LUMENIS GETS JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IMPORT APPROVAL.

Lumenis Ltd, formerly ESC Medical Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: LUME), Yokneam, Israel, has received import approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for importing its IPL systems into Japan. This approval, together with the approval received last quarter for the Nd:YAG laser of the VascuLight system significantly expands the market potential for Lumenis' aesthetic systems into the Japanese medical channel.

"This approval is a major milestone in our penetration of the aesthetic medical market in Japan," said Yacha Sutton, president and CEO. "We have already found a significant market for our hair removal products among Japanese patients and customers in the non-medical channel. We will now be able to promote the entire range of IPL aesthetic products to the Japanese medical channel".

"Despite the recessionary environment there for the past few years, Japan is one of our fastest growing and profitable markets," Sutton continued. "This approval enables us to effectively sell our highest margin products into our highest margin geographic market."

Alon Maor, executive vice president, Aesthetic Business Unit, and, until recently, CEO of ESC's Asia operations commented, "The import approval opens several marketing vistas and opportunities for us in Japan especially in the growing market segments of the in-office and hospital medical communities. This includes, among others, phlebologists, vascular surgeons, dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons, gynecologists, and plastic surgeons. With the completion of the Coherent Medical Group acquisition at the end of April, and the successful merging of both companies' Japan operations, we are witnessing significant cross-selling benefits of our 33-strong sales force. We are also able to sell IPL systems to existing LightSheer customers, hospitals, and other physicians interested in expanding their aesthetic practices."

Lumenis Ltd, formerly ESC Medical Systems Ltd, develops manufactures and markets state-of-the-art proprietary laser and intense pulsed light devices. Its systems are used in a variety of aesthetic, surgical and ophthalmic applications, including hair removal, non-invasive treatment of vascular lesions and pigmented lesions, acne, ENT, gynecology, urinary lithotripsy, benign prostatic hyperplasia, open angle glaucoma, secondary cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and refractive eye correction, as well as neurosurgery.

For more information, call 1-800-209-1671 or 212-704-8243 or visit http://www.lumenis.com and http://www.escmed.com.