Head to head

GentleMax Pro Plus vs PicoSure Pro (2026)

The biggest practical difference is cost of entry: PicoSure Pro's new pricing is $100k–$140k, while GentleMax Pro Plus's is $110k–$140k. They are used for different treatments (PicoSure Pro: picosecond tattoo/pigment; GentleMax Pro Plus: alexandrite + nd:yag), so the right pick depends on which treatments you're building demand for.

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

Category group: Hair removal (diode, alexandrite, Nd:YAG, IPL)

Device A

Device B

Price comparison

Price comparison: Cynosure PicoSure Pro vs Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Attribute	Cynosure PicoSure Pro	Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
New price range	$100k–$140k	$110k–$140k
Used asking range	$60k–$95k	Used GentleMax Pro $35k–$65k
Payback calculator	View ROI calculator	View ROI calculator
Next step

New price range

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: $100k–$140k
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: $110k–$140k

Used asking range

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: $60k–$95k
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: Used GentleMax Pro $35k–$65k

Payback calculator

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: View ROI calculator
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: View ROI calculator

Next step

Cynosure PicoSure Pro

Candela GentleMax Pro Plus

Consumable economics

Consumable economics: Cynosure PicoSure Pro vs Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Attribute	Cynosure PicoSure Pro	Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Consumable cost / lock-in	No true per-treatment consumable — but the alexandrite architecture means periodic lamp/laser-head service, and the Cynosure service contract functions as the de facto consumable. Contract and out-of-warranty repair pricing are not published — get them in writing before you sign.	The DCD cryogen canister — a few dollars per treatment, roughly ~$2k-6k/year at busy-clinic volume; distance gauges and windows are minor wear items. Trivial next to a CoolSculpting-style tax, but not zero — put it in the model.
Service cost	Not published	Not published

Consumable cost / lock-in

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: No true per-treatment consumable — but the alexandrite architecture means periodic lamp/laser-head service, and the Cynosure service contract functions as the de facto consumable. Contract and out-of-warranty repair pricing are not published — get them in writing before you sign.
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: The DCD cryogen canister — a few dollars per treatment, roughly ~$2k-6k/year at busy-clinic volume; distance gauges and windows are minor wear items. Trivial next to a CoolSculpting-style tax, but not zero — put it in the model.

Service cost

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: Not published
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: Not published

FDA clearance

FDA clearance: Cynosure PicoSure Pro vs Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Attribute	Cynosure PicoSure Pro	Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
FDA status & indication	FDA ClearedK210226 “PicoSure Workstation (K210226) PicoSure Workstation (K173199) RevLite Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser System (K133254) 755nm: The PicoSure Workstation is indicated for tattoo and benign pigmented lesions removal including but not limited to: Nevus of Ota, Hori macules (nevus of Hori), and Melasma. The PicoSure Workstation with the 2mm and 6mm hand pieces and the Focus Array are indicated for the treatment of acne scars and wrinkles in Skin Types I – IV. 532nm: The PicoSure 532-nm delivery system is indicated for tattoo removal and benign pigmented lesions removal in Skin Types I- III. 1064nm: The PicoSure 1064-nm delivery system is indicated for tattoo and benign pigmented lesions removal. 755 nm: The PicoSure Workstation is indicated for tattoo and benign pigmented lesions removal. The PicoSure Workstation with the 2mm and 6mm handpieces and the Focus Array are indicated for the treatment of acne scars and wrinkles in Skin Types I-IV. 532 nm: The PicoSure 532 nm Laser Delivery System is indicated for tattoo removal and benign pigmented lesion removal in Skin Types I-III. 1064 nm: The PicoSure 1064 nm Laser Delivery System is indicated for tattoo and benign pigmented lesions removal. 1064 nm: Tattoo Removal (dark ink: blue and black) Dermal Pigmented Lesions; including but not limited to; Nevus of Ota, Lentigines, Nevi, Melasma and Café-au-lait Removal or lightening of hair with or without adjuvant preparation.”	FDA ClearedK201111, K112715, K133283 “755nm: Temporary hair reduction. Stable long-term or permanent reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction is defined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing after a treatment regime. Permanent hair reduction is defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing when measured at 6, 9, and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. On all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI) including tanned skin. Treatment of benign pigmented lesions. Treatment of wrinkles. The photocoagulation of dermatological vascular lesions (such as port-wine stains, hemangiomas, telangiectasias). 1064nm: Removal of unwanted hair, for stable long term or permanent hair reduction and for treatment of PFB. Permanent hair reduction is defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing when measured at 6, 9, and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. The lasers are indicated on all skin types Fitzpatrick I-VI including tanned skin. Photocoagulation and hemostasis of pigmented and vascular lesions such as but not limited to port wine stains, hemangioma, warts, telangiectasia, rosacea, venous lake, leg veins and spider veins. Coagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue. Benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots), cafe au lait macules, seborrheic keratosis, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratosis, tattoos (significant reduction in the intensity of black and/or blue-black tattoos) and plaques. The laser is indicated for pigmented lesions to reduce lesion size, for patients with lesions that would potentially benefit from aggressive treatment, and for patients with lesions that have not responded to other laser treatments. Reduction of red pigmentation in hypertrophic and keloid scars where vascularity is an integral part of the scar. Treatment of wrinkles. Temporary increase of clear nail in patients with onychomycosis (e.g., dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, and/or yeast Candida Albicans, etc.)”

FDA status & indication

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: FDA ClearedK210226
“PicoSure Workstation (K210226) PicoSure Workstation (K173199) RevLite Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser System (K133254) 755nm: The PicoSure Workstation is indicated for tattoo and benign pigmented lesions removal including but not limited to: Nevus of Ota, Hori macules (nevus of Hori), and Melasma. The PicoSure Workstation with the 2mm and 6mm hand pieces and the Focus Array are indicated for the treatment of acne scars and wrinkles in Skin Types I – IV. 532nm: The PicoSure 532-nm delivery system is indicated for tattoo removal and benign pigmented lesions removal in Skin Types I- III. 1064nm: The PicoSure 1064-nm delivery system is indicated for tattoo and benign pigmented lesions removal. 755 nm: The PicoSure Workstation is indicated for tattoo and benign pigmented lesions removal. The PicoSure Workstation with the 2mm and 6mm handpieces and the Focus Array are indicated for the treatment of acne scars and wrinkles in Skin Types I-IV. 532 nm: The PicoSure 532 nm Laser Delivery System is indicated for tattoo removal and benign pigmented lesion removal in Skin Types I-III. 1064 nm: The PicoSure 1064 nm Laser Delivery System is indicated for tattoo and benign pigmented lesions removal. 1064 nm: Tattoo Removal (dark ink: blue and black) Dermal Pigmented Lesions; including but not limited to; Nevus of Ota, Lentigines, Nevi, Melasma and Café-au-lait Removal or lightening of hair with or without adjuvant preparation.”
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: FDA ClearedK201111, K112715, K133283
“755nm: Temporary hair reduction. Stable long-term or permanent reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Permanent hair reduction is defined as long-term stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing after a treatment regime. Permanent hair reduction is defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing when measured at 6, 9, and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. On all skin types (Fitzpatrick I-VI) including tanned skin. Treatment of benign pigmented lesions. Treatment of wrinkles. The photocoagulation of dermatological vascular lesions (such as port-wine stains, hemangiomas, telangiectasias). 1064nm: Removal of unwanted hair, for stable long term or permanent hair reduction and for treatment of PFB. Permanent hair reduction is defined as the long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing when measured at 6, 9, and 12 months after the completion of a treatment regime. The lasers are indicated on all skin types Fitzpatrick I-VI including tanned skin. Photocoagulation and hemostasis of pigmented and vascular lesions such as but not limited to port wine stains, hemangioma, warts, telangiectasia, rosacea, venous lake, leg veins and spider veins. Coagulation and hemostasis of soft tissue. Benign pigmented lesions such as, but not limited to, lentigos (age spots), solar lentigos (sun spots), cafe au lait macules, seborrheic keratosis, nevi, chloasma, verrucae, skin tags, keratosis, tattoos (significant reduction in the intensity of black and/or blue-black tattoos) and plaques. The laser is indicated for pigmented lesions to reduce lesion size, for patients with lesions that would potentially benefit from aggressive treatment, and for patients with lesions that have not responded to other laser treatments. Reduction of red pigmentation in hypertrophic and keloid scars where vascularity is an integral part of the scar. Treatment of wrinkles. Temporary increase of clear nail in patients with onychomycosis (e.g., dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes, and/or yeast Candida Albicans, etc.)”

Which chains run each

Which chains run each: Cynosure PicoSure Pro vs Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Attribute	Cynosure PicoSure Pro	Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Chain adoption	0 recorded pairings	3 recorded pairings
Chains using it	—	Ideal Image(Confirmed) SEV Laser(Reported) European Wax Center(Confirmed)
Approved reviews	0	0

Chain adoption

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: 0 recorded pairings
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: 3 recorded pairings

Chains using it

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: —
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: Ideal Image(Confirmed)
SEV Laser(Reported)
European Wax Center(Confirmed)

Approved reviews

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: 0
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: 0

Specs and platform

Specs and platform: Cynosure PicoSure Pro vs Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Attribute	Cynosure PicoSure Pro	Candela GentleMax Pro Plus
Manufacturer	Cynosure	Candela
Built by (OEM)	Cynosure LLC	Candela Corporation
Category	Picosecond Tattoo/Pigment	Alexandrite + Nd:YAG
Technology	755nm picosecond alexandrite (higher energy) (Alexandrite)	Dual 755nm alexandrite + 1064nm Nd:YAG (Alexandrite)
Launch year	2022	2021
Status	Current	Current (GentleMax Pro discontinued, huge used market)
OEM platform	—	—

Manufacturer

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: Cynosure
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: Candela

Built by (OEM)

Cynosure PicoSure Pro: Cynosure LLC
Candela GentleMax Pro Plus: Candela Corporation

Alternatives

Other devices in the same subcategory.

InMode Picofy

Picosecond Tattoo/Pigment

New: —

Cutera enlighten III

Picosecond Tattoo/Pigment

New: $90k–$130k

Candela PicoWay

Picosecond Tattoo/Pigment

New: $100k–$150k

WONTECH PicoCare 450

Picosecond Tattoo/Pigment

New: $80k–$110k

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