Head to head

CO2RE vs UltraPulse Alpha (2026)

The biggest practical difference is cost of entry: UltraPulse Alpha's new pricing is $150k–$200k, while CO2RE's is $90k–$120k. Both are used for CO2 fractional/ablative, so choose on consumable cost per treatment, cleared indications and how many treatments you can realistically book each month.

Category group: Resurfacing & pigment (ablative, fractional, picosecond, vascular)

Device A

Device B

Price comparison

Price comparison: Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha vs Candela CO2RE
Attribute	Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha	Candela CO2RE
New price range	$150k–$200k	$90k–$120k
Used asking range	$70k–$110k	$25k–$45k
Payback calculator	View ROI calculator	View ROI calculator
Next step

New price range

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: $150k–$200k
Candela CO2RE: $90k–$120k

Used asking range

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: $70k–$110k
Candela CO2RE: $25k–$45k

Payback calculator

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: View ROI calculator
Candela CO2RE: View ROI calculator

Next step

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha

Candela CO2RE

Consumable economics

Consumable economics: Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha vs Candela CO2RE
Attribute	Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha	Candela CO2RE
Consumable cost / lock-in	Core fractional handpieces and scanners are reusable — minimal per-treatment cost beyond smoke evacuator filters; certain surgical/gyn delivery devices are single-use. Annual consumables low ($1,000-3,000), but budget tube/optics service over the device's life — CO2 tube recharges run five figures out of warranty.	Minimal per-case for facial resurfacing — reusable scanner and handpieces; consumable line is smoke evacuator filters, water, and single-use tips for Intima/gyn handpieces (~$50-150 per case where used). Annual $1,000-3,000; the bigger lifecycle cost is eventual tube service.
Service cost	Not published	Not published

Consumable cost / lock-in

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: Core fractional handpieces and scanners are reusable — minimal per-treatment cost beyond smoke evacuator filters; certain surgical/gyn delivery devices are single-use. Annual consumables low ($1,000-3,000), but budget tube/optics service over the device's life — CO2 tube recharges run five figures out of warranty.
Candela CO2RE: Minimal per-case for facial resurfacing — reusable scanner and handpieces; consumable line is smoke evacuator filters, water, and single-use tips for Intima/gyn handpieces (~$50-150 per case where used). Annual $1,000-3,000; the bigger lifecycle cost is eventual tube service.

Service cost

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: Not published
Candela CO2RE: Not published

FDA clearance

FDA clearance: Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha vs Candela CO2RE
Attribute	Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha	Candela CO2RE
FDA status & indication	FDA ClearedK233301 “The Modified ULTRApulse Alpha CO2 Laser System, Delivery Devices and Accessories (members of the UltraPulse CO2 Laser Systems Family) is indicated for use in surgical or aesthetic applications requiring: ablation, vaporization, excision, incision, or coagulation of soft tissue in medical specialties including: dermatology and plastic surgery (aesthetic), podiatry, gynecology, general and thoracic surgery, dental and oral surgery and genitourinary surgery as follows: Dermatology & Plastic Surgery — The ablation, vaporization, excision, incision, and coagulation of soft tissue in dermatology and plastic surgery in the performance of: • Laser skin resurfacing • Laser derm-abrasion • Laser burn debridement. Laser skin resurfacing (ablation and/or vaporization) for treatment of: • Wrinkles, rhytids, and furrows (including fine lines and texture irregularities). Laser skin resurfacing (ablation and/or vaporization) of soft tissue for the reduction, removal, and/or treatment of: • Keratoses, including actinic and seborrheic keratosis, seborrhoecae vulgares, seborrheic wart and verruca seborrheica • Vermillionectomy of the lip • Cutaneous horns • Solar/actinic elastosis • Cheilitis, including actinic cheilitis • Lentigines, including lentigo maligna or Hutchinson's malignant freckle • Uneven pigmentation/dyschromia • Acne scars • Surgical scars • Keloids including acne keloidalis nuchae • Hemangiomas (including Buccal, port wine and pyogenic granulomas/granuloma pyogenicum/granuloma telangiectaticum) • Tattoos • Telangiectasia • Removal of small skin tumors, including periungual (Koenen) and subungual fibromas • Superficial pigmented lesions • Adenosebaceous hypertrophy or sebaceous hyperplasia • Rhinophyma reduction • Cutaneous papilloma (skin tags) • Milia • Debridement of eczematous or infected skin • Basal and squamous cell carcinoma, including keratoacanthomas, Bowen's disease (Erythroplasia of Queyrat), and Bowenoid Papulosis (BP) lesions • Nevi, including spider, epidermal and protruding • Neurofibromas • Laser de-epithelialization • Tricoepitheliomas • Xanthelasma palpebrarum […]”	FDA ClearedK151655, K181523 “The CO2RE is indicated for use in surgical applications requiring the ablation, vaporization, excision, incision, and coagulation of soft tissue in medical specialties including: aesthetic surgery (dermatology and plastic surgery), podiatry, gynecology, neurosurgery, orthopedics (soft tissue), arthroscopy (knee). The CO2RE is indicated for dermatological procedures requiring ablation, coagulation and resurfacing of soft tissue, including skin. The Standard Handpiece of the CO2RE System is indicated for the following: Dermatology & Plastic Surgery The ablation, vaporization, excision, incision, and coagulation of soft tissue in dermatology and plastic surgery in the performance of: x laser skin resurfacing x laser dermabrasion x laser burn debridement. Laser skin resurfacing (ablation and/or vaporization) for the treatment of: x wrinkles, rhytids, and furrows (including fines lines and texture irregularities) Clinical literature demonstrates that skin resurfacing of wrinkles, rhytids, and furrows with CO2 laser increases the amount of sub-epidermal collagen.”

FDA status & indication

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: FDA ClearedK233301
“The Modified ULTRApulse Alpha CO2 Laser System, Delivery Devices and Accessories (members of the UltraPulse CO2 Laser Systems Family) is indicated for use in surgical or aesthetic applications requiring: ablation, vaporization, excision, incision, or coagulation of soft tissue in medical specialties including: dermatology and plastic surgery (aesthetic), podiatry, gynecology, general and thoracic surgery, dental and oral surgery and genitourinary surgery as follows: Dermatology & Plastic Surgery — The ablation, vaporization, excision, incision, and coagulation of soft tissue in dermatology and plastic surgery in the performance of: • Laser skin resurfacing • Laser derm-abrasion • Laser burn debridement. Laser skin resurfacing (ablation and/or vaporization) for treatment of: • Wrinkles, rhytids, and furrows (including fine lines and texture irregularities). Laser skin resurfacing (ablation and/or vaporization) of soft tissue for the reduction, removal, and/or treatment of: • Keratoses, including actinic and seborrheic keratosis, seborrhoecae vulgares, seborrheic wart and verruca seborrheica • Vermillionectomy of the lip • Cutaneous horns • Solar/actinic elastosis • Cheilitis, including actinic cheilitis • Lentigines, including lentigo maligna or Hutchinson's malignant freckle • Uneven pigmentation/dyschromia • Acne scars • Surgical scars • Keloids including acne keloidalis nuchae • Hemangiomas (including Buccal, port wine and pyogenic granulomas/granuloma pyogenicum/granuloma telangiectaticum) • Tattoos • Telangiectasia • Removal of small skin tumors, including periungual (Koenen) and subungual fibromas • Superficial pigmented lesions • Adenosebaceous hypertrophy or sebaceous hyperplasia • Rhinophyma reduction • Cutaneous papilloma (skin tags) • Milia • Debridement of eczematous or infected skin • Basal and squamous cell carcinoma, including keratoacanthomas, Bowen's disease (Erythroplasia of Queyrat), and Bowenoid Papulosis (BP) lesions • Nevi, including spider, epidermal and protruding • Neurofibromas • Laser de-epithelialization • Tricoepitheliomas • Xanthelasma palpebrarum […]”
Candela CO2RE: FDA ClearedK151655, K181523
“The CO2RE is indicated for use in surgical applications requiring the ablation, vaporization, excision, incision, and coagulation of soft tissue in medical specialties including: aesthetic surgery (dermatology and plastic surgery), podiatry, gynecology, neurosurgery, orthopedics (soft tissue), arthroscopy (knee). The CO2RE is indicated for dermatological procedures requiring ablation, coagulation and resurfacing of soft tissue, including skin. The Standard Handpiece of the CO2RE System is indicated for the following: Dermatology & Plastic Surgery The ablation, vaporization, excision, incision, and coagulation of soft tissue in dermatology and plastic surgery in the performance of: x laser skin resurfacing x laser dermabrasion x laser burn debridement. Laser skin resurfacing (ablation and/or vaporization) for the treatment of: x wrinkles, rhytids, and furrows (including fines lines and texture irregularities) Clinical literature demonstrates that skin resurfacing of wrinkles, rhytids, and furrows with CO2 laser increases the amount of sub-epidermal collagen.”

Which chains run each

Which chains run each: Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha vs Candela CO2RE
Attribute	Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha	Candela CO2RE
Chain adoption	0 recorded pairings	0 recorded pairings
Chains using it	—	—
Approved reviews	0	0

Chain adoption

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: 0 recorded pairings
Candela CO2RE: 0 recorded pairings

Chains using it

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: —
Candela CO2RE: —

Approved reviews

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: 0
Candela CO2RE: 0

Specs and platform

Specs and platform: Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha vs Candela CO2RE
Attribute	Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha	Candela CO2RE
Manufacturer	Lumenis	Candela
Built by (OEM)	Lumenis Be Ltd.	Syneron Medical Ltd.
Category	CO2 Fractional/Ablative	CO2 Fractional/Ablative
Technology	CO2 10600nm high-energy fractional (CO2 fractional)	Fractional CO2 10600nm dual-ring scanning (CO2 fractional)
Launch year	2019	2011
Status	Current	Current
OEM platform	—	—

Manufacturer

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: Lumenis
Candela CO2RE: Candela

Built by (OEM)

Lumenis UltraPulse Alpha: Lumenis Be Ltd.
Candela CO2RE: Syneron Medical Ltd.

Alternatives

Other devices in the same subcategory.

Rohrer Aesthetics Phoenix CO2

CO2 Fractional/Ablative

New: $50k–$75k

Cynosure SmartSkin+

CO2 Fractional/Ablative

New: —

Lumenis AcuPulse

CO2 Fractional/Ablative

New: $90k–$130k

Lumenis UltraPulse DUO

CO2 Fractional/Ablative

New: —

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