Cynosure (Palomar) Vectus

Diode laser · 810nm high-power diode, large spot

CurrentFDA ClearedBe the first to review

What it's actually cleared for: 810nm diode laser cleared for hair removal, permanent hair reduction and pseudofolliculitis barbae

Last verified: August 6, 2026 · How we verify

New: $70k–$95k|Used: $18k–$35kmarket estimate, no email required

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Bottom line

The throughput king of diode hair removal — a 12x25mm sapphire-cooled window and fast rep rate clear a full back in ~15 minutes, and the Skintel melanin reader takes guesswork (and medicolegal exposure) out of settings. A dedicated hair machine with zero pretense of doing anything else — simple, reliable, cheap to run. At ~$20k-35k used or ~$50k-70k negotiated new, the strongest pure-play alternative to the LightSheer franchise.

Overview

Fast large-area diode w/ Skintel

How it works

The science

810nm diode — melanin absorbs, heat destroys hair-regenerating structures. Adjustable pulse widths and fluences cover Fitzpatrick I-VI (dark skin at conservative long-pulse settings); cleared for hair removal, permanent reduction, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. The oversized uniform beam is the engineering point: consistent energy across a huge spot = fewer missed patches, faster coverage.

Patented tech

Skintel is the industry's only FDA-cleared live melanin reader — measures actual epidermal melanin and suggests settings rather than eyeballing Fitzpatrick type. Advanced Contact Cooling is a sapphire cold plate across the full large spot. Real, functional Palomar engineering.

Origin

Developed by Palomar (Burlington, MA); manufactured under Cynosure (Westford, MA) post-2013 — verify current production site.

FDA & regulatory status

FDA ClearedCleared via 510(k)

What it's actually cleared for:

810nm diode laser cleared for hair removal, permanent hair reduction and pseudofolliculitis barbae

510(k) numbers

K120622

Regulatory data is compiled from public FDA 510(k) records and may lag recent clearances. Always confirm status with the manufacturer before purchase.

Treatment economics

What practices charge

~$75-150 small areas, ~$200-400 large areas, six-session courses at 20-30% off, full-body packages ~$2,000-3,500. Speed is the margin story — more large-area appointments per day than almost anything else.

Consumables & recurring cost

Essentially none — no gel needed with the contact-cooled handpiece; Skintel hygiene caps are pocket change. Long-run cost is diode life and chiller maintenance; handpiece rebuild ~$8k-14k out of warranty.

Ideal for

Best-fit practice

Volume hair removal businesses — chains, membership medspas, diverse-Fitzpatrick practices wanting the Skintel safety net for less-experienced operators. Not for owners who want skin or vascular work from the same box — that's the Icon.

Compliance

Medical director & delegation

Class II prescription device requiring a medical director; day-to-day delegated to laser techs, aestheticians, or RNs under protocol where allowed — varies sharply by state.

Contraindications & screening

Tanned/recently sun-exposed skin, isotretinoin history, pregnancy, photosensitizers, active infection/herpes, keloid tendency; screen non-pigmented hair as non-responders.

Ownership

Warranty & service

~1 year new; extended ~$7k-12k/year; post-merger Cynosure service is inconsistent by region — many owners run older Vectus units on well-supplied third-party service. Ask hard SLA questions before buying new.

Resale & used market

Good liquidity — steady trade at ~$18k-30k (recent listings around $25k); values stable-to-slightly-declining as the model ages without a direct successor.