I am considering hair removal with the syneron polaris. This is not the comet unit (800nm) The polaris is 900nm diode laser with RF energy. The comet and the polaris received FDA 510K clearance for permanent hair reduction in November 2004. What does 510K clearance mean?
I had test patches performed with the polaris and the lightsheer. The polaris hurt more with less redness. The lightsheer hurt less, but the redness lasted 3-4 days. I know you can not directly compare setting parameters, but I am not sure what this means. I am familiar with the wavelenght/absorption curves for hemoglobin/water/melanin. In theory the 770nm alexandrite and 800nm diode lasers have more optimal profiles. (I am skin type 3-4, with very dark brown/black hair).
I would choose lightsheer on reputation alone, but this would cost twice as much. The polaris is at a “chain” type franchise and the lightsheer with an independent owner/operator.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.