Looking at getting laser hair removal on chest, abs, back, shoulders and underarms. I am a type III with dark course hair. The IPL is a package of 5 for $2662 and free treatments for the remaining 12 months. The Candela is $4275 which is considerably more and has no free treatments after the package of 5 (follow up treatments at a reduced rate if needed.) The IPL seems like a better deal but I am concerned if it will do as good a job as the Candela as I have read posts that state IPL doesn't do as good a job in the long run. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Scott, bear in mind the following: LASER hair removal is FDA Approved 90-95% hair reduction. IPL hair removal is FDA Approved 30% hair reduction. Also bear in mind that Lasers generally cost vastly more than IPL's do but smart owners will pay more for Lasers so their clients won't have to keep coming back ad nauseatum like you have to with IPL's. I first considered an IPL (It was much cheaper) but when I learned it was a paltry 30% hair reduction I said forget it. You get what you pay for Scott so it's up to you, what you want. 90-95% hair reduction or 30%. Hope this helps.

Dear CME: Regarding comments about "FDA approval"--

1. No devices are given an "approval" by FDA. If you can establish that your device is "sunstantially equivalent" to other legally marketed devices ("predicates") you can receive a 510(k) marketing clearance from the FDA whichj gives you a "number".

2. I do not know where you got the percentage numbers (i.e., 90%, etc.) you are talking about. The marketing clearances generally allow you to claim that your device provides "permanent hair REDUCTION" which is defined somewhere in the FDA database. This is NOT the same as permanent hair REMOVAL which the FDA has never allowed as a legal claim.

3. I have never seen that FDA has given different percentages for laser vs. IPL. I have no idea where you came up with this. I HAVE seen a published study which compared - in a side by side study- one of the leading lasers vs. one of the leading IPLs and the percentages of reduction were virtually identical. Keep in mind the fact that IPLs on the market range from excellent in quality to complete garbage. You will find this out the first day you use it.

med spa guy, you seem to know from experience about various laser and ipl equipments. What are your recommendations for equipments as far as efficacy and cost per treatment are concerned and of course the results? For a beginner there are so many claims and promises, that everything is getting confusing. Thanks for your help.

Finmd: Your question is a little bit like asking someone what kind of automobile you should buy. I like to ask four basic questions when this comes up --

1. What services (treatments) do you want to offer?
2. How many treatment rooms do you want to dedicate to (non surgical) aesthetics?
3. How many staff members are you willing to dedicate to this endeavor?
4. What is your budget for equipment and your first year monthly operating costs?

If you can answer these basic questions I can help provide some guidance. Feel free to send me an e-mail.

med spa guy,

do you have a link to the IPL vs laser study?

Thanks