Candela's Revolutionary Hair Removal Laser Now Even Faster On Face, Legs, Underarms, Backs, Etc.

WAYLAND, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 9, 1998--

Larger 15mm Spot Size, Other New Features Helping to Make Company's

GentleLASE(tm) Industry's Best-Seller

Candela Corporation (Nasdaq:CLZR) announced today that its hair removal laser -- which leads the industry in terms of treatment comfort, ease and speed of usage, and low cost -- just became a lot faster. Known as GentleLASE(tm) -- this high-speed laser system is quickly becoming the laser of choice among physicians and other medical professionals seeking to provide fast, effective, comfortable and affordable hair removal. The FDA-cleared system is also used for treating facial veins and other vascular lesions.

"The enhancements that we've added -- including a 15 mm spot size for increased coverage and faster hair removal times, lower fluences for treating darker skin types, and an easy-to-use distance gauge kit -- further differentiate GentleLASE and give us an even greater edge over the competition," said Burt Salkin, Candela product manager. "It's a feature-rich package that delivers outstanding performance -- including Candela's patented Dynamic Cooling Device(tm) (DCD) -- at a fraction of the cost of other hair removal devices."

Commenting on today's faster, more comfortable hair removal treatment times using the new GentleLASE, Thomas E. Rohrer, M.D., director of dermatologic surgery, Boston University Medical Center, said: "Long-term hair removal from, for example, a woman's upper lip now takes less than 30 seconds and the chin now takes less than two minutes. Furthermore, my patients report that the new dynamic cooling device makes the treatment much more comfortable."

"In terms of efficacy, we are finding that patients with even the coarsest textured hair are getting much better and longer lasting hair removal with the GentleLASE system than they did with the ruby laser system that we had before. The Dynamic Cooling Device allows us to treat at high fluences, thereby achieving excellent results, while protecting the superficial skin," Dr. Rohrer added. "Across the board, my patients tell me that the GentleLASE treatment beats anything else they've tried, including other laser or light-based hair removal methods, daily tweezing, biweekly waxing, or long, uncomfortable and expensive electrolysis sessions," he said.

In making the announcement today about hair removal improvements using the GentleLASE system, Candela released the following data from practitioners reports about typical treatment times, but the company notes that the figures are for demonstration purposes only and that actual experiences may differ:

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Area of Treatment                    Procedure Time
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Upper Lip/Chin                       30 seconds to 2 minutes

Underarm (Axilla)                    less than 5 minutes

Forearms                             less than 30 minutes

"Bikini"                             6-10 minutes

Lower Legs                           30-40 minutes

Full Legs                            less than 60 minutes

Full Back/Chest                      30-50 minutes

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Since introducing the second-generation GentleLASE in July, Candela says that it has seen heightened market interest and a steady rise in unit sales of the advanced long-pulse alexandrite laser system. According to the company, these sales contributed to Candela's record first quarter fiscal 1999 results.

The 15 mm spot -- the largest available on a commercial hair removal laser -- has been a key addition to the GentleLASE, said Salkin. Physicians now employing the new, larger spot are consistently reporting better results in less time.

"Spot size is very important for all laser treatments, including hair removal," said Dr. Jeffrey Dover, associate chairman of the department of dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. "The bigger the spot size, up to about 15 mm, the more forward the penetration of light -- in other words, the more laser light that actually gets to the hair follicles. It's also much faster if we use a bigger spot. We can do a larger area and the patients can have their treatments done more quickly."

According to Candela's Salkin, a physician using the GentleLASE with a 15 mm spot can see not only improved results but an improved bottom line as well. "In other words, the less time the physician has to spend treating the patient, the lower the cost," he said. "And, when it comes to an elective procedure, like hair removal, that's an important consideration for the consumer -- the patient."

Increasingly, physicians are also linking GentleLASE's impressive performance to the innovative Dynamic Cooling system. This one-of-a-kind, real-time cooling capability -- currently available only on Candela lasers -- permits safe use of the high fluences which are critical to successfully "invading" the entire hair follicle and to delivering effective hair removal treatment.

"The unique Dynamic Cooling Device provides one of the most significant advantages this system has," said Michael S. Clinton, M.D., a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at McCollough Aesthetic Medical Center, in Birmingham, AL. "The cooling device is actually a nozzle that applies a spray of cryogen, a cooling element, milliseconds before the laser light is released. It protects the epidermis while allowing the laser to safely penetrate and reach the melanin around the hair shaft."

According to Dr. Clinton, in addition to improving efficacy, the DCD also helps to increase patient comfort. "While I have not used all of the other laser systems that are available for hair removal, I have observed them being used and spoken with patients who have been treated with them. The feedback I get from these patients, whom we are now treating with the GentleLASE, is that this system causes less discomfort, and that they experience minimal side effects -- pigmentation changes, blistering, and so forth."

Candela's Salkin, concluding his comments, noted: "When we introduced the GentleLASE at last year's American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting, the response was amazing and very gratifying. However, our company is not resting on our laurels. As today's announcement demonstrates, we are constantly seeking ways to improve our products, to maintain market superiority, and to meet the changing needs of the physician and patient communities. The enhancements that we have brought to the GentleLASE demonstrate our commitment to the marketplace and to serving our customers."

About Candela

Candela Corporation develops, manufactures, and distributes innovative clinical solutions that enable physicians, surgeons and personal care practitioners to treat selected cosmetic and medical conditions using lasers, cryosurgery and other proven technologies. Founded near Boston in 1970, Candela markets and services its products in over 40 countries from offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Candela established the aesthetic laser market 11 years ago. With an installed base of over 2,000 lasers worldwide, more than 500,000 aesthetic laser procedures are performed annually with Candela laser systems. For more information about Candela, visit the company's web site at http://www.clzr.com.

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements. Any such statements are subject to risks that could cause the actual results to vary materially, including negative developments relating to unforeseen audit cancellations or push-outs, Candela's strategic relationships, the impact of intense competition, and changes in the laser industry.