Brands We Use

Belotero Balance®

hyaluronic acid dermal filler Merz Aesthetics (Merz North America, Inc.)

Belotero Balance is a hyaluronic acid filler made by Merz Aesthetics, the same company behind Radiesse and Belotero Volume. Like other hyaluronic acid fillers, it is a gel made from a sugar molecule already found in skin, produced by bacterial fermentation and injected to smooth lines and folds. Merz manufactures it using a cross-linking process the company calls Cohesive Polydensified Matrix (CPM), intended to let the gel blend into the surrounding tissue rather than sit as a distinct lump. The FDA approved Belotero Balance in November 2011 for injection into the mid-to-deep dermis to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds; a version containing lidocaine, an anesthetic added to reduce discomfort during injection, was approved in August 2019, and the FDA later approved it for improving hollowing under the eyes in September 2023. Within the Belotero line, Balance is formulated for finer lines and more superficial placement, such as around the mouth and under the eyes, which distinguishes it from Belotero Volume, formulated for deeper placement and larger volume loss in the midface.

• FDA approved Belotero Balance (PMA P090016) on November 14, 2011 for injection into the mid-to-deep dermis to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.
• A lidocaine-containing formulation, Belotero Balance (+), was approved under supplement P090016/S028 with a decision date of August 29, 2019.
• A further supplement (P090016/S050), decided September 27, 2023, added an indication for volume augmentation to improve infraorbital hollowing (under-eye area) in adults over 21.
• The lidocaine-containing version is a bacterially fermented hyaluronic acid gel, cross-linked with BDDE and formulated at 22.5 mg/mL, per its FDA filing.
• Uses Merz's Cohesive Polydensified Matrix (CPM) hyaluronic acid cross-linking process.

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Belotero Volume®

hyaluronic acid dermal filler Merz Aesthetics (Merz North America, Inc.)

Belotero Volume is a hyaluronic acid filler made by Merz Aesthetics, a sibling product to Belotero Balance within the same line. It uses the same Cohesive Polydensified Matrix (CPM) hyaluronic acid gel technology as Belotero Balance, but is formulated for deeper placement under the skin, so it is intended to restore volume and improve contour in areas such as the cheeks and midface rather than smooth finer surface lines. Belotero Volume had been available in Europe and other markets for a number of years before reaching the United States. According to trade press coverage of a Merz Aesthetics announcement, the lidocaine-containing version, Belotero Volume (+), received FDA approval around September 14, 2026, to improve volume deficit in the midface or correct midface contour deficiencies in adults 22 years of age and older, with US commercial availability reported to begin the following month.

• Trade press reporting on a Merz Aesthetics announcement states Belotero Volume (+) received FDA approval around September 14, 2026, for improving volume deficit in the midface or correcting midface contour deficiencies in adults 22 and older.
• The same reporting states a related product, Belotero Intense (+), was approved at the same time for adding volume and improving lip fullness in adults over 21.
• US commercial availability for Belotero Volume (+) was reported as expected around October 14, 2026.
• Uses the same CPM (Cohesive Polydensified Matrix) hyaluronic acid cross-linking technology as Belotero Balance, formulated for deeper placement.

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BOTOX® Cosmetic

injectable neuromodulator (botulinum toxin type A) Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company (AbbVie completed its acquisition of Allergan on May 8, 2020)

BOTOX Cosmetic is made by Allergan Aesthetics, part of AbbVie. Its active ingredient, onabotulinumtoxinA, is a purified protein made from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum; the same formulation was first FDA approved in 1989, under the name BOTOX, to treat two eye-muscle conditions (strabismus and blepharospasm). When a small amount is injected into a muscle, it blocks the nerve signals that tell that muscle to contract, which temporarily reduces the muscle's activity. The FDA approved the cosmetic version, BOTOX Cosmetic, in 2002 for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines (the frown lines between the eyebrows), and later expanded that approval to crow's feet lines, forehead lines, and, most recently, platysma bands (vertical neck bands). It has been FDA approved for cosmetic use since 2002, longer than the other two neurotoxins the clinic carries.

• BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) was first FDA approved in 1989, for strabismus and blepharospasm.
• BOTOX Cosmetic was FDA approved on April 15, 2002, for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines.
• FDA approved BOTOX Cosmetic for lateral canthal lines (crow's feet) on September 11, 2013.
• FDA approved BOTOX Cosmetic for forehead lines associated with frontalis muscle activity on October 3, 2017.
• AbbVie completed its acquisition of Allergan, BOTOX's maker, on May 8, 2020.
• FDA approved BOTOX Cosmetic for platysma bands (vertical jaw-to-neck bands) on October 18, 2024.

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DAXXIFY® (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm)

injectable neuromodulator (botulinum toxin type A) Revance Therapeutics, Inc. (marketed through its Revance Aesthetics business)

DAXXIFY is made by Revance Therapeutics and is the most recently approved of the three neurotoxins the clinic carries. The FDA approved it on September 7, 2022, for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines (frown lines); it was Revance's first FDA-approved product. Like BOTOX Cosmetic and Xeomin, its active ingredient is a form of botulinum toxin type A, a protein that blocks the nerve signals that make a muscle contract, temporarily reducing that muscle's activity. What sets DAXXIFY apart is its formulation: the toxin is paired with a proprietary synthetic peptide, which the manufacturer calls Peptide Exchange Technology, used to stabilize the molecule instead of the human blood-derived protein (human serum albumin) used to stabilize some other neuromodulators; DAXXIFY's manufacturer states the product contains no human serum albumin or animal-derived ingredients. In August 2023 the FDA also approved DAXXIFY to treat cervical dystonia, a neurological muscle condition, its first approved use beyond cosmetics.

• DAXXIFY (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm) was FDA approved on September 7, 2022, for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines.
• It was Revance Therapeutics' first FDA-approved product.
• DAXXIFY is stabilized with a proprietary synthetic peptide (Peptide Exchange Technology) rather than human serum albumin.
• FDA approved DAXXIFY for cervical dystonia, its first therapeutic (non-cosmetic) indication, on August 14, 2023.

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JUVÉDERM® Collection of Fillers

hyaluronic acid dermal filler collection Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company

The JUVÉDERM® Collection is a line of injectable fillers made by Allergan Aesthetics, now part of AbbVie following AbbVie's acquisition of Allergan, completed in May 2020. Each product in the collection is a smooth gel made from hyaluronic acid, a sugar molecule the skin already contains to help keep it hydrated and full; it is produced here through bacterial fermentation and then cross-linked into a gel that a provider injects beneath the skin. The original JUVÉDERM formula received FDA approval in June 2006 for injection into the mid-to-deep layer of skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Over time, additional products carrying the JUVÉDERM name were developed and separately approved for other uses, such as adding volume to the cheeks. The individual products within the collection differ mainly in how the hyaluronic acid is formulated and cross-linked, using one of two Allergan gel technologies, which changes how firm or soft the finished gel feels and how it behaves once injected, so a provider can choose a formula suited to a particular area of the face.

• FDA approved the original JUVÉDERM formula (PMA P050047) on June 2, 2006, for injection into the mid-to-deep dermis to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.
• Made from hyaluronic acid produced by bacterial fermentation and cross-linked with BDDE (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether) into a gel.
• As of this writing, the collection on the manufacturer's own site includes VOLUMA XC, VOLBELLA XC, VOLLURE XC, VOLUX XC, Ultra XC, and Ultra Plus XC.
• AbbVie completed its acquisition of Allergan, JUVÉDERM's parent company at the time, on May 8, 2020.
• Trade press reports that JUVÉDERM VOLUMA XC received a separate FDA approval on November 7, 2013 for cheek augmentation.

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PDO Max is a brand of polydioxanone (PDO) threads made by PDO Max, Inc., a company based in Liverpool, New York, with its threads manufactured in South Korea. Polydioxanone is a synthetic material long used to make absorbable surgical sutures; for a thread lift, thin PDO threads are inserted under the skin with a fine needle or cannula to mechanically reposition and support sagging tissue, and the material is then slowly absorbed by the body over a period of months while also prompting the skin to form some new collagen around it. PDO Max holds an FDA 510(k) clearance (K190245), with a decision date of June 4, 2019, filed under the FDA's classification for absorbable polydioxanone surgical sutures. That clearance covers the thread material itself as a suture device; it is not a separate, FDA-recognized clearance specifically for a cosmetic 'thread lift' or facial-repositioning use, which reflects standard industry practice across PDO thread brands generally rather than something unique to this one. PDO Max's own materials describe the threads as cleared for soft-tissue approximation where an absorbable suture is appropriate.

• Holds FDA 510(k) clearance K190245, decision date June 4, 2019, listed under product code NEW, regulation 21 CFR 878.4840 (absorbable polydioxanone surgical suture).
• The FDA record's device name field reads 'PDS Barbed Suture, PDO MAXX Threads'; the company markets the product as 'PDO Max.'
• The manufacturer of record on the FDA filing is PDO Max, Inc., 4971 Bear Rd., Liverpool, NY 13088.
• PDO Max's own FAQ page states the threads are 'FDA cleared for soft tissue approximation where an absorbable suture is appropriate.'

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Radiesse®

calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) dermal filler Merz Aesthetics (Merz North America, Inc.; parent company Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA)

Radiesse is an injectable filler made by Merz Aesthetics. Unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, Radiesse is made from calcium hydroxylapatite, a mineral compound already found in human bone, formed into small smooth microspheres and suspended in a water-based gel. When injected beneath the skin, the gel carrier adds volume right away and is gradually absorbed by the body, while the calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres remain in place for a period of time and are understood to encourage the body to form its own new collagen around them. Radiesse was originally developed by BioForm Medical, which Merz acquired in February 2010. The FDA approved two versions of Radiesse on December 22, 2006: one for correcting facial fat loss associated with HIV, and a second for correcting moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds; the FDA later approved Radiesse for additional uses, including loss of jawline contour and wrinkles in the chest (décolleté) area.

• FDA approved Radiesse (PMA P050052) on December 22, 2006 for correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.
• FDA approved a related Radiesse formulation (PMA P050037) the same day, December 22, 2006, for correcting facial fat loss (lipoatrophy) associated with HIV.
• Made of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres, roughly 25-45 micrometers wide, suspended in a gel carrier of water, glycerin, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
• Merz Aesthetics acquired Radiesse's original manufacturer, BioForm Medical, in February 2010.
• Merz announced FDA approval of Radiesse (+) for improving moderate to severe loss of jawline contour in a release dated February 1, 2022.
• Merz announced FDA approval of Radiesse for treating wrinkles in the décolleté area in a release dated April 8, 2026.

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Restylane®

hyaluronic acid dermal filler collection Galderma (originally developed by Q-Med AB, Sweden)

Restylane is a family of injectable hyaluronic acid fillers now made by Galderma. It was originally developed by the Swedish company Q-Med AB, which Galderma acquired in a deal announced in December 2010. Like other hyaluronic acid fillers, Restylane products are gels made from a sugar molecule the skin already produces, injected beneath the surface of the skin to smooth lines or restore lost volume. According to the FDA's own approval summary, Restylane was first sold in the European Union in September 1996, and the original US formula received FDA approval in December 2003 for mid-to-deep dermal injection to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Individual products in the Restylane line use one of two Galderma gel technologies, called NASHA and XpresHAn, which change how firm or how flexible the gel is once injected, so different products in the family are suited to different areas of the face, from precise lines to areas that move a lot, such as the lips.

• FDA approved Restylane (PMA P020023) on December 12, 2003, for mid-to-deep dermal injection to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.
• According to FDA's approval summary, Restylane was first sold in the European Union in September 1996.
• Made from hyaluronic acid produced by streptococcal bacteria, formulated at 20 mg/mL and cross-linked with BDDE.
• Galderma's acquisition of Q-Med, Restylane's original manufacturer, was announced in December 2010.
• Restylane Contour received FDA approval on June 28, 2021 for cheek augmentation and correction of midface contour deficiencies in adults over 21.

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Revanesse® Versa™

hyaluronic acid dermal filler Prollenium Medical Technologies, Inc. (Aurora, Ontario, Canada)

Revanesse Versa is a hyaluronic acid filler made by Prollenium Medical Technologies, a Canadian company based in Aurora, Ontario. Like other hyaluronic acid fillers, it is a gel made from a sugar molecule already present in skin, injected beneath the surface to smooth lines and folds. The product falls under an FDA approval (PMA P160042) originally granted in August 2017 under the trade name Revanesse Ultra, with the Versa formulation added to that same approval afterward; the approved indication covers injection into the mid-to-deep dermis to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, in adults 22 and older. Prollenium's current site markets the product as Revanesse Versa+, alongside a related lip-specific product, Revanesse Lips+. Prollenium describes its products as researched, designed, and manufactured in-house, without naming a specific branded cross-linking process in its public materials.

• FDA approved the underlying PMA (P160042) on August 4, 2017, originally under the trade name Revanesse Ultra, for injection into the mid-to-deep dermis to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, in adults 22 and older.
• Manufacturer is Prollenium Medical Technologies, Inc., based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada.
• The current product line on Prollenium's own site is marketed as Revanesse Versa+ and Revanesse Lips+.

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XEOMIN® (incobotulinumtoxinA)

injectable neuromodulator (botulinum toxin type A) Merz Pharmaceuticals / Merz Aesthetics (Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA, a privately held, family-owned German company)

Xeomin is made by Merz Pharmaceuticals, part of Merz Aesthetics. Merz is a privately held, family-owned German company founded in Frankfurt in 1908 and still owned by the founding family. Like BOTOX Cosmetic, its active ingredient is a form of botulinum toxin type A, a protein that, once injected into a muscle, blocks the nerve signals that trigger contraction and so temporarily reduces the muscle's activity. What sets Xeomin apart is its manufacturing process: the toxin is purified to remove the accessory ('complexing') proteins that surround the toxin molecule in some other products, which the manufacturer markets as a more purified, or 'naked,' toxin. The FDA first approved Xeomin in 2010 to treat two neurological muscle conditions, then approved it in 2011 for the cosmetic treatment of glabellar lines (frown lines); in 2024 the FDA further approved it for simultaneous treatment of the forehead, frown, and crow's-feet areas in one session.

• Merz Pharma was founded in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1908 and remains a family-owned company.
• Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA) received its first FDA approval on July 30, 2010, for cervical dystonia and blepharospasm.
• FDA approved Xeomin for temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines in July 2011.
• FDA approved Xeomin for chronic sialorrhea (excessive drooling) in adults in July 2018.
• FDA approved Xeomin for the simultaneous treatment of forehead lines, glabellar lines, and crow's feet lines on July 23, 2024.

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BBL® HEROic™

BroadBand Light (BBL) pulsed-light handpiece Sciton, Inc.

BBL HEROic is not a separate machine but the newest handpiece and mode for delivering Sciton's BroadBand Light, or BBL, treatments on the company's JOULE X and mJOULE platforms. BBL works by pulsing broad-spectrum light into the skin; the light is absorbed by pigment or by small blood vessels and converts to heat, which the body then processes as part of its normal healing response. HEROic adds a motion-tracking sensor system, which Sciton calls its Skin Positioning System, that follows the handpiece as the provider moves it over the skin so pulses land evenly, including on curved or uneven areas of the body. It is used for concerns such as sun spots and other pigment, visible redness and small vessels, mild to moderate acne, unwanted hair, and, using a separate SkinTyte mode on the same handpiece, mild skin laxity. Sciton's original BroadBand Light device received FDA 510(k) clearance in 2003, with the wrinkle-treatment indication added in 2007; a device-specific FDA record naming the HEROic handpiece itself could not be located, so it should be understood as the current handpiece on that already-cleared platform rather than as a newly and separately cleared device.

• Sciton unveiled BBL HEROic in April 2024 at the first Skin CEO event in Austin, Texas.
• Available on Sciton's JOULE X and mJOULE platforms.
• Follows the 2020 BBL HERO handpiece as Sciton's newest BroadBand Light handpiece.
• Sciton's original Profile BBL System received FDA 510(k) clearance (K032460) on November 13, 2003.
• Sciton's BBL broadband pulsed light received an added FDA clearance for the treatment of wrinkles, announced in July 2007.

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Candela GentleMax Pro

dual-wavelength aesthetic laser (755 nm alexandrite / 1064 nm Nd:YAG) Candela Medical (Candela Corporation)

The GentleMax Pro is made by Candela Medical (Candela Corporation), a U.S. manufacturer of aesthetic laser and light-based devices. It combines two different laser wavelengths in one machine, a 755 nm alexandrite laser and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, so a provider can choose the wavelength suited to a patient's skin tone, hair color, or the condition being treated. In plain terms, the alexandrite wavelength is generally used on lighter skin and finer hair, while the deeper-penetrating Nd:YAG wavelength is used on darker skin tones and can also target small blood vessels just under the skin, such as facial veins or leg (spider) veins, because that wavelength is absorbed by hemoglobin in blood rather than by pigment in the skin. A built-in cooling spray, which Candela calls the Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD), releases a burst of cooling just before each laser pulse to protect the surface of the skin during treatment. Candela describes the device as FDA-cleared; the FDA's own 510(k) database shows a clearance for the closely related "GentleMax Pro Plus" model, decision dated May 26, 2020 (K201111), in the powered laser surgical instrument category. Candela and treatment providers describe cleared uses that include hair removal, treatment of benign pigmented lesions, and treatment of vascular lesions such as facial and leg veins, with the wavelength chosen according to Fitzpatrick skin type.

• Combines a 755 nm alexandrite laser and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in one platform (Candela Medical)
• FDA 510(k) clearance K201111, decision date 2020-05-26, for the "GentleMax Pro Plus" device, product code GEX (FDA 510(k) database)
• Candela states the 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelength is used for vascular lesions, including facial veins and leg veins, because it is absorbed by hemoglobin rather than skin pigment (Candela Medical)
• Candela and treatment-provider sources describe wavelength selection by Fitzpatrick skin type: alexandrite (755 nm) generally for types I-III, Nd:YAG (1064 nm) generally for types IV-VI
• Uses a cryogen spray cooling system Candela calls the Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD), timed to each laser pulse (Candela Medical)

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Forever Clear BBL®

BroadBand Light (BBL) treatment protocol for acne Sciton, Inc.

Forever Clear BBL is a named protocol for treating acne using Sciton's BBL device, not a separate machine. According to Sciton's own description, it is delivered in three passes over the skin during one visit: a blue-light pass intended to act on acne-related bacteria in the pores, a yellow-light pass intended to calm inflammation and redness, and a third pass using gentle infrared pulses intended to support the skin's healing response and enhance the first two steps. It is aimed at mild to moderate acne on the face or body and is offered as a non-drug option alongside or instead of topical or oral acne medication. It is usually done as a series of sessions rather than as a single visit. As with Forever Young BBL, this is a treatment protocol performed on the underlying BBL platform rather than a separately FDA-cleared device.

• Performed on Sciton's BBL platform as a three-pass protocol: blue light, then yellow light, then infrared light, according to Sciton's own product page.
• Marketed for mild to moderate acne on the face and body.

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Forever Young BBL®

BroadBand Light (BBL) treatment protocol Sciton, Inc.

Forever Young BBL is not a separate machine. It is a specific, named way of using Sciton's BBL device, performed today on the BBL HEROic handpiece, built around a set sequence of passes over the skin: a base pass, a pigment-targeting pass and a vascular (blood vessel) targeting pass. Each pass uses pulses of light tuned to be absorbed by different targets in the skin, which convert to heat and prompt the skin's own repair processes. It is marketed to patients as a preventive or maintenance treatment for early, broad signs of sun exposure and aging, such as sun spots, redness and fine vessels, rather than as a treatment for a single specific problem. It is commonly repeated a few times a year as ongoing maintenance rather than as a one-time procedure. Because it runs on the already FDA-cleared BBL platform, Forever Young BBL itself does not carry a separate FDA clearance record; it is a branded protocol, not a distinct regulated device.

• Performed on Sciton's BBL platform (currently the BBL HEROic handpiece), not on a separate machine.
• Described by Sciton and treating clinics as a multi-pass technique: a base pass, a pigment pass and a vascular pass.
• Providers commonly describe sessions as 15-30 minutes, repeated roughly 3-4 times a year for maintenance.

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Sciton calls HALO a hybrid fractional laser, meaning it delivers two different laser wavelengths to the same tiny treatment spots in a single pass, instead of a provider choosing one wavelength or the other. A 1470 nanometer wavelength is non-ablative, meaning it heats tissue in the dermis (the deeper layer of skin) without breaking the surface, while a 2940 nanometer erbium wavelength is ablative, meaning it removes a controlled, very small amount of the outer skin (epidermis) at each spot; both depths can be adjusted by the provider. The idea behind combining them is to get some of the tone-, texture- and pore-improving results associated with older, fully ablative resurfacing lasers, while keeping the shorter recovery time associated with non-ablative lasers. HALO is used for concerns such as fine lines, sun damage, uneven pigment, enlarged pores and acne scars, on a Sciton JOULE platform. Sciton introduced HALO in April 2014, and in a June 2018 announcement it said HALO's FDA-cleared indications had been expanded to specifically include wrinkles and scar revision, including acne scars; a primary FDA 510(k) record was not independently located to confirm the clearance number for the original 2014 device.

• Sciton introduced HALO in April 2014, describing it as the first device to deliver an ablative and a non-ablative wavelength to the same microscopic treatment zone in a single pass.
• Combines a 1470 nm non-ablative wavelength (targeting the dermis) with a 2940 nm ablative erbium wavelength (targeting the epidermis), each independently adjustable.
• In a press release dated June 6, 2018, Sciton announced expanded FDA-cleared indications for wrinkles and scar revision, including acne scars, alongside an updated 'HALO 2.0' interface and handpiece.
• Runs on Sciton's JOULE platform.

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HALO® TRIBRID™

three-wavelength resurfacing laser handpiece Sciton, Inc.

HALO TRIBRID is Sciton's newest resurfacing handpiece, and it works by combining three separate, independently adjustable laser wavelengths in one device instead of requiring a provider to switch between separate handpieces. It brings together the 2940 nanometer ablative erbium wavelength used for controlled surface resurfacing (the technology behind Sciton's ProFractional and Contour TRL devices), the 1927 nanometer non-ablative wavelength used in MOXI for water-targeted, gentle renewal, and the 1470 nanometer non-ablative wavelength used in HALO for deeper dermal heating. Because a provider can mix these three wavelengths in different amounts within a single session, Sciton positions it as letting a patient's textural concerns, pigment, fine lines and sun damage be addressed together, tailored to that patient's skin and downtime tolerance, rather than requiring separate visits for separate devices. It runs on Sciton's JOULE X platform. This research did not find a device-specific FDA 510(k) clearance record for HALO TRIBRID itself; it combines wavelengths that were already individually cleared on Sciton's Joule platform.

• Sciton unveiled HALO TRIBRID at the Skin CEO BOOSTED event in Chicago on September 13, 2025, with the press release dated September 15, 2025.
• Combines three independently controlled wavelengths in one handpiece: 2940 nm, 1927 nm and 1470 nm.
• Runs on Sciton's JOULE X platform.
• Sciton describes it as combining, in one handpiece, technology previously delivered by its separate HALO, MOXI and erbium resurfacing handpieces.

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MOXI is a laser handpiece that uses a wavelength of 1927 nanometers, delivered in a 'fractional' pattern, meaning the laser treats many tiny, evenly spaced spots of skin rather than the whole surface at once, leaving the surrounding tissue untouched to speed healing. Unlike lasers built to target pigment specifically, this wavelength is absorbed mainly by water in the skin's cells, which is why Sciton markets it as suitable for all skin tones and usable year-round, including in patients with more melanin who need to be more cautious with pigment-seeking lasers. It is aimed at early, superficial concerns, such as uneven skin tone, early sun damage and rough texture, and Sciton positions it as a lighter option than its more aggressive resurfacing lasers. The underlying device, described in FDA records as the Joule 1927nm Laser System, received FDA 510(k) clearance on March 6, 2019, for use in dermatological procedures requiring coagulation of soft tissue, treatment of actinic keratosis, and treatment of benign pigmented lesions such as lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots) and ephelides (freckles). MOXI reached the market as a named handpiece the following year, launched as part of Sciton's mJOULE platform.

• The FDA cleared the underlying Joule 1927nm Laser System under 510(k) K182173 on March 6, 2019, for coagulation of soft tissue, treatment of actinic keratosis, and treatment of benign pigmented lesions (lentigos, solar lentigos, ephelides).
• Sciton introduced MOXI to the market as part of the mJOULE platform launch on June 11, 2020.
• Uses a non-ablative, fractionated 1927 nm diode laser.

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PicoWay is made by Candela Medical (Candela Corporation), the same manufacturer behind the GentleMax Pro line. Instead of heating tissue the way many older, longer-pulse lasers do, PicoWay fires extremely short bursts of laser light, each pulse lasting about a trillionth of a second (a picosecond). A pulse that short creates a mechanical shockwave that shatters tiny particles, such as tattoo ink or excess pigment in the skin, into smaller fragments rather than heating them, which is why the manufacturer and press coverage describe the effect as photomechanical rather than photothermal. The device uses more than one wavelength so different ink colors and pigment types can be targeted; Candela's original FDA clearance covered 532 nm and 1064 nm, and a 785 nm handpiece was added later. PicoWay first received FDA 510(k) clearance for tattoo removal in late 2014, and Candela has since obtained further FDA clearances for related uses, including benign pigmented lesions, a dedicated tattoo-removal handpiece, acne scars, and wrinkles. Candela also publishes separate treatment guidance for using PicoWay on "skin of color," meaning darker Fitzpatrick skin types, for certain indications.

• PicoWay's pulse is described as about one trillionth of a second (a picosecond) in duration, producing a photomechanical (shockwave) effect rather than a photothermal (heating) effect (Candela/Syneron Candela, PRNewswire, 2014-11-03)
• FDA 510(k) clearance for tattoo removal announced November 3, 2014 (K142372), covering 532 nm for red/yellow/orange ink and 1064 nm for black/brown/green/blue/purple ink (Syneron Candela press release; American Med Spa Association)
• Candela's own site lists further FDA 510(k) clearances for benign pigmented lesions (K150326, 2015), a 785 nm tattoo-removal handpiece (K160607, 2016), acne scars (K162454, 2017), and wrinkles (K170597, 2017); these later dates were not independently cross-checked against FDA's public database in this research
• Candela states PicoWay is indicated for benign pigmented lesions such as sunspots, age spots, freckles, lentigines, and café-au-lait macules, and publishes skin-of-color treatment guidelines for the device

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ProFractional®

fractional ablative erbium (Er:YAG) resurfacing laser handpiece Sciton, Inc.

ProFractional is a resurfacing laser handpiece that uses an erbium:YAG laser at a wavelength of 2940 nanometers to remove skin in a fine, dotted pattern rather than across the whole treated area, which is what makes it 'fractional.' Leaving the tissue between the treatment spots untouched allows the skin to heal faster than older, fully ablative resurfacing lasers that treated the entire surface at once. The depth of treatment can be adjusted by the provider across a wide range, which Sciton says lets the same handpiece be used for anything from light resurfacing to deeper scar work. It is used for concerns such as fine lines and deeper wrinkles, acne scars and other scar revision, and pigmented spots such as sunspots, freckles and actinic keratosis, across skin types, and it runs on Sciton's JOULE platform. Sciton entered the erbium resurfacing category with its first tunable erbium device, Contour TRL, in 2007; ProFractional is the fractional, spot-pattern version of that erbium technology, though this research could not confirm the exact year ProFractional itself was introduced or its specific FDA 510(k) clearance number.

• Uses a 2940 nm erbium:YAG ablative laser, delivered in a fractional (spot) pattern rather than treating the full skin surface.
• Sciton describes the ablation depth as tunable, citing a range of roughly 25 to 1,500 microns depending on settings.
• Sciton introduced its first tunable erbium resurfacing laser, Contour TRL, in 2007, ahead of the ProFractional handpiece.
• Runs on Sciton's JOULE platform.

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Sciton is the company that designs and builds the laser and light-based devices described on this page. It was founded in 1997 in Palo Alto, California, by laser physicists Dr. Jim Hobart and Dr. Dan Negus, and the company still designs and manufactures its systems there. Rather than making one single machine, Sciton builds base platforms (called JOULE and mJOULE) that a clinic can equip with different handpieces and light or laser modules, such as BBL, HALO, MOXI and ProFractional, to deliver different treatments on the same base unit. Sciton describes itself as 100% employee-owned. Each of its devices is reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through the 510(k) pathway, meaning the FDA found the device 'substantially equivalent' to devices already legally on the market, which is a lower bar than FDA 'approval' of a new medicine.

• Founded in 1997 in Palo Alto, California, by Dr. Jim Hobart and Dr. Dan Negus.
• Headquartered and manufactures its devices at 925 Commercial Street, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
• Describes itself as a 100% employee-owned company.
• Sells through direct sales offices in the United States, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom plus distributors in more than 45 countries, according to its own company materials.

SkinTyte®

infrared light skin-tightening handpiece Sciton, Inc.

SkinTyte is a treatment mode delivered through Sciton's BBL-family handpieces (currently described by Sciton as 'powered by BBL HERO'), using a broader band of infrared light rather than the shorter wavelengths used for pigment or vessels. Instead of targeting a specific colored structure in the skin, the infrared light gently heats the deeper layer of skin (the dermis) while a cooled sapphire surface keeps the skin surface comfortable, with the aim of encouraging the skin's own collagen-producing response over time. It is intended for mild to moderate skin laxity, or looseness, rather than for deep wrinkles or scars, and Sciton describes it as suitable for all skin types. Treatment is done as a series, with sessions spaced roughly four to eight weeks apart. SkinTyte has been on the market for over a decade; a national television segment featured it as early as May 2010, though this research could not confirm the exact year Sciton first introduced it or its specific FDA clearance record.

• Delivered through Sciton's BBL-family handpieces using infrared wavelengths (Sciton lists a 420-1400 nm range for the system's available filters) rather than a separate machine.
• Sciton's own materials describe a four-pass treatment technique.
• SkinTyte was featured on the television program 'The Doctors' as early as May 6, 2010, indicating it was already commercially available by then.

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Super MOXI®

next-generation fractional 1927 nm laser handpiece Sciton, Inc.

Super MOXI is Sciton's newer, faster version of its MOXI handpiece, using the same 1927 nanometer, water-targeting, fractional laser wavelength as MOXI rather than a different technology. Sciton says the update adds a twin-beam delivery system, which it calls HD Delivery, along with a more powerful diode, so a provider can cover the same area in roughly half the time, or treat larger areas of the body in a single visit, compared with the original MOXI handpiece. Because the underlying wavelength and target (water in skin cells) are unchanged, it is intended for the same kinds of concerns as MOXI, such as early sun damage, uneven tone and rough texture, but with added treatment-intensity options and faster sessions. It is available on Sciton's mJOULE and JOULE X platforms and can be paired with other Sciton handpieces such as BBL HEROic or ProFractional in a single visit. This research did not find a device-specific FDA 510(k) record for Super MOXI itself; it is presented by Sciton as an evolution of the already-cleared 1927 nm platform rather than as a newly and separately reviewed device.

• Sciton announced Super MOXI on September 1, 2026.
• Uses the same 1927 nm non-ablative fractional wavelength as MOXI, delivered through a twin-beam 'HD Delivery' system Sciton says can roughly halve treatment time.
• Sciton states the handpiece uses a 16-watt diode.
• Available on the mJOULE and JOULE X platforms.

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Ultherapy PRIME®

microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU-V) skin-lifting device Merz Aesthetics

Ultherapy PRIME is made by Merz Aesthetics and is the current generation of Ultherapy, a non-surgical treatment that uses focused sound waves (ultrasound), rather than a laser or a needle, to gently warm a layer of tissue beneath the surface of the skin; Merz states that controlled warmth is intended to stimulate the body's own production of collagen over time. What sets this device apart from many other ultrasound-based machines is that the provider can see an image of the layers beneath the skin on a screen while treating, so the energy can be aimed at a specific depth rather than applied blind; Merz describes that pairing of real-time visualization with non-invasive ultrasound lifting as what sets the device apart from other ultrasound systems. Ultherapy originally received FDA clearance (via the De Novo pathway) for a non-invasive brow lift in September 2009, followed by clearance for the neck and under-chin area in 2012, for ultrasound visualization of tissue layers in 2013, and for improving lines and wrinkles on the décolleté (upper chest) in 2014. Merz Aesthetics launched the newer "Ultherapy PRIME" platform on September 23, 2024, describing it as delivering a clearer real-time image on screen and a faster treatment session compared with the earlier-generation system; Merz has since announced additional FDA clearances extending Ultherapy PRIME to skin laxity on the arms and abdomen (November 5, 2025) and, most recently, the knees (August 11, 2026). Merz describes results as developing gradually over the weeks following treatment as the body's own collagen response continues, rather than appearing immediately.

• Ultherapy's original FDA clearance, for a non-invasive brow lift, was granted via the De Novo 510(k) pathway in September 2009 (BioSpace/Ulthera press coverage; exact day cited as September 16 in one source)
• FDA clearance for non-invasive neck and submental (under-chin) lift followed in October 2012
• FDA clearance for ultrasound visualization of dermal and subdermal tissue layers followed in 2013, and for improving lines and wrinkles on the décolleté in 2014
• Merz Aesthetics launched the Ultherapy PRIME platform on September 23, 2024 (Merz Aesthetics press release)
• Merz Aesthetics announced FDA clearance of Ultherapy PRIME for skin laxity on the anterior arms, posterior arms, and abdomen on November 5, 2025 (Merz Aesthetics; Businesswire)
• Merz Aesthetics announced FDA clearance of Ultherapy PRIME for skin laxity on the knees on August 11, 2026 (Businesswire, syndicated via multiple trade outlets)
• Merz describes the PRIME platform's on-screen visualization as 72% clearer and treatment as roughly 20% faster than the prior-generation Ultherapy system (Merz Aesthetics)

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Emface is made by BTL Industries, the same company behind Emsculpt Neo, Emsella and Exion. It is applied to the face rather than the body, and it works by delivering two energies to the skin and muscle at the same time: synchronized radiofrequency, which gently warms the skin's collagen- and elastin-containing layer, and HIFES (high-intensity focused electrical stimulation), which causes the small muscles of the face to contract repeatedly. There are no needles and no injections; the device is applied with pads over the treatment area. BTL announced the U.S. commercial release of Emface in September 2022, marketed for the temporary reduction in the appearance of facial wrinkles and toning of facial muscles, with Eye and Submentum (under-chin) applicators added later for the eye area and the area under the chin. In August 2025, BTL announced an expanded FDA clearance for Emface covering temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and associated jaw pain, muscle re-education, local blood flow and mandibular range of motion, in addition to its original cosmetic use. It differs from Emsculpt Neo and Exion in that it pairs radiofrequency with electrical muscle stimulation for the face, rather than electromagnetic stimulation (Emsculpt Neo) or radiofrequency plus ultrasound with microneedling (Exion).

• Made by BTL Industries, Inc.
• Uses synchronized radiofrequency (to heat skin tissue) together with HIFES, BTL's high-intensity focused electrical stimulation, to contract facial muscles.
• BTL announced the U.S. release of Emface on September 19, 2022.
• On August 13, 2025, BTL announced FDA clearance expanding Emface's indications to relief of symptoms associated with muscle spasm, treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction and associated pain, muscle re-education, increased local blood flow, and maintaining or improving mandibular range of motion.
• BTL also markets an Emface Eye applicator for the under-eye area and a Submentum applicator for the area under the chin, sold as additions to the Emface platform.

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Emsculpt Neo®

combined electromagnetic muscle-stimulation and radiofrequency body-contouring device BTL Industries, Inc. (marketed as BTL Aesthetics), a U.S. subsidiary of the BTL group

Emsculpt Neo is made by BTL Industries, a medical device company that also makes Emface, Emsella and Exion. In one applicator it combines two energies at the same time: HIFEM (high-intensity focused electromagnetic) pulses that make the muscle underneath contract repeatedly, and radiofrequency energy that warms the fat layer above it. The device is used on the abdomen and on areas such as the buttocks, thighs, calves and arms as a noninvasive alternative to surgery for people who want help with muscle tone and localized fat. It was brought to the U.S. market as a combination of BTL's earlier Emsculpt (muscle stimulation only) and a fat-heating radiofrequency function, and industry reporting places its original FDA clearance and U.S. launch around 2019 to 2020, though sources are not consistent on the exact year. In October 2024, BTL announced additional FDA clearance for the same device for musculoskeletal rehabilitation uses, such as preventing disuse atrophy after injury or surgery, rather than purely cosmetic toning. It differs from BTL's original Emsculpt (electromagnetic muscle stimulation only, no radiofrequency) and from Exion (radiofrequency and ultrasound, with no electromagnetic muscle stimulation).

• Made by BTL Industries, Inc., headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.
• Combines HIFEM (high-intensity focused electromagnetic) muscle stimulation with synchronized radiofrequency heating delivered through the same applicator.
• Trade press describes it as launched to the U.S. market and FDA cleared in the 2019-2020 period for noninvasive lipolysis (fat reduction) and improvement of abdominal muscle tone; sources differ on whether 2019 or 2020 is the correct year for the original clearance.
• On October 8, 2024, BTL announced new FDA clearance for the device covering prevention/retardation of disuse atrophy, muscle re-education, maintaining or increasing range of motion, immediate post-surgical stimulation of calf muscles to help prevent venous thrombosis, relaxation of muscle spasms, and increasing local blood circulation.
• Distinct from BTL's original Emsculpt, which uses HIFEM muscle stimulation without a radiofrequency component.

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Emsella®

electromagnetic pelvic floor muscle stimulation device BTL Industries, Inc. (BTL Aesthetics)

Emsella is a chair-like device, also made by BTL Industries, that a patient sits on fully clothed. It uses the same underlying HIFEM (high-intensity focused electromagnetic) technology as BTL's body devices, but aims the energy at the pelvic floor muscles rather than the abdomen or limbs. The magnetic field causes the pelvic floor muscles to contract repeatedly during a session, which is intended to help strengthen muscles that support bladder control. BTL Emsella received FDA clearance in 2018 as a non-implanted electrical continence device for stress, urge and mixed urinary incontinence in women; the treatment involves a series of in-office sessions and requires no incisions, injections or anesthesia. It is unrelated in technology to Exion, Emface and Emsculpt Neo in that it does not use radiofrequency or ultrasound at all, relying solely on electromagnetic muscle stimulation aimed at a specific muscle group.

• Made by BTL Industries, Inc.
• Uses HIFEM (high-intensity focused electromagnetic) technology to induce repeated contractions of the pelvic floor muscles.
• Received FDA clearance in 2018 for the treatment of urinary incontinence in women; the device is described in FDA and clinical materials as a non-implanted electrical continence stimulator.
• Treatment is delivered with the patient fully clothed, seated on the device, over a series of in-office sessions.

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Exion™

radiofrequency and ultrasound skin platform, used at this practice for RF microneedling BTL Industries, Inc. (BTL Aesthetics)

Exion is a multi-handpiece skin platform from BTL Industries, the same company that makes Emsculpt Neo, Emface and Emsella. BTL introduced it in the U.S. in April 2023 and gave it a separate public launch event in the U.K. in February 2024. The platform combines monopolar radiofrequency (a form of heat energy) with targeted ultrasound, delivered into the skin at the same time, and BTL sells several interchangeable handpieces built around that combination: a Face handpiece and a Body handpiece for non-invasive skin tightening, a Fractional RF (microneedling) handpiece that delivers the radiofrequency energy through fine needles inserted into the skin, and an Emfemme 360 handpiece for intimate-health applications. UDERMA uses the Fractional RF microneedling handpiece from the Exion platform. It does not offer Morpheus8, which is a separate RF microneedling device from a different manufacturer, InMode Ltd. Exion's non-microneedling handpieces build on FDA clearances BTL already held for radiofrequency skin heating and temporary reduction in the appearance of cellulite; secondary sources describe the Exion platform as FDA-cleared, generally citing 2023, but this research could not independently confirm the exact 510(k) clearance number or date specific to the Exion-branded microneedling handpiece.

• Made by BTL Industries, Inc.
• Combines monopolar radiofrequency energy with targeted ultrasound, delivered simultaneously into the treated tissue.
• BTL introduced Exion at the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona, April 13-16, 2023.
• BTL held a separate public launch event for Exion in London on February 23, 2024, and exhibited it at the Aesthetics Conference and Exhibition (ACE) in London on March 15-16, 2024.
• The Exion platform is sold with interchangeable handpieces, including Face, Body, Fractional RF (microneedling) and Emfemme 360.
• Morpheus8, a similarly named RF microneedling device sometimes confused with Exion, is made by InMode Ltd., a different company, not BTL Industries.

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LPG Endermologie is not a BTL product. It is made by LPG Systems, a French company, and distributed in the United States as LPG America. Unlike the BTL devices, it does not use electromagnetic energy, radiofrequency or ultrasound; instead, its handpiece draws a fold of skin up into a gentle vacuum between two motorized rollers (the company calls this Independent Motorized Roller technology on the body, and a similar Motorized Pulsating Flap technology on the face), which mechanically mobilizes and massages the tissue as the handpiece is moved over the skin. It is used for body treatments aimed at the temporary appearance of cellulite and body-circumference measurements, as well as facial and wellness/recovery applications. Trade reporting from 2000 describes the FDA first clearing the device (as the Cellu M6) for temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite in April 1998, with a further clearance in March 2000 for temporary reduction in circumferential body measurements in treated areas; LPG's own current materials describe the technology as FDA cleared since 1999, a minor discrepancy in year between the two sources. It differs fundamentally from every BTL device on this page in that it is a purely mechanical, energy-free treatment rather than an electromagnetic, radiofrequency or ultrasound-based one.

• Made by LPG Systems, headquartered in France; developed by engineer Louis-Paul Guitay.
• Uses motorized rollers combined with vacuum/suction to mechanically mobilize a fold of skin and underlying tissue, rather than any electromagnetic, radiofrequency or ultrasound energy.
• An independent trade report (AHC Media, published November 1, 2000) states the FDA first cleared the original Cellu M6 endermologie device in April 1998 for temporary improvement in the appearance of cellulite, with a further FDA clearance in March 2000 covering temporary reduction in circumferential body measurements of treated areas.
• LPG America's own current marketing materials describe endermologie as FDA cleared since 1999 and state it was the first cellulite technology to receive FDA clearance; this differs by about a year from the independently reported 1998 date.
• Marketed in the U.S. by LPG America (Endo-Systems, LLC).

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(plated)® Skin Science

platelet-derived exosome skincare serum Plated Skin Science, Inc.; technology licensed from Mayo Clinic research

Plated Skin Science makes topical serums containing platelet-derived exosomes, which are tiny particles naturally released by platelets (a component of blood involved in clotting and wound healing) that carry proteins and other cell-signaling molecules. The company says its technology grew out of more than two decades of research at the Mayo Clinic into how platelets help repair tissue, which it has licensed to formulate its serums at its lab in Rochester, Minnesota. Plated states that the platelets it uses are obtained from FDA-regulated U.S. blood donation banks, from selected donors after the standard transfusion window has passed, and are then processed to isolate the exosomes. Regulatory status here is genuinely unsettled and worth stating plainly: as of 2026, no exosome product, topical or injected, has received FDA approval for any cosmetic or medical use, and Plated itself describes its own serums as a cosmetic product line rather than a drug. Separately, the FDA has issued a series of public warnings, starting with a December 2019 safety notification and continuing with additional warning letters into 2026, about serious adverse events and unapproved disease-treatment claims tied to injected or infused exosome products sold at some clinics; those warnings and enforcement actions have targeted injectable products rather than Plated's topical serums by name, but they reflect the same underlying fact that no exosome product of any kind currently carries FDA approval.

• The company states its exosome technology is based on more than 20 years of research from Mayo Clinic physician-scientists, including work from Mayo's Van Cleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program.
• Platelets are sourced from what the company describes as FDA-regulated U.S. blood donation banks.
• As of 2026, the FDA has not approved any exosome product for cosmetic or aesthetic use, whether applied topically or by injection.
• The FDA issued a public safety notification on December 6, 2019 about serious adverse events linked to unapproved, injected exosome products.
• The FDA has issued multiple warning letters to exosome product manufacturers between 2023 and 2026, citing marketing of unapproved new drugs and unlicensed biological products; these letters were issued to other companies, not Plated Skin Science.

HydraFacial Syndeo is the current-generation professional device used to deliver the HydraFacial treatment, an in-office facial that cleanses, gently exfoliates, extracts debris from pores, and infuses the skin with serums in one sitting. The device traces back to Edge Systems, a Southern California company founded in 1997 by Roger Ignon and William Cohen, which was renamed The HydraFacial Company after new ownership (Linden Capital Partners and DW Healthcare Partners) took over in December 2016. The brand's parent, The Beauty Health Company, began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SKIN in May 2021 after merging with a special-purpose acquisition company, and it introduced the Syndeo device, which adds Wi-Fi connectivity and provider-facing data features to the same basic treatment, in the US in March 2022. Devices that work this way, using mechanical exfoliation and fluid delivery across the skin's surface rather than needles, fall into the same general FDA device category as dermabrasion equipment, which does not require FDA premarket clearance; this is different from some other devices BeautyHealth separately sells, such as its FDA-cleared SkinStylus microneedling device, which is regulated differently because it penetrates the skin. HydraFacial is an aesthetic/cosmetic procedure device, not an FDA-approved drug, and it carries no FDA-cleared claim to treat any medical condition.

• Founded in 1997 in Southern California as Edge Systems, by Roger Ignon and William Cohen.
• Renamed The HydraFacial Company in December 2016/2017, following acquisition by Linden Capital Partners and DW Healthcare Partners.
• The Beauty Health Company began trading on Nasdaq (ticker: SKIN) on May 6, 2021, after merging with Vesper Healthcare Acquisition Corp.
• HydraFacial Syndeo launched in the US on March 7, 2022.
• As of June 2025, BeautyHealth reported more than 35,000 HydraFacial devices installed worldwide.

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Neocutis®

growth-factor and peptide skincare line Neocutis SA (Switzerland); owned by Merz Pharma / Merz Aesthetics since 2013

Neocutis is a Swiss-developed skincare line built around a proprietary ingredient the company calls PSP, short for Processed Skin Cell Proteins, a mixture of growth factors and other proteins produced by a laboratory-grown culture of skin cells. The company was founded in 2003, growing out of research at the University Hospital of Lausanne into whether substances made by cultured skin cells could help wounds heal. The cell culture behind PSP was established from a single donated human skin-tissue sample, and the company states that this one original donation continues to supply its manufacturing. Neocutis was acquired by the German pharmaceutical company Merz Pharma (marketed today through Merz Aesthetics) in 2013, and its products are sold as cosmetics, not as FDA-approved drugs.

• Founded in 2003, based on research from the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland.
• Acquired by Merz Pharma Group; the deal was announced July 31, 2013 and closed July 22, 2013.
• The PSP ingredient is manufactured from a cell line established from a single donated fetal skin-tissue sample; the company states this one donation supplies its ongoing manufacturing.

SkinPen Precision is a handheld device that a trained provider uses to perform microneedling, a procedure in which very fine, sterile needles create tiny, controlled punctures in the skin's surface, which is intended to prompt the body's own wound-healing response. It was originally developed by Bellus Medical, a Dallas, Texas company, and received FDA marketing authorization in 2018 for improving the appearance of facial acne scars in patients 22 and older. Crown Laboratories, a privately held skincare company, acquired Bellus Medical in 2018 and now markets the device through its Crown Aesthetics division. The FDA granted a second clearance in April 2021 covering the improvement of neck wrinkles, and in September 2024 Crown Aesthetics introduced an updated model, SkinPen Precision Elite, which received its own FDA clearance. Because it breaks the surface of the skin, SkinPen is regulated by the FDA as a medical device intended for use by a trained practitioner, unlike a purely topical cosmetic product.

• Received FDA marketing authorization in 2018 for facial acne scars, described by the manufacturer as the first FDA clearance of a microneedling device.
• Crown Laboratories acquired Bellus Medical, SkinPen's original manufacturer, in September 2018.
• Received a second FDA clearance in April 2021 for improvement of neck wrinkles.
• SkinPen Precision Elite received FDA clearance in September 2024.

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VI Peel®

professional chemical peel Vitality Institute (VI Aesthetics)

VI Peel is a chemical peel solution applied in an office setting by a licensed medical or aesthetic professional, not something a patient uses at home. Chemical peels work by applying a blend of acids to the skin so that the outer, sun-damaged or unevenly pigmented layers lift away over the following days, which is intended to reveal smoother-looking skin underneath. According to the company, the Vitality Institute was founded in 2005 by Dr. Abdala Khalil, an emergency-room physician who first mixed the formula for his daughter Marya, who had hormonal acne, at a time when many peels were considered risky to use on darker skin tones. Its published formula includes trichloroacetic acid, salicylic acid, phenol, tretinoin (a vitamin A derivative), and vitamin C, along with numbing agents for comfort; some versions used for pigment concerns add hydroquinone or kojic acid. VI Peel is sold and applied as a professional-use cosmetic/procedure product; it is not itself an FDA-approved drug or an FDA-cleared medical device, though individual ingredients in it, such as tretinoin, are separately regulated as prescription drug ingredients when sold as standalone products. After Dr. Khalil's death, his daughter Marya Khalil became the company's president and CEO.

• Founded in 2005 by Dr. Abdala Khalil.
• Marya Khalil, Dr. Khalil's daughter, is now President and CEO of the Vitality Institute.
• Published formula includes trichloroacetic acid (10-12%), salicylic acid (10-12%), phenol (10-12%), tretinoin (0.1-0.4%), and vitamin C (4%).

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ZO® Skin Health

physician-dispensed medical-grade skincare line ZO Skin Health, Inc., founded by Dr. Zein Obagi

ZO Skin Health is a line of skincare products sold through licensed skincare professionals and physicians' offices rather than through typical retail stores. It was founded in 2007 by dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi, who was born in Aleppo, Syria, earned his medical degree from the University of Damascus in 1972, and later moved to the United States to continue his training. Dr. Obagi had earlier developed the Obagi Nu-Derm skincare system in 1985 and built the company that became Obagi Medical Products, a separate company he left in 2006 before founding ZO Skin Health the following year in Beverly Hills, California. The ZO line is organized around a routine of cleansing and exfoliating, treating specific skin concerns, and sun protection, using ingredient combinations the company describes as its own proprietary formulations. ZO Skin Health products are marketed as cosmetics; this research did not confirm whether any current ZO product contains an ingredient that would classify it as an over-the-counter or prescription drug in the United States, which appears to be a distinction from the separate Obagi Medical Products brand Dr. Obagi no longer owns.

• Dr. Zein Obagi graduated from the University of Damascus in 1972.
• Developed the Obagi Nu-Derm System in 1985 and founded the Obagi Skin Health Institute the same year.
• Founded WorldWide Products, Inc. in 1988; it was sold to investors in 1997 and renamed Obagi Medical Products, Inc.
• Left Obagi Medical Products in 2006 and founded ZO Skin Health, Inc. in 2007 in Beverly Hills, California.