Rejuvenu International Limited In June 2001,  International Hair Removal
Systems (IHRS) changed its name again to Rejuvenu. It's a
North Carolina-based company that manufactures and sells "transcutaneous
hair removal" devices under several names, including the
Super Phaser Gold.
Products made by Rejuvenu International
Limited should be avoided by all consumers.
On 2 April 2001, FDA told Rejuvenu (then called IHRS) they were
in violation of federal
law in making claims of painless and permanent hair removal
using transcutaneous patches. This was their second such notification,
and it echoes earlier advisements they received from the Federal
Trade Commission.
It turns out Rejuvenu was claiming they had clearance based on
a 1990 decision by FDA regarding an electric tweezer (for details,
click here).
FDA told them they had no clearance of any kind for transdermal
or transcutaneous heir removal.
Rejuvenu responded
in May 2001, but FDA responded
in October 2001 that Rejuvenu was still in violation of federal
regulations with their unevaluated claims of permanent hair removal.
In June 2002, ihrsinc.com went offline and was replaced with
Christian educational materials. The site is now back up with
a redesign.
On 26 November 2002, Rejuvenu lawyer Richard J. Costanza sent
me a tepid
legal threat on the heels of their $1000.00 bounty on me.
In June 2004, Rejuvenu "medical consultant" Michael
T. Ricks, Sr. was arrested
on 31 counts of criminal impersonation and sexual assault. I had
reported his activities to the Colorado
Attorney General, the Better Business Bureau, and the FDA
in 2002. Had the Coloado Attorney General stepped in to shut him
down, these assaults on his clients could have been averted.
In August 2004 came an FDA
Warning Letter citing multiple counts of misbranding and adulteration.
Products
Super Phaser Gold (sometimes
written as Super-Phaser Gold or SuperPhaser Gold)
TransQ-2000 ("exclusive
distributor" is HairLabs
International)
Pinnacle 1250 ("exclusive
distributor" is Harmonix
Corporation)
Also see my comparison of "transcutaneous"
devices.
Contact information
Address: 230 North Bennett Street,
Suite 101, Southern Pines, NC 28387
Phone: (800) 257-9987 or (910) 692-7120
Fax: (910) 944-4786
website: http://www.ihrsinc.com/ (changed to a non-hair
removal site)
email: info@ihrsinc.com,
rejuvenu@aol.com info@rejuvenu.com
additional 2002 information
email: leecole007@aol.com, lee@rejuvenu.com,
phasehair@aol.com (Lee Cole) mark2683@hotmail.com (Mark Chandler)
Address: Rejuvenu 160 South May St.
Southern Pines, NC 28387 US
Phone: ( 910) 692-3160
Fax: ( 910) 692-7226
Fax: (910) 692-7987
website: www.rejuvenu.com
website: www.americanhairrremoval.com
website: www.electrolysis-hair-removal.com
Address:11832 US 15/501 South, Unit #2 Aberdeen, NC 28315
Address: P.O. Box 55, Southern Pines, NC 28387
Phone: 910-944-4780
Fax: 910-944-4786
Names associated with this company
Lee
Cole (a.k.a. Hubert Cole): owner lee@ihrsinc.com, phasehair@aol.com
leecole007@AOL.COM
Mark
H. Chandler: "medical consultant" doc@ihrsinc.com mark2683@hotmail.com
Michael
T. Ricks, Sr.: another "medical consultant"
arrested
in 2004
Shirley Singleton: claimed to be a registered
nurse and electrologist
Shirley Tarlington: based in Southern Pines
William Rolland: Instructor, Sandhills Community
College
Ed Wait: Sales Director
Randy Russell: Trainer
John Evans: Sales
Ben Anderson: Web domain
contact as of 2002
David Petsolt: Web domain
contact through 2001 (via Client Solutions)*
Karen Handy: Responisble
for promotional materials created for IHRS in 2001 and still
in use (via Client Solutions)*
Tana Thames: Executive Sales Director mygrace4u@aol.com
Richard J. Costanza: lawyer
Kim Eyer: Web hosting keyer@eyerstation.com
340 Commerce Ave. Yadkin Plaza, Suite #12 Southern
Pines, NC 28387 910.246.0973
161-10 East New Hampshire Avenue Southern Pines, NC 28387
910-246-0973
Insatiable Technologies PO Box 4808 Pinehurst, NC 28374
domreg@insatiable.cc
Greg Lamb: Site designer, Lamb Designs 382 Grant
Street Sanford, NC 27330 919-777-9222 lambdesigns.com
* see notes on domains and web marketing below
Notes
In 2001, IHRS had listed the following companies as IHRS distributors or salespeople for the Super
Phaser Gold, TransQ-2000 or the Pinnacle 1250. This page was removed
from the Rejuvenu website in Fall 2001, but I leave it up to help
consumers avoid the kinds of companies that sell Rejuvenu products.
All the businesses below should
be avoided by consumers because of their involvement with this
company.
|
Company
|
Location
|
Phone
|
Contact
|
Comments
|
|
Gemini
Body Works
|
Denver, CO
|
720-857-8288
|
Michael
T. Ricks, Sr.
|
arrested
in 2004
|
|
Kats
Management *
|
Lincoln, NE
|
800-843-9162
|
Marcy
|
Chiropractic supply
|
|
U
S Medical *
|
Denver, CO
|
800-607-7455 (x 205)
|
R.H.*
|
Medical supply
|
|
Hair
Labs
|
Nashville, TN
|
615-320-7984
|
James Britt
|
Sells "breast cream," too
|
|
Harmonix
Corp. *
|
Boca Raton, FL
|
888-446-3747
|
Oyvind Berg
|
Sells "laser hair regenerator," too
|
|
No
Needle Electrolysis
|
Macon, GA
|
800-245-4959
|
Grace Johnson
|
Salon and "school"
|
|
Consulting
Studio *
|
Lincoln, NE
|
402-464-6536
|
Don & Nola O'Neal
|
Salon
|
|
Winds Face & Body
|
Carlsbad, CA
|
760-434-7771
|
Marion Williams
|
Salon
|
|
Skin
Sense
|
Wichita, KS
|
316-687-0400
|
Kathy Orender
|
Salon
|
|
American
Supply / New Life *
|
Minnetonka, MN
|
800-852-3082
|
Allen
|
Spa supply
|
|
Houston
Cosmetic Surgery & Vein Center
|
Houston, TX
|
713-271-1745
|
Dr. DesRuisseaux
|
Physician
|
|
Hair for Life *
|
East Brunswick, NJ
|
732-855-2206
|
Dr. Joe Aguiar
|
Nutritionist
|
|
Les
Ongles M'as-Tu-Vu Inc.
|
Quebec, Canada
|
450-588-3686
|
Alice
|
Nail salon
|
|
Smooth
As Silk Salon
|
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
|
954-818-2072
|
Sharmeila Chanti
|
Salon
|
|
Dermatopia
|
St. Paul, MN
|
612-801-9929
|
Jason Groen
|
Distributor
|
|
Olympic
Body Center
|
Salt lake City, UT
|
801 264 6630
|
James & Sylvia Pickens
|
Esthetician
|
|
SpaTech
National Distributors
|
Saskatoon, SK
|
306-249-6678
|
|
Distributor
|
|
Academy
of Professional Hair Removal
|
Bloomington, IL
|
|
Cathy McLaughlin
|
Distributor
|
|
Ultima Hair Removal Center
801 Turner St.
Clearwater, FL 3375
|
Clearwater, FL
|
|
Clark & Margo Seabloom
|
Distributor
|
|
Lisa Farinelli Skin Care
8060 E. Girard Ave.
Denver, CO 80231
(1805 S Bellaire Ste 307)
|
Denver, CO
|
|
Lisa Farinelli
|
Distributor
|
|
Nail Images Inc
405 Hackensack St.
Carlstadt, NJ 07072
|
Carlstadt, NJ
|
|
Lori-Ann Matise
|
Distributor
|
|
Linda Trevan
18464 W. Old Peterson Rd
Libertyville, IL 60048
|
Libertyville, IL
|
|
Linda Trevan
|
Distributor
|
|
Hair et Al
10101 N. Arabian Trail
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
|
Scottsdale, AZ
|
|
Annette Landgren
|
Distributor
|
|
Esthetics Institute
20 S. Main St
Concord, NH 00301
|
Concord, NH
|
|
Judy Montore
|
Distributor
|
|
Galia Zacatecas
503 Col. Granjas San Isidro
Torreon, Coah 27100+52 Mexico
|
Torreon, Mexico
|
|
Dr. Rocio Colinas/Susana Marroquin
|
Distributor
|
* See these pages for updated information about their involvement
with this manufacturer.
2000-2002 Website analysis
Their About page gives a little history: "Along
the way, 3 patents on the procedures were obtained by Mr. Cole
with the technology growing from tweezers (one hair treated
at a time) to transdermal ( a few hairs treated at one time)
to the current Transcutaneous method (hundreds of hairs treated
at one time). Their "manufacturing facility is also in
North Carolina with all components made and assembly done there."
In Novemer 2001, they added the following:
Any negative advertising against us is based on ignorance
and no vision for modern technology. Lack of knowledge and
closed minds are the major obstacles we want to overcome.
Rejuvenu is dedicated to educating the world to the fact unwanted
hair can be permanently removed without the pain of a needle.
We refuse to lower our standards by becoming defensive and
resort to name-calling and demeaning negative propaganda.
We challenge such advertisers to do a side-by-side study with
us to prove our method not only works, but also is far superior
to theirs.
In other words, they refuse to prove their claims by doing
their own tests. It's up to them to prove their claims that
the SupePhaser Gold is permanent. They have not met their burden
of proof with published, peer-reviewed data. I challenge them
to get a side-by-side study published to prove their claims.
Cole is CEO and founder. He has "a chain of beauty salons
in the Pinehurst and Southern Pines area of North Carolina."
Chandler does the research ("concentrating on skin care
problems"). He also does the training and "lecturing
worldwide." (i.e. selling the devices at beauty conventions)
The Rejuvenu products page states the SuperPhaser Gold
is "the world's fastest and safest permanent hair removal
method, now with the new Transcutaneous Electrode Patch."
Their SuperPhaser Gold description says it's
"capable of using up to 12 Transcutaneous Patches at one
time,"and that "most owners of the Super-Phaser Gold
are making over $100/hour doing the treatments."
Some choice quotations: My favorite section
is Chandler's comparison to competitors (followed by
my comments).
On false advertising:
"What is advertised is not always the truth. Some of
the methods claim permanence, but have no scrutinizable scientific
proof that they are truly permanent."
There is no published clinical
data that show these devices can achieve permanent hair removal.
On bogus electric tweezer data:
"The problem with tweezer thermolysis lies with the
fact that it is impossible to induce a dry hair to conduct
a high frequency current. While the companies theorize that
the current reaches the papilla in other ways (like through
the melanine channel), there is no controlled scientific data
to support the claims. What actually occurs is that the current
dissipates from the end of the tweezers (like the end of the
thermolysis needle). The current heats the tweezers and heats
the hair that the tweezers are touching. There is no effect
on the papilla or the stem cells. In fact, the United States
Food and Drug Administration states that tweezer thermolysis
is no better than manually tweezing. The only research that
is used to show that tweezer thermolysis works are small single
patient uncontrolled studies which do not pass the usual scientific
scrutiny. "
The data presented by Chandler
do not pass scientific scrutiny, either.
On gels used to enhance hair removal effectiveness:
First, the substance applied to the skin cannot penetrate
the hair follicle. A normal hair follicle is closed from the
outside world by the seal made by the growing hair and the
oil produced by the sebaceous gland. If this were not true,
all manner of foreign bodies would be contained in the follicle,
including bacteria and constant infections. On the contrary,
we know that the follicle is sterile and very well protected.
There are solutions that when applied to the skin are absorbed
into the upper hair follicle through the transfollicular route,
but these do not include carbon and dye suspensions like used
by Thermolase.
The conductive gel used by
Rejuvenu doesn't go into the follicle, either. That means
most of the energy dissipates on the skin's surface. If any
does get into the skin, it's not enough to cause permanent
hair removal.
Notes on web domains and their web marketing
company
Domain Name: IHRSINC.COM
Registrant: Intl. Hair Removal Systems, Inc. (IHRSINC2-DOM)
230 N. Bennett Street, Suite 1
Southern Pines, NC 28387
The new IHRS/Rejuvenu whois contact information is below:
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Billing Contact:
Anderson, Benjamin (BA3382) ben@THEANDERSONS.NET
112 Deer Trail Ln Carthage, NC 28327
910 947-1710
(old contact info) Administrative Contact, Technical Contact, Billing Contact:
(see 2002 update below)
Petsolt, David (DLP5) david.petsolt@CLIENTSOLUTIONS.COM
Client Solutions 200 N. Bennett Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387
910.295.3661 910.693.4391
Domain Name: REJUVENU.COM
Rejuvenu, 26 Pinecrest Plaza, #273 Southern Pines, NC 28387
(This is a dropbox at Mail
Boxes Etc. # 2750: (910) 692-3101)
Administrative Contact, Technical Contact:
Chandler, MH mark2683@hotmail.com
Rejuvenu 26 Pinecrest Plaza, #273 Southern Pines, NC 28387
910-295-6652 413-702-4618
2002 update on Client Solutuons
Client Solutions claims they are no longer affiliated with Rejuvenu/IHRS.
In March 2002, David Petsolt wrote with the following update:
"We have no affiliation with the company discussed in
this article, but as a vendor."
On 18 March 2002, I recieved another letter from David Petsolt
about his relation with IHRS:
" I have no business relationship with Mr. Cole. Please
note the following:
- I had no part in the creation of his website.
- I am no longer part of Client Solutions, the company that
did create his site (as of July 2001).
- I have not spoken to or worked with anyone involved with
that company for quite some time.
- I do not host, maintain, or have ANYTHING to do with this
site or this company"
On 18 March 2002, I received a letter from Karen Handy, owner
of Client Solutions (excerpts below):
"I have read your page regarding IHRS and don't care
much about what they claim. However, Client Solutions only
designed their web site with content provided by them... Our
company is not responsible for the content of the IHRS web
sites."
"We did the graphics for the web site - IHRS had control
over the content of their site as they maintained the content.
We cannot be held responsible for something they owned and
modified."
On 10 April 2002, I received a follow-up letter from Karen
Handy (excerpts below):
"...we had amicably negotiated the termination of all
contracts with Rejuvenu... We have no ill will towards Rejuvenu
and their organization."
The promotional web material designed and once hosted by Client
Solutions includes the following claims: "transcutaneous
electro patch system... permanent hair removal... non-invasive...
painless... permanent." As I noted above, these claims
are in violation of federal regulations. Client Solutions did
not independently confirm veracity of the promotional materials
provided to them by IHRS, as required by law.
As the Federal
Trade Commission says: “Advertising agencies or website
designers are responsible for reviewing the information used
to substantiate ad claims. They may not simply rely on an advertiser's
assurance that the claims are substantiated."
Had Client Solutions attempted to do a review, they would have
quickly discovered that this "electro patch system"
was making claims in violation of federal regulations.
Final note: comparison shop
The Rejuvenu products cost thousands
of dollars more than any other of their transcutaneous competitors.
If this information doesn't convince you to avoid transcutaneous
electrolysis, you should at least comparison shop. See my comparison of transcutaneous
devices.
Alternate spellings for these products include
Super-Phaser Gold, Super-Phazer, Super Phaser Gold, and the SPG
method. The TransQ-2000 is also sometimes called the Trans Q 2000,
Trans-Q-2000, TQ-2000, TQ 2000, TQ2000, and the TQ2K. The Pinnacle
1250 is also sometimes called the TC System (for Transcutaneous
System), the TD System (for Transdermal System), the TE System
(originally for Transdermal Electrolysis, now for Transcuateous
Electrolysis) or the TQ System (For Transcutaneous System). The
procedure is sometimes referred to as Hands-Free electrolysis,
Patch Electrolysis, No Needle Electrolysis, Non-invasive Electrolysis,
Cotton swab electrolysis, or Q-Tip electrolysis. Older models
include the TE 229, SuperPhazer, TE 429, Super Faser, TE 629,
SuperFazer. The company has operated under several names, including
American Hair Removal System (AHRS), Carolina Institute of Dermology,
Eloc Manufacturing, and Trillion Medical Resources (TMR).
Note: due to misinformation received from Medical College
of Georgia, this site had suggested a connection between Dr. Wm.
Marcus Chandler (MCG '68) and Dr. Mark H. Chandler (MCG '83),
both physicians practicing in North Carolina. Hairfacts regrets
this error.
|
|
hair removal
facts
for consumers
