LASERS FOR LEASE

If Botox parties are the behind-closed-doors rage, can laser-surgery parties be far behind? Entrepreneurial doctors — and rapid growth in cosmetic procedures — are fueling a trend toward laser-equipment rental.

MDs from gynecologists to psychiatrists are using rented equipment to offer removal of hair, wrinkles, stretch marks, and spider veins. Sometimes these doctors are trained and serious about cosmetic laser surgery, but simply want to avoid ownership of expensive equipment. Others could be cashing in on a hot, high-dollar wave of demand.

Dr. David J. Goldberg, director of laser research at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, says rental vans actually cart the machines from office to office, potentially jarring delicate equipment. So whether you’re a doctor looking for additional cash flow or a patient wanting to lose a prominent scar, ask lots of questions before you sign on the dotted line.