a chemical peel performed 10 days ago. What is the safest course of action?
- Proceed with treatment since 10 days is sufficient recovery time
- Postpone laser treatment until the skin has fully healed, typically 4–6 weeks (Correct answer)
- Apply numbing cream and treat at half the normal fluence
- Treat only areas that were not covered by the chemical peel
Correct answer: Postpone laser treatment until the skin has fully healed, typically 4–6 weeks
Skin treated with a chemical peel is sensitized and may not have fully recovered its barrier function; laser treatment should wait until complete healing occurs.
CLT Patient Consultation & Assessment 2
A patient discloses they are taking isotretinoin (Accutane).
What is the appropriate course of action before laser hair removal?