Photolysis HR Basic facts:
Photolysis HR is basically just a marketing term for a flash
lamp procedure using multiple pulses. The treatments, sold at
the California-based  Institute of Laser Medicine (ILM) are certainly
overhyped by the physician/salesman offering the treatments. Is
it better than other flash lamps like EpiLight, or is it better
than lasers as he claims? Let's cut through the considerable amount
of hype and take a look at the facts.
Update: On 6 December 2001, a lawyer for Photolysis HR sent
me a letter
threatening legal action. If I ever receive a reply to the
questions in my response,
I will make it available.
Corporate offices
Address: Institute of Laser Medicine 100 UCLA Medical Plaza,
Suites 205-210, Los Angeles, California 90095
Phone: (310) 824-6191
website: www.lasermedicine.org
website: www.universitylaser.com (mirror site)
website: www.consumerlaserguide.com ("educational"
site)
Address: 361 Hospital Road, Suite 428, Newport Beach, California
92663
Phone: (949) 574-8400
Institute Research Associates, A Medical Group, Inc..
Personnel
Edward Lewis Tobinick, M.D.
Susan Davoodifar, M.D. (no longer associated) *
* I received the following note on 19 January 2006: "I am writing to request the removal of my wife’s name (Susan Davoodifar, MD) [from your site]. We believe that your website wrongfully involves her in your accusations as she was working at the ILM solely as an employee. She never had at any point any involvement in the business operations of the ILM other than treating patients, which she did with great professionalism, care and highest levels of ethics. At no time was she involved in any business decision or managerial activities, as well as advertising and marketing of the ILM. In addition, it is outdated information as she has not been working at the Institute of Laser Medicine for a considerable amount of time."
Marketing terms:
Photolysis HRŸ
Synthesized Light TechnologyŸ
Tuned Multipulse(TMP)Ÿ Technology
Site analysis
Every hair removal method has a couple of overexuberant salespeople.
For flash lamps, it's Dr. Edward Tobinick.
The hype:
"available exclusively at the Institute of Laser Medicine."
"There is not a comparable facility anywhere else in
the world."
"unparalleled clinical advantages"
"finest facility"
"unparalleled quality"
"the skin itself is unaffected."
"overwhelming first choice"
"Ability to treat hair of all colors" (note: After
being discussed on hairfacts, Photolysis HR removed this fraudulent
claim in November 2001)
Perhaps the most unfounded claim was the comparison chart which claimed Photolysis
HR is a "third generation" device with better safety
and efficacy that ruby and alexandrite lasers. There is no
published data supporting this claim. (note: After being discussed
on hairfacts, Photolysis HR removed this fraudulent claim
in November 2001 and replaced it with other promotional material.)
Also misleading are poorly labeled results photos with no
long term follow-up after final treatment. Most were taken
in 1997, and the accompanying captions often suggest a complete
and permanent result after one treatment:
One caption of a patient's
test patch states the patient "had his entire beard
removed with the same process. This took only one hour."
This caption suggests permanent and complete male facial
hair removal in just one treatment, which is not typical
and was probably not the case with the pictured patient.
Another caption of a patient's
chest states the procedure is "gentle, instantaneous,
and had no side effects of any kind, other than complete
loss of hair." Well, no side effects except for the
outbreak of acne and ingrown hairs shown four weeks after
treatment.
The reality (as stated elsewhere in Photolysis HR promotional
material):
"Individual results for any given patient cannot be
guaranteed, nor can they be predicted with absolute accuracy.
Results may vary. Although permanent hair reduction can occur
after laser hair removal, for any given patient no assurance
of permanency can be guaranteed, nor is any implied."
"The best candidates have dark, coarse hair and light
skin. Blond and red hair on tanned skin cannot be successfully
treated."
"Brown and black hair is the easiest to remove. White
and gray hair, which lack pigment, will not respond to treatment.
Blond and red hair is difficult to remove with current laser
technology."
"At the present time all of the laser technologies have
difficulty treating patients with dark skin. This includes
dark African-American patients and darkly skinned members
of other darkly pigmented races(such as dark Middle Eastern
and dark Indian patients). Lighter skinned people of color
can generally be treated as long as their hair is dark and
coarse."
The facts about multiple pulses
Dr. Tobinick's patents discuss "parametrically defined pulse
groups," which he claims can allow "the use of greater
energy with greater safety, when compared with single pulse laser
delivery." Studies do indicate that multiple pulse treatments
are "clinically superior to single pulse laser delivery,"
as he says, but multiple pulses are certainly not exclusive to
Photolysis. Almost all lasers and flash lamps allow for multiple
pulses.
Patents
6,168,589 "Apparatus and method employing a single laser
for removal of hair"
6,165,171 "Apparatus and method employing lasers for removal
of hair"
6,149,645 "Apparatus and method employing lasers for removal
of hair"
6,080,147 "Method of employing a flashlamp for removal
of hair, veins and capillaries"
Trademarks
Photolysis is a term used outside of hair removal, but is trademarked for use in hair removal as"Photolysis
HR" by ILM:
Typed Drawing
Word Mark PHOTOLYSIS HR
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: cosmetic services
in the nature of removal of unwanted hair.
FIRST USE: 19970901.
FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19970901
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 75268412
Filing Date April 2, 1997
Filed ITU FILED AS ITU
Published for Opposition February 24, 1998
Registration Number 2232801
Registration Date March 16, 1999
Owner (REGISTRANT) Tobinick, Edward L. INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES
100 UCLA
Medical Plaza, Suite 205 Los Angeles CALIFORNIA 900956903
Attorney of Record DOUGLAS LIPSTONE
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE "PHOTOLYSIS"
APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
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