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Anchor:
Now an I-Team investigation. What's the top non-surgical cosmetic procedure for young people? If you guessed laser surgery, you guessed right.

But in the wrong hands lasers can be dangerous.

The I-Team's Roberta Baskin has been investigating the company that claims to be the largest laser hair removal provider and finds it's not always a pretty picture.

Roberta Baskin:
There's a patchwork quilt of safety rules across the country for training and proper supervision of lasers. But in Virginia, no credentials are needed. Anyone at all can wield a laser. So if you're on the other end. It's buyer beware.

Story:
"I'm permanently scarred, I don't know what else to say. I'm going to cry,"

When this Alexandria (web | news) pediatrician, we'll call her 'Jenna' searched the internet for hair removal treatments up popped Laser Perfect. The company looked reputable with offices scattered across the country and assurances that only "certified experienced medical professionals" perform treatments. Jenna invested in more than $1,200 in laser hair removal.

"It wasn't until I left the office and started walking and the sun's hitting it and it's really stinging," said Jenna.

As the pain grew worse blisters erupted.

"Oh my gosh I have second degree burns all over my legs," said Jenna.

Laser Perfect customers across the country have complained about botched results. It turns out the technician that treated Jenna was no medical professional at all, but an accountant.

"People would look and say, 'What happened to you?' said Jenna.

Jenna says she repeatedly called the office to ask for her money back on the remaining treatments - which she no longer wanted - even supplying photographs of her burns and scarring.

"Finally I got a response and the response was, 'this is non-refundable for any reason. Please call our office to schedule further appointments'" said Jenna.

"Charge their credit card immediately and get them locked in, said Brenda Price.

Price is the former office manager for Laser Perfect in Virginia. She told us it was standard practice to ignore complaints.

"When we'd receive a complaint we had code names. If they asked for certain names, Samantha, Francesca which was myself, Audrey, Dave, Dave is Dr. Segev. We knew to blow them off," said Price.

Dr. Gilead Segev, founder and medical director of Laser Perfect, wouldn't answer our calls either. So we went to his main office in the Fairfax County (web | news) Chamber of Commerce Building.

Roberta Baskin: "Dr. Segev, I'd like to talk to you when you're off the phone."

Laser Perfect

Dr. Eliot Battle, Jr.

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He continued to avoid any questions. His online credentials boast an accreditation by the "Laser Training Organization of America." No such organization exists. It says he recently was awarded the American College of Physicians Research Award which the organization says is misleading and has asked him to correct. And it says he served as Chapter President of the American Medical Association. The AMA says they have no chapter presidents.

We recommended Jenna see Dr. Elliot Battle, a dermatologist and authority in laser treatments for people of color.

"We are seeing so much of this lately," said Battle. "This example of side effects of lasers has become so commonplace that I spend more time apologizing for my field than actually treating patients."

Dr. Battle says many businesses choose states with loose regulations to set up laser practices and Virginia is a case in point.

"There's a difference between the Hippocratic oath and the business oath. The Hippocratic oath says do no harm. The business oath says make money," said Battle.

The Virginia Department of Health Professions Board of Medicine is looking into laser perfect. A few years ago, a bill was introduced in Virginia to require proper training. it didn't pass.

Anyone at all can buy a laser and set up shop tomorrow. Which means it's up to the consumer to check out the technician's experience and credentials beforehand.

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