The Importance of Device Maintenance for Skin & Aesthetic Clinics

When you integrate new technologies, devices and applicators into your practice, they’re a significant investment both in terms of initial financial commitment and the time spent on training. Maintaining your devices is important for a number of reasons, spanning patient comfort and safety, treatment efficacy, and maximising your return on investment by extending the lifespan of the technologies you use. 

Whether you’re in the early stages of looking for new technologies to integrate and want to understand the commitment they require, or are an existing provider, discover how to maintain your equipment so you can continue giving the most comfortable treatments and best results for years to come. 

What is Device Maintenance?

Our suite of devices and technologies is broad, spanning topical radiofrequency, minimally invasive options like RF microneedling, EMS for muscle support and light-based technologies for hair removal and photorejuvenation. Each device will require unique care, in the same way that each treatment requires a unique process to deliver to your patients. 

General, preventative device maintenance includes inspection of all electrical parts, the individual devices themselves, when you have a workstation like Optimas Max or IgniteRF, along with ensuring any single-use pieces like microneedle attachment tips are properly installed. 

Any technician undertaking such maintenance will also need to properly document all procedures taken to maintain devices according to relevant laws and regulations. Knowing the local regulations in your state or region is important and must be followed comprehensively, both for your patient’s safety and your clinic’s compliance. 

While preventative maintenance is important, issues can occur during or after treatments. InMode’s technologies come with comprehensive training and safety measures built in, but corrective maintenance may be required if an issue arises during or after a treatment. While corrective maintenance does have its place, clinics shouldn't rely on it as it can be expensive and affect patient waitlist times. 

Overall, proper aesthetic device maintenance is essential for smooth operation and high efficiency in medical practices that intend to offer aesthetic treatments.

Risks of Improper Use & Maintenance

Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of your clients. With that in mind, it's a good idea to briefly discuss the risks of improper device use. 

Permanent Damage to Patients 

As an aesthetic services practitioner, the last thing you want is to cause damage or harm to your patients. 

Our devices are designed to operate in a very specific manner. While they’re non-invasive and minimally invasive by design, you’re still dealing with delicate tissues, and many are doctors’ only applicators that require medical training and training from InMode. Failure to adhere to instructions can result in damage. Morpheus8, for example, should be used to conduct face and body contouring through fat remodelling. Selecting the correct attachment tip is essential, along with the speed and depth at which the skin is treated. 

Improper use or using a device when it hasn't been through appropriate maintenance can result in treatment that damages patients. 

Fire or Safety Hazard

A lack of preventative maintenance around aesthetic machines can be a major hazard, as it can result in unexpected fires. Regular servicing should be carried out to ensure all electrical components are working safely and efficiently. 

Basic cleaning and maintenance includes regularly wiping the devices or multiplatforms down to remove dust, along with lubricating mechanical parts, and monitoring temperature levels. They take very little time to do, but significantly increase the safety of your technologies while also reducing the chances of a fire occurring. Aesthetic services providers should also periodically check their fire safety systems to ensure they operate as expected. 

In an industry where even the slightest malfunction can have dire consequences, preventive maintenance for medical equipment is essential for promoting patient safety and well-being.

Injury to Staff or Patients if the Machine Breaks

Maintaining aesthetic devices is essential for clinical operations and ensuring patient safety. A lack of maintenance can cause machines to malfunction or break, leading to injury to both staff and patients. 

In addition to the immediate risk of injury, a broken workstation can consume additional resources as clinicians work to fix the device or replace it with a functional one, often resulting in costly delays in delivery. Along with being a negative for patients, it can impact your reputation and result in treatment delays while you wait for either replacement parts or a new replacement device. 

It is, therefore, critical for clinical teams to provide regular preventive maintenance and follow reliable best practices for machinery care. Such attention will ensure better equipment performance, minimise equipment downtime and make sure that patient safety is not compromised.

How to Take Care of Your InMode Devices & Machines

Taking care of your InMode devices and workstations is essential for achieving long-term clinical performance. Here are a few practical tips to help you keep them functioning at an optimal level:  

• Make sure that your machines receive regular maintenance from a qualified service technician. We recommend getting them serviced periodically, depending on the nature of the device. Once a year on average is a good metric to work by. 

• Check user guides before starting a new device and follow all safety instructions. When you’re an InMode provider, we’ll give you comprehensive training to ensure you’re delivering the safest treatments possible, while also ensuring optimal results for your patients. 

• Be careful not to overload any machine beyond the recommended capacity — this may cause serious damage. 

Keep all devices clean and dust-free by wiping down surfaces with approved cleaning products as per the manufacturer's guidelines.

Following these basic steps can go a long way towards keeping your InMode devices and machines in optimal condition. Each device and workstation will have slightly different requirements. When you’re an InMode provider, we offer comprehensive training and ongoing support. If you have questions regarding any of our technologies or want to learn the current best practices for device maintenance, we’re here to help. Please contact our team at any stage, and we’ll give you personalised information and updated training. 

Contact InMode for Medical Aesthetic Devices

Device maintenance is one of the most important aspects of running an aesthetic clinic. Whether you offer anti-ageing treatments or laser hair removal, understanding your responsibilities when it comes to device maintenance should be a top priority.

If you have specific questions about technologies you currently use, or you’re interested in becoming an InMode provider, enquire online today.