Sciton obtains FDA clearance for Permanent Hair Reduction

   November 9, 2001, Palo Alto, CA – Sciton, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared the IMAGE™ Longpulse Nd:YAG laser system for permanent hair reduction in skin types I-VI. Image achieves permanent hair reduction through selective targeting of melanin in hair follicles. Previously, the Image laser system was cleared by the FDA for treating hair removal and a broad range of vascular lesions.

  “With the longer wavelength, deeper effects of the technology can be applied for hair removal and effectively treat dark-skinned individuals by bypassing the epidermal melanin. The 1064 wavelength is rapidly becoming recognized as the wavelength of choice for all skin types. Sciton’s unique range of parameters and efficient cooling is an enabling technology,” explained Dr. Jason Pozner, who is a board certified plastic surgeon in Boca Raton, Fl.

  According to Dr. Dan Negus, President of Sciton, Inc., “We are very excited about the approval and encouraged that the FDA has cleared Image for permanent hair reduction. Sciton’s unique technology, coupled with efficient delivery system and superior epidermal cooling, provide the physician with a wide range of treatment options for patients with skin types I-IV. Efficacy, Pain Management and Speed are the three critical elements that need to be present in a hair removal system and Image has all three. We now plan to proceed with our marketing launch and like our previous product, Contour™, fully expect this product to rapidly reach market dominance.”

  In 1998, Sciton revolutionized the skin resurfacing market with the introduction of the Contour dual mode long pulse erbium laser that allows physicians to independently select the depth of ablation and coagulation. Physicians are able to choose the depth of treatment required to achieve effective results in measurements of microns of tissue, resulting in an extremely repeatable and uniform treatment.

  Sciton, Inc., based in Palo Alto, CA, was co-founded in 1997 by physicist, founder and former chairman of Coherent, Inc., Dr. James L. Hobart. Sciton’s skilled and highly experienced team of laser physicists and engineers develop lasers for aesthetic and other medical procedures.

About Sciton, Inc.

Sciton, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA) develops and distributes innovative, multipurpose devices for aesthetic and surgical medicine.

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Sciton, Inc.    845 Commercial Street, Palo Alto, CA 94303        Phone: 650-493-9155

Fax: 650-492-9146     Web: www.sciton.com