+ How long has Aerolase been around?
The company was founded in 1996 and initially was involved in development of medical lasers for diagnostic applications. Aerolase has been selling LightPod lasers for dermatology and medical aesthetics since 2004 under FriendlyLight name. FriendlyLight was changed to Aerolase in 2007.
+ How do I know you’ll still be in business to support me?
LightPod lasers offer the same procedures as other lasers, in a portable, maintenance-free device at half the price. The companies who have to worry about survival are the ones with the big, stationary, expensive, maintenance-intensive machines.
+ Where is the laser manufactured?
We are based in Tarrytown, New York.
+ Your laser is so small. Is it a low power laser?
Aerolase introduced this most advanced technology to aesthetic lasers, enabling them to be compact, portable and less expensive. It’s similar to the trend we’ve seen with cellphones and computers.
LightPod lasers are more powerful than conventional lasers because the laser emitter is mounted in the handpiece, so the beam comes directly to the skin. Conventional lasers have the emitter mounted deep inside a cabinet, and by the time the beam reaches the handpiece, a lot of power is lost.
+ IPL is safer than a laser, right?
No. Although an IPL cannot deliver as much energy to deep-targeted tissue as the LightPod Neo, it does deliver significant energy to the epidermal skin and actually carries a higher risk of burning skin which may result in hyper and/or hypopigmentation. Also, the FDA classifies an IPL device not as a laser, but a ‘surgical laser instrument.’
+ How are LightPod lasers different from other devices?
The LightPod represents the latest technology in aesthetic lasers. The laser emitter is mounted in the handpiece and cooled by air. This unique design provides a gentle collimated beam at industry standard energy fluences– allowing efficacious treatment with minimum pain, even on tanned or dark skin types.
It also eliminates the maintenance problems associated with conventional water-cooled lasers, and is manufactured in a compact, portable system at about half the price. The portability enables you to offer aesthetic services in multiple locations, for a much higher return on investment in your laser.
+ What is MicroPulse-1064 technology?
The LightPod Neo provides the unique “MicroPulse-1064,” delivering very high power that passes through the skin more quickly than other devices. This has dual benefit of causing the desired tissue effect with fewer treatments, while minimizing pain and the risk of hyper and/or hypopigmentation on darker skin types or tanned skin. It also eliminates the need for skin cooling during treatment, saving time, cost and mess associated with gels or sprays.
+ All manufacturers claim that their technology is the best. What are the specific advantages LightPod has to offer?
It has been proven clinically and through practical experience that multipurpose ND:YAG lasers with their unique combination of high efficacy, versatility and safety, are must-have devices for any medical aesthetic practitioner.
Aerolase’s LightPod Neo is the best YAG laser for both aesthetic and medical applications because of the following reasons:
• more versatile than any other YAG on the market; it covers all
most popular aesthetic & dermatological indications and
4 unique and reimbursable medical uses
• the safest device on the market for ethnic skin
• powerful and efficacious, because of our patented air-cooled technology
• the only pain-free YAG on the market
• the only laser that does not touch the skin during application
• the only YAG that does not require skin cooling during application
• the only portable YAG laser on the market
• the industry’s most sensible and cost effective warranty and service policy
• the price is less than half that of any competitive YAG laser
• exceptional ROI for physicians: less than 1 hour of treatment time
covers the monthly payment on a typical 5-year lease
+ How long does it take to learn the operation and what training do you provide?
The company offers multiple levels of training. First, a company instructor will visit you to provide basic product and applications training with the delivery of the laser. Aerolase also offers an Advanced training course, with intensive hands-on training by a certified clinical instructor. Also, Aerolase can arrange for Expert Level multi-day training programs, which can be standard or customized, and are held either at the customer’s facility or at other designated locations.
The LightPod laser is uniquely simple to operate with a wide safety margin. Even new laser practitioners require less than one day of training. For experienced practitioners, it can be a matter of just a couple of hours.
+ Who can operate the laser?
You would need to check in your own state to see if there are any laws or regulations, but it is quite common for non-physicians to operate them under a supervision. Aerolase is not qualified to make any official statement on this.
+ Will my malpractice insurance increase when I add the laser?
Every policy is different and you need to check with your carrier. However, many of our customers report no change in their rates. Keep in mind that LightPod laser therapy is less invasive than a needle injection or suturing.
+ How long does the laser last?
LightPod lasers should last for multiple years, although if the frequency of usage is very high, there may be a need for a replacement of the emitter. Our emitters are guaranteed for one million pulses.
+ What happens if the laser breaks down?
Aerolase has a loaner program to keep your aesthetic practice going. Because the LightPod is so compact, we can ship you a loaner machine and you can return your laser to us in the same small crate for diagnosis and any necessary repairs.
+ What are the consumables?
The only consumable is a $4.00 handpiece filter that lasts at least 40-50 procedures with the LightPod Neo, and should be changed after each procedure in the case of LightPod Era.
+ What is the spot size?
The spot size varies, depending on which lens is used and what application, from 2mm recommended for coagulation of spider veins to 6 mm on hair removal and up to 10 mm on photorejuvenation treatments.
+ Can LightPod Neo be used on dark skin?
Actually, our LightPod Neo is the safest device available for darker skin types or tanned skin. This is because of MicroPulse-1064 technology, which essentially eliminates treatment pain while minimizing the chances of hyper and/ or hypopigmentation. Neo has the optimum pulse duration, below the Thermal Relaxation Time of the surrounding skin. This protects the skin and keeps pain to a minimum, while delivering 15,000 watts per pulse to the follicle deep in the dermis.
+ Can Neo be used on blond or gray hair?
There is no light based hair removal technology which is efficient on blond hair because Melanin is the primary target or chromophore in LHR, so treatment efficacy is typically much lower if the hair is low in melanin (like gray or blond hair).
+ How many treatment sessions are required?
This can vary depending on skin and hair color, but generally 4 to 6 sessions are required.
+ What’s the spot size for LHR (laser hair removal)?
The Neo has a 6mm spot, which is ideal for delivering sufficient energy deep into the dermis where the follicles are located as well as allows convenient and safe treatment of all anatomical areas including upper lip and other facial cosmetic units.
+ Is LHR painful?
Compared to other lasers and/or IPL devices which can be painful in LHR, the Neo is essentially pain-free in hair removal, even on darker skin types, thanks to MicroPulse-1064 technology. This unique benefit saves time, cost and mess by eliminating gels and sprays required by other lasers that cool the skin during treatment. Also, this can facilitate client retention: with other lasers and IPL devices, clients often abandon LHR after just one or two treatments due to intolerable pain.
+ Do I need to use topical anesthesia?
Anesthetics are not needed with LightPod Neo, because MicroPulse-1064 makes it uniquely pain-free. It also eliminates the need for gel or cryogen on the skin, saving time, cost and mess.
+ Do the hairs fall out?
With other technologies hairs that are destroyed or damaged typically do not singe during the treatment but fall out within several days, which may create dissatisfaction for customers who want to see results right away. Aerolase delivers a very powerful pulse so if the laser energy is chosen correctly all hairs will singe under the laser beam and disappear.
+ Is it permanent, or do the hairs grow back?
The FDA requires that laser manufacturers describe the process as “permanent hair reduction”, not “permanent hair removal”, because, in their words, “although laser treatments with these devices will permanently reduce the total number of body hairs, they will not result in a permanent removal of all hair.” Patients can generally expect more than 75% to 80% clearance after 6 sessions and should plan on 1 or 2 annual follow up sessions for ideal maintenance and best results.
+ How long does it take to do a pair of legs or a back?
About the same as other laser devices on the market. Treatment time depends on the area treated as well as the follicle density, which can vary significantly. Most hair removal procedures involve small areas, which are faster with Neo since there’s no sprays or gels required, but you should expect large areas to take longer with any light-based device.
Typically, for a back or both legs, 45 minutes or more will be required, which is about the same as with other brands of lasers, but less painful and messy. If you use a laser you can expect fewer treatments to achieve the same result than with an IPL.
+ How does the Neo compare to IPL for LHR?
IPL devices have less power and cause more surface melanin heating. As a result, they require twice as many treatment sessions, cause significantly more pain in spite of the messy gels they require, with a higher risk of hyper and/or hypopigmentation. IPLs are unsuitable for skin types 4 through 6 or any tanned skin.
+ How does the Neo compare to Alexandrite for LHR?
The use of Alexandrite hair removal lasers has a risk of the serious side effects of surface burn, pain, and hyper and/or hypopigmentation in the dark skin types and people with suntans. In summer, almost everyone is excluded from hair removal with an Alex or IPL. Summer is the time when people demand the procedure the most.
+ How does the Neo compare to Diode Lasers for LHR?
Diode lasers have less power than the Neo and cause more surface melanin heating. They are known to be very painful with a higher risk of hyper and/or hypopigmentation – especially with skin types 4 through 6 or tanned skin. Also diode lasers are not versatile as they can be used primarily for hair removal.
