Laser Hair Removal: A Medical Procedure Reserved for Physicians

In a ruling issued on March 31, 2013, the French Conseil d’État reaffirmed that the use of medical lasers, including flash lamps and pulsed light devices, is strictly reserved for licensed medical doctors. Non-physicians are only permitted to perform hair removal using manual methods such as waxing or tweezing.

This legal clarification stands in direct opposition to the practices of many “low-cost” laser centers, where unqualified staff regularly perform laser hair removal treatments. Despite the ruling, numerous establishments continue to operate illegally, and some have even been administratively shut down by the regional health authorities.

We strongly support this decision, which reasserts that laser hair removal is a medical procedure, requiring proper diagnosis, clear indications, and awareness of potential contraindications. It also formally prohibits beauty salons from using flash lamps or similar devices without medical oversight.

Medical lasers and pulsed light systems are powerful technologies capable of causing burns or long-term damage, particularly for individuals with darker skin tones. For this reason, they must be used with medical precision and expertise.

While the delegation of these procedures may seem appealing due to their repetitive nature, French law currently allows only state-certified nurses or radiology technicians to assist physicians in performing them. Unlike the United States, where certified laser technician training programs exist, France has no such recognized qualification at this time.This ruling is a step forward in ensuring patient safety and medical accountability in aesthetic care.