Candela Corp. has announced that its Smoothbeam is the first diode laser to receive FDA clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of periorbital wrinkles. Candela will demonstrate the Smoothbeam at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology on February 23 in New Orleans.
"Physicians have told us they need an affordable, briefcase-size laser. With Smoothbeam, we've leveraged the cost benefits and size advantages of diode technology to give physicians the ultimate affordable, portable laser for the treatment of periorbital wrinkles," said Gerard E. Puorro, President and CEO of Candela. "The Smoothbeam provides excellent efficacy while weighing just 40 pounds. This laser is already highly affordable, and when you factor in the 0% lease rate financing option Candela is currently offering, Smoothbeam is the ideal answer to physicians' needs for aesthetic lasers."
The Smoothbeam features a number of enhancements designed to optimize periorbital wrinkle treatment. Among these are: a new 6mm spot size, an increased range of fluence and new treatment parameters. The new 6mm spot on Smoothbeam can increase operator productivity by more than 2.25 times - so procedures can be performed in less than half the time of other devices.
Tina Alster, M.D., Director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Surgery, described the advantage of the new 6mm spot size, "The 6mm spot size permits the operator to go much more quickly. It is also more comfortable for the patient because fewer laser pulses are required to cover the treatment area."
The Smoothbeam's gentle 1450nm laser wavelength stimulates the formation of new, organized collagen just beneath the surface of the skin. David Goldberg, M.D., Director of Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey, explained, "We're trying to heat the water in the damaged collagen. We don't want especially deep penetration into the dermis because we also want greater safety. So, the 1450nm wavelength is ideal. It's well absorbed by water, creating the necessary injury, and yet it's so well absorbed by water that it doesn't penetrate that deeply, thus ensuring safety."
The system also improves patient comfort with Candela's proprietary Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD), which sprays the upper layers of skin with a fine mist of cryogen prior to the laser pulse, cooling and protecting the epidermis. Smoothbeam treatments are gentle, non-invasive "lunchtime" procedures.
Patients and physicians alike have reported "excellent" results from the Smoothbeam, with minimal or no downtime. Dr. Alster states, "I've been impressed that there are significant improvements in wrinkles not only at three and six months, but as long as 12 months. Smoothbeam has been very easy to incorporate into my practice, simply because patients are too busy to take time off for wound healing. It is an elegant solution for the improvement of periorbital wrinkles. Patients are happy that they now have another choice besides traditional laser resurfacing."
Candela develops, manufactures, and distributes innovative clinical solutions that enable physicians, surgeons, and personal care practitioners to treat selected cosmetic and medical conditions using lasers, aesthetic laser systems, and other advanced technologies. Founded near Boston in 1970, the company markets and services its products in over 55 countries from offices in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. Candela established the aesthetic laser market 12 years ago, and currently has an installed base of over 5,000 lasers worldwide.
Visit Candela on the Web at www.clzr.com.