I was recently asked about calibration – what is it and why does it matter?
It’s really quite simple. When you are driving in your car, or bike, or truck, or aircraft, you may need to know your speed, at any given time. So, you look at the speedometer and it gives you a number. Naturally, you assume that it is accurate. But how do you know?
We all simply assume that they are accurate, but why? Well, it’s because we inherently trust that the car manufacturers have installed a properly calibrated speedometer, without realising it.
The speedometer is probably made in a factory somewhere, and will be tested in a calibration device. This device will probably output a series of electrical signals to the speedometer, which simulates the speed of the vehicle.
If the speedometer is made properly, the electrical signal will correspond to a speed, indicated by the dial on the screen.
We don’t see any of this – why should we? We just naturally assume that the speedometer is right – every time!!
But what if it isn’t? What does that mean?
It means that we cannot really know how fast or slowly we are moving, with any real accuracy. You could be speeding and breaking the law, without realising.
And this is the problem with some lasers and IPL systems. If your device is not calibrated, then you cannot possibly know what is actually hitting the skin. If you do not know what you are delivering then how can you be sure of achieving the right results? And how can you adjust your treatment parameters each time a patient/client returns?
To properly calibrate a laser/IPL you need to take a number of measurements using a properly calibrated meter. This is the only way to be sure that your device is doing the job it is meant to.
It is a fact of life that your device’s calibration changes with use. If it is a flashlamp-based device (like most lasers and all IPLs) then the lamp will lose efficiency over time. It is inevitable.
So, if you have your device calibrated today, then you should consider checking it again and again and again. How often you check it depends on how much you use it.
If you are firing many shots every day, then your flashlamp will degrade relatively quickly. You may need to re-calibrate every six months, or so. If you are not so busy, then an annual check-up is probably fine.
The fact is, your calibration is out of date the day after it has been tested!! In essence, the calibration is a ‘snap shot’ of your device’s energy output, at the time of the measurements.
Conclusion
If you have not had your system calibrated within the last 6 to 12 months, you should probably consider doing so, and soon. Otherwise, you cannot know what energies/fluences you are treating with – you just can’t!!
Hope this helps a bit,
Mike.
PS Our next MasterClass will be in London in October. Plus, we are planning to take this show to New York City next March.
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