Removatron International Corp. Removatron is an electrified tweezer epilator. Although it has
been marketed for 25 years under several names, Removatron has
never adequately substantiated repeated claims of permanent hair
removal. Consumers have spent tens of millions of dollars on the
device (and treatments with it) since Removatron first came on
the market.
Contact information
 Address: 103 Broad St., Boston, MA
02110
Telephone: 617-426-0636
Fax: 617-426-0822
Contact: Frederick E. Goodman (sometimes
spelled Frederic)
website: http://www.removatron.com
email: info@removatron.com
Available devices
Removatron
Notes
Published medical literature ( Verdich, 1984) indicates
the device results in temporary hair removal.
In 1985, the US Federal Trade Commission brought charges against
Removatron in a landmark case. (Removatron Int'l Corp., v.
FTC, 111 FTC.206, 298, aff'd, 884 F.2d 1489 (1st Cir.
1989)) FTC found that Removatron did not substantiate claims of
permanent hair removal and ordered them to cease and desist promoting
the device as permanent.
In 1990, Removatron commissioned a study of Removatron efficacy
This unpublished report followed up on 13 women for 3 months
after final treatment ( Konnikov, 1990)
. Despite this small sample size and brief follow-up, Dr. Konnikov
concluded that “46% of facial hairs treated with the Removatron
device can be considered with reasonable medical certainty to
have been permanently removed.”
In 1998, the US Food and Drug Administration reviewed Dr. Konnikov's
unpublished report and declared in a Final
Rule that her report was “only suggestive of effectiveness
in permanently removing hair.” Based on this analysis, FDA
agreed that “there is no body of significant information
establishing the effectiveness of the device to permanently remove
hair."
As of this update, Removatron is still stating in promotional materials that a “study conducted
by world-renown Tufts Medical University [sic]” backs
their claims of “permanent.”
Two federal agencies and a published clinical study suggest otherwise.
Establishment Registration Number:1219299
Owner/Operator Number: 1219299
Official Correspondent Firm:
SKIN-SATION UNLIMITED CORP.
Establishment Status: Active
Date of Registration Status: 10/31/78
Date Initial Registration Received: 10/31/78
Official Correspondent Name: MR. FREDERICK GOODMAN
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hair removal
facts
for consumers
