LightSpeed Training’s “Laser Library”

Lasertrolysis of Naples is a promotional site run by a Florida-based team that offers training for laser hair removal practitioners.

The two main employees Wally Roberts and Alison Sahoo, have been involved in promoting and selling lasers for years. Sahoo’s dad used to run Palomar Medical Technologies, and she was their corporate promoter until her dad was ousted from the company. Sahoo has a history of overexaggerating laser efficacy for hair removal, especially the lasers she is promoting at any given time. Roberts trademarked the misleading marketing term “lasertrolysis” and had taken money from laser manufacturers to promote the use of the devices by non-physicians.

The most troubling section of their website is their “Laser Library.”

lasertraining.com/med-art.htm

This area has some useful and unique hair removal information, but many of the “medical papers” on laser hair removal are simply promotional materials from laser manufacturers and practitioners, or trade publication articles.

I sort out what’s what below. Only 7 of the 50-plus items presented are actual published clinical data. In fact, most of the information is promotional material supplied by Sahoo’s former employer Palomar or by others associated with laser manufacturers.

This section has a tiny Photo Gallery, but there have been no updates to the photos since 1999. Photos are also poorly described and have no long-term follow-up.

lightspeed-electrology.com/photo/

Below is my analysis of the 50 articles in this “laser library,” in the order presented on their website. The column on the left opens the original article. The Recommended Reading column will give you a more accurate view of published clinical results for that method of hair removal.

Author (date) Credentials Manufacturer affiliation Article type Recommended reading Comments
Klavuhn (2001) Ph.D. Coherent promotional material Laser overview
Klavuhn (2001) Ph.D. Coherent promotional material Laser overview
Anderson (2000) M.D. Palomar/Coherent promotional material Laser overview
Battle (2000) M.D. Palomar/Coherent promotional material Diode laser
Campos (2000) M.D. Palomar/Coherent promotional material Laser overview
Klavuhn (2000) Ph.D. Coherent promotional material Laser overview
Klavuhn (2000) Ph.D. Coherent promotional material Laser overview
Spertell (1999) researcher Microwave Medical promotional material Microwave
Sadick (1999) M.D. published Flash lamp
Bencini (1999) M.D. published Nd:YAG laser
Kilmer (1999) M.D. Altus Medical promotional material Nd:YAG laser see kilmer 97
Adrian (1999) M.D. Coherent Star not peer-reviewed Diode laser
Dierickx (1999) M.D. (no longer available) web article Laser overview
Pope (1999) researcher Candela promotional material Laser overview
xxx (1999) trade article Laser overview
xxx (1999) trade article Ruby laser
Dierickx (1999) M.D. Palomar published Diode laser
Dierickx (1999) M.D. Palomar published Ruby laser
Reiss (1999) journalist MGH (Coherent) trade article Laser overview
Sahoo (1999) marketer Microwave Medical promotional material Microwave
[uncredited] (1999) manufacturer Palomar promotional material Ruby laser
[uncredited] (1999) manufacturer Cynosure promotional material Alexandrite laser
Tankovich (1999) M.D. Thermolase promotional material Nd:YAG laser
Owens (1998) electrologist web article Laser overview
Tanghetti (1998) M.D. (no longer available) web article Laser overview
Nidecker (1998) journalist trade article Laser overview
Guttman (1998) journalist trade article Laser overview see kilmer comp
Perricone (1998) M.D. med. journal suppl. Laser overview
Anderson (1998) M.D. MGH (Palomar) promotional material Laser overview
[uncredited] (1998) marketer Palomar promotional material Ruby laser
Hsia (1998) researcher Candela promotional material Alexandrite laser
Bowser (1998) journalist Microwave Medical trade article Microwave
[uncredited] (1998) marketer (no longer available) promotional website laser clinic list
Raven (1998) researcher Diomed trade article Diode laser
Sahoo (1998) marketer MGH promotional material PDT overview
Finkel (1998) M.D. published Alexandrite laser
Sahoo (1998) marketer ESC (Sharplan) promotional material Ruby laser see lask
Sahoo (1998) marketer ESC promotional material Flash lamp
Sahoo (1998) marketer Mehl/Biophile promotional material Ruby laser see bjerring
Kritzer (1998) marketer Cynosure promotional material Alexandrite laser see connolly 97
Furman (1998) pharmacist beautician newsletter Waxing
[Sarnoff] (1998) M.D. NYU (MGH/Palomar) book advertisement Laser overview
Anderson (1998) M.D. MGH (Palomar/Coherent) promotional material Diode laser see grossman 98
Anderson (1998) M.D. MGH (Palomar) promotional material Ruby laser see dierickx 98
Sahoo (1997) marketer Palomar promotional material Laser overview *
Lancer (1997) M.D. promotional material Lasers and skin see fitzpatrick
Wheeland (1997) M.D. published Laser overview *
[uncredited] (1997) marketer Palomar promotional material Laser overview
Anderson (1997) M.D. MGH (Palomar) promotional material Ruby laser
Anderson (1997) M.D. MGH (Palomar) promotional material Laser overview
Chernoff (1997) M.D. published Laser overview *
Bader (1996) M.D. MGH promotional poster Laser eye safety