Does anyone have any experience with the MedliteC6 for problems other than tatoo removal. I was informed that it a great laser for "rejuvenation" of type 4 to 5 skin as it reduces pigmentation, Shrinks pores and ?? does some collagen remodelling.

We use it for Tattoos and Pigment. Not very good for resurfacing. About as good as any other non-ablative technology (not very good).

Good for:

Tattoos
Pigment- 532 Laser Peel and Spot Treatments
Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Acne

Not sure about Hair (no studies that show the reduction lasts).

I would be interested in other opinions

The medlite C6 is the best tattoo removal laser year by year at the Aesthetic Buyers Guide - I think one of the best for the tattoos. The basic knowledge: the Medlite is a Q-switched laser to destroy the pigments in the dermis by thermo-acoustic affect - not photothermolysis.
I think the Q-switched lasers not useful for rejuvenation or hair removal.

For the non-ablative rejuvenation You have to use longer pulsewidth 0,5msec - 50msec (non q-switched lasers).

Best choice: 1064nm (Cynosure Elite or Acclaim, Sciton Clearscan); 1320nm (Sciton Thermascan); 1440nm (Cynosure Affirm); combination of 1320 & 1440nm (Cynosure Affirm MPX); broad infrared spectrum (Sciton BBL-ST) - so more than 1000nm...

We are having lots of trouble with green tattoo ink. Sometimes we use 585 nm, sometimes 650 seems to work better and sometimes we get the best "tissue reaction" with the 1064 turned up.

Please help. Any suggestions?

I hope to hear from everyone as well. I just purchased a used Revlite and will be starting tattoo removal next week. Any insight from the ConBio users to help me start would be great.

LH,

I have been using the MedLiteC6 for 3 years. I think I am ok with it. Send any questions and I will answer to the best of my ability and then hopefully other experienced users with give their opinion as well.

My Hoya Rep is very knowledeable. I am going to ask him to contribute as well. I will ask him to identify himself as the rep from Hoya.

LH: what did you pay for the Revite? I have a c4 that works well and the C6 upgrade would cost about $72K w/ trade-in.

dermarogue,

I will tell you when I get the laser in my clinic. I have paid cash for it and it is to arrive next week. Payment has been accepted and I do not want to jinx anything.

I would tell you to sell your C4 on the open market and then purchase a C6 or Revlite on the secondary market. You should be able to purchase a used C6 between $60-70k.

Has anyone else used the Carbon peel for large pores? I know that pmdoc has. I was wondering if anyone has seen good results including pmdoc.

what is a carbon peel?

532 nm is green light. why don't we use the 532 wavelength to treat green tattoos? The company suggests that we use 650 nm.

I just spoke to my rep. This is what he told me. It makes sense.

You cannot treat green ink with 532nm because the green ink reflects the green light. We have to treat a tattoo with light the ink absorbs. For instance, Red ink reflects red light however, red ink absorbs green light.

MDR,

You are correct. We see the color green, blue, red etc because that is the color that is reflected back at us. Thus if you use green light on green ink it will not absorb the light it will reflect it.

JEE,

I do not want to offend you but I am concerned that you are using lasers and may not understand the physics behind them. This is a very basic principal of laser physics. You need to understand the physics and tissue interaction when using lasers. I hope that you will go back and review this topic. Good luck.

LH,

Just a brain fart. I understand laser physics.
Let me know how you do with Green Tattoos when you have your RevLite.

We have another laser in common. We have a C6. Do you have a zimmer chiller? Did you get the multilite handpieces?

I have been known to have a brain fart or two myself.

I am looking forward to using it. I have done a little bit of tattoo removal and it is kind of fun.

I will be coming to you guys for insight.

Thanks,
LH

LH,

did you buy it from Conbio? I heard conbio would not put a warranty on a laser not purchased from them.

Dexter,

You must have posted as I was slowly typing. My typing sucks.

Yes, I do have a Zimmer and the handpieces.

Anybody have a Zimmer they want to get rid of. I could use another 1 or 2 of them.

LH

Dexter,

It is a Revlite and I bought it use with a transferable warranty. I used The Laser Trader. He was honest and upfront about it.

Not to be a skeptic, but did you check with Conbio to make sure it was transferable?

I went and pulled our T and C from Conbio and it says the "the warranty is not assignable by buyer unless it is incident to financing arrangement or other special transaction which Conbio approves in writing".

They have another catch that says warranty does not extend if it is in a location other than it was initially installed, if such relocation was without Conbio's approval.

You probably have all this checked out, but just want to watch out for you. If it's not in writing from Conbio it's not valid.

LH: I may have a used Zimmer chiller - in good condition- for you. Please e-mail and let me know what you might be willing to pay. I also have a DermaWave system I will sell at a great price if anyone is interested. Thanks.

Dexter,

According to the contract it says it is transferable. Thanks for looking out for me. I have not read the contract but it was read to me over the phone. Sorry, I can't remember exactly what it said but sounded good.

med spa guy,

I am not sure how to e-mail you. I tried to click on your name but it is considered anonymous. Let me know. I also do not know where you are at.

LH,

I don't use the Zimmer anymore for Tattoo Removal. I only use it when the patient does not want lidocaine injected for pain control. 99% of patients want lidocaine on the first visit. The other 1% want lidocaine after their first treatment without lidocaine. Lidocaine turns a very painful treatment into an almost painless treatment (most complain about the lidocaine injections, not to tattoo removal.

Thanks for understanding the brain fart.

ps. suggestion for your typing problem. get a typing tutor for your computer, it is fun and your typing speed and accuracy will go up dramatically-very steep learning curve. Mavis Bacon is a good one and only costs $29.00.

LH: I am registered with the blog and I always type in "author e-mail address" when I reply to a comment so I am surprised that I am showing as "anonymous". At any rate, I am in Minneapolis and you can e-mail me at <ronaldberglund10225@yahoo.com> Thanks.

I have used the Zimmer and topicals with fairly good results for anesthesia. But of course i am just getting started on the tattoo thing. So, I will have to wait and see if I need to start injecting.

My goal is to prescribe topical and have them apply under occlusion for 30 to 60 minutes and then use the Zimmer as well. this way I can get them in and out quickly.

Anyone have experience/comments on the Palomar Q-Yag laser for tattoo removal? Is it just as good as the Medlite C6?

MedLiteC6 Stinks when it comes to Green and Blue.
Anyone have any experience with Alex 755 Q-Switched and Green & Blue?

Palomar Q-Yag is a workhorse for tattoos and lesions, but as above, not very effective on green/blue.

Nothing is superb on green and blues, but your best chance is with a Q-switched Alex. I tell patients we can get about 80% out. I hit it first with the Q Alex, wait for the tissue frosting to resolve, then again with the Q YAG. I use topical BLT, the Zimmer during treatment and ice packs between passes and find pain control to be decent without requiring lidocaine infiltration.
Before I had the Q Alex, I found very little improvement with the 1064/532. However, my devices seemed underpowered. I had the Palomar Q YAG and later, the LightAge Q Clear.
Now considering purchasing a Medlite C6. Would it be worthwhile since I already have an underpowered 1064/532?
I really want to know about it's added benefits of rejuvenation in Type 4-5 skin.

JT,

Before you spend another $80,000, are you sure C6 can add so much more to your practice to worth the investment? Have you had any experience with the C6?

CanMD,
Thanks for your reply. I DO NOT have much experience with C6, just demo'd it twice. Seems fine for tattoos, but I am more interested in the added benefits.
Hoya ConBio rep tells me that it is excellent for "rejuvenation." I have a considerable percentage of Type IV's who have dermal melanocytosis, Hori's Nevus, or melasma. So far, I have very little luck treating it with IPL and I am afraid to use the Q switced Alex, in fear of causing PIH.
Does the C6 really rejuvenate skin? Is it that useful for dermal melanocytosis? I hear that Asian MD's in Asian countries use this device a lot more than US docs do because of its effectiveness on dermal pigment. What are others doing with this laser ?
I'm not sure if it is worth $80K to buy a C6 when I already have Q switched 1064/532, but are the supposedly great results due to the increased power?

JT,

Have you tried treating the dermal lesions with either Q- Alex or Ruby? I would not think the 1064 in C6 will give you any better result . Melasma is tough no matter what devices you have. Diid you tried Cutera lasergenesis or fracitional Erbium glass on melasma?

Hi JT,
I have the same dilemma as you i.e I own a Medlite II which really can do everything a C6 can do, except with a lot more post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The only reason why I 'm contemplating buying a C6 is to use it as another weapon to treat melasma. I think you will find your answer in this link www.hkmacme.org/learning_center . In the April 2009 CME article Prof Goh Chee Leok talks about C6 for melasma having Grade E EBM for melasma.
In other words, I personally don't think it's worth splurging another USD80K on C6 just for melasma. As for other dermal melanocytosis e.g. Hori's nevus, my ancient Medlite II delivers good results (if the patient can endure the 6 mths of PIH). It'a no different for epidermal lesions. I reckon if I buy C6, I'll just end up promoting it for melasma so I can make my leasing repayments :-)
Hoya Conbio reps will talk abt it being great for collagen remodelling - truth is, you need the long-pulsed version (also mentioned by someone else earlier in this thread). As for hair removal, it's no better than threading.
BTW, I did demo the C6 on 5 of my melasma patients. Patient no. 1 was happy with some lightening after 2 sessions (no rebound). Patient no. 2 got rebound melasma worse than before after 1 session & was not willing to pay for 20-30 sessions required to "clear" & maintain the result. Patients 3-5 lightened a lot after 3 sessions each but melasma went back to square one after 3-4 weeks. Out of this lot, only 1 patient is willing to pay for continued weekly to monthly sessions. Another patient who came to me having already spent thousands on 8 sessions of C6 for her melasma suffered worsened rebound melasma - I cleared 70% with triluma & 2 sessions of light TCA peels.
To me, offering C6 to melasma patients is like selling a drug of addiction to patients. You might say, so is every other melasma treatment available, but at least something like Triluma (Grade A EBM) or your own compounded Kligman's formula is a lot more affordable than C6. This statement is still not an answer for dermal melasma. But I think we have to weigh up how many of our patients can really afford 10-20 sessions of C6 before we make that financial commitment. C6 is still not give guaranteed results for dermal melasma either.

I welcome more opinions & views on this subject

I used to spend a lot of time and efforts treating liver spots ( melasma ) with C6. Clarisse is absolutely right , how many pts are willing to pay for 2,5 or 10 sessions? I usually offer $100 triluma when comes to treating melasma. Triluma seems to offer the best options for now. Imagine spending $2k for 6 x C6 and melasma merely fades away for 2 weeks and back again. Again, C6 is no guarantee to fade melasma.

c.lee,

Melasma and liver spots are not the same thing. Liver spots are solar lentigines. I have never had to treat a solar lentigines more than twice with the Revlite which is the same as the C6 just an upgraded computer system.

I have never used my Revlite for melasma. Maybe I will give it a try but doubt it. I have had pretty good luck with a combination of Fraxel (glass erbium) and the Obagi System.

I have had many patients that have been on Triluma and then they come to see me. I do not think Triluma does a very good job. I have had much better luck with the Obagi NuDerm system than the triluma.

The biggest thing with melasma is to make sure the pt understands that it will return if they do not take care of their skin by wearing a sunblock and avoiding sun exposure.

Be careful with the Fraxel for Melasma. It can make melasma much worse! I don't ever use Fraxel for Melasma unless it is so bad and so resistent to other treatments that the patient is willing to risk that it might get worse. I think the old Cosmelan is a great treatment (the new Cosmelan MD might be ok) and I think the MedLite can be effective (6-10 treatments 1-3 weeks apart). Melasma is like HTN and DM, you can control it but you cannot cure it.

Emergency !

I got intelligence that HOYA conbio had failed.
Is that true?

@ J, what do you mean Hoya had failed? Are you implying that Hoya is filing for chapter 9? Please clarify if you can.

Sorry. I do not understand details.
I heard that HOYA Conbio went bankrupt according to intelligence from Lutoronic US.

so many people on this board are seriously deranged. others are childish. it is painful to read, but unfortunately one of the few places to see anything relating to cosmetic lasers.

regarding Hoya ConBio - if you took your thumbs out of your ..... read the corporate website and look at quarterly results from Hoya reported for March 31, 2009: http://www.hoya.co.jp/english/investor/2009_4Q_Quarterly.pdf They aren't bankrupt. 384 trillion yen in current assets, 591 trillion yen in total assets. 130 trillion in current liabilities. Only 122 trillion in long-term liabilities. 368 trillion in retained earnings/earnings surplus.

i own some clinics in the US - i'm not carrying water for anyone. but if people on this board weren't just clowns there might be a productive conversation about the quality of equipment instead of a bunch of children gossiping.

Hello everyone!
I was wondering which Laser is the best now a days. I want to remove my 1.15 X 2.24 inches tattoo, which has little green color, most red and maybe some black.
The Monarch Med Spa charged me $350 per visit, or a package of 5 visits for $1,050. Not to mention that they told me there will be a break of 8 weeks between sessions.
They use the Medlite C6.
I need to know if this is the best Laser out there and if the price is fair.
Thank you,
Carine

Hi
Im planning to buy a portable PRO Q SWITCH YAG LASER MACHINE from ebay for myself. i have extensive hyperpigmented areas on my legs after sclerotherapy and laser vein removal. I had many sessions of medlite6 , tryed HQ, triluma, azelaic acid, kojic acid. What worked better was medlite but I have many spots of hypo and hyperpigmented skin. It loks weird. I never met any patients with the some outcome.
Does somebody knows anything about this ebay equipment? is just 1299 dollars but I'm afraid it wont be as potent and effective. If you could give me your opnion, thank you

Hi Susana,

Wow, it is like saying buying yourself a scalpel to take out your own appendix. Yep, you will save yourself some money but it does not sound like a good idea. Conbio C6 costs over $90,000 and you have this machine that costs $1,300. Have you even considered the reason? Good luck in any case.

Hi Everyone ,

I am contemplating purchasing Alex TriVantage by Candela or C6 MedLite?

I am more concern about pigmentation removal .
Which machine is best for pigmented lesions,Freckles, sun & age spots, Café au Lait , Birthmarks ?
Of course the best one for Tattoo too.

thx

The Medlite C6 is the Gold standard for Dermal or epidermal pigmentation and Tattoo removal. The MedLite also has a long history of reliablity. I am biased but I truely beleive in my products.

i am still deciding which one to get, medlite c6, 3000 nain utech from korea, i want to treat melasma, any idea which one shall i choose from,

There are many good devices and most will do a decent job but the Alex Trivantage is superior in that it is able to clear all colors where as most other devices will not have a significant impact on greens and blues. Do a side by side and you will see for yourself. Candela has been around for 40+ years and is a gold stanadard company when it comes to laser devices.

you don't need to buy a brand new laser from hoya conbio,the real price for a used(very good condition) c6 is around 50-53k you can still get parts and service from reputable companies,the medlite lasers(ll,lV,c6,revlite) are the best tattoos removal lasers in the market, if you need service,repair,buy,sell or training on any lasers please contact me @ thelasertrainer@gmail.com