ThermoLase ThermoLase was one
of the first companies to bring out a hair removal laser in the
USA, under the SoftLght brand. They are no longer involved in this business.
Company history
 1994: Great expectations
ThermoLase goes public on the American Stock Exchange under
symbol TLZ on June 13. First-day close: $3.75
1995: A rush to market
SoftLight was the first laser cleared by FDA for hair removal
in April 1995. It was rushed to market without adequate testing
and marketed illegally as permanent and painless.
Consumers, believing the hype or theoretical potential, rushed
in to try treatment, basically paying to be guinea pigs. Many
consumers perceived an improvement during treatment, and even
after treatment, some were convinced they'd had permanent results.
1996: So far, so good
Aided by significant press generated by PR firm, ThermoLase
motivates a lot of consumer trial.
Stock closes all-time high of $36.38
1997: Actual results
start coming in
A clinical study observed no long-term results using an Nd:YAG
( Nanni, 1997).
SoftLight came out with a version 2.0 that eliminated pre-treatment
waxing, but this turned out to be just as ineffective for long-term
results.
1998: The fallout
ThermoLase relocates from San Diego, California to Carrollton,
Texas.
ThermoLase CEO Gerald Feldman admits that “the hair-removal
results we achieved in the commercial marketplace would not
support our premium pricing.”
In April 1998, ThermoLase repositioned SoftLight as “an
effective hair-management strategy.” According to Feldman,
“From 1995 through the spring of 1998, we sought to gain
company exposure through advertisements and story placements
in popular health, fashion, and beauty magazines, as well as
through the national news media.
On May 26, 1998, a class action complaint was filed against
ThermoLase in California by a dissatisfied client, claiming
they "advertised SoftLight laser hair removal as long lasting
with the knowledge that such treatments did not achieve that
result." ThermoLase settled out of court in late 1998.
June 1998, ThermoLase acquired The Greenhouse Spa. ThermoLase
also owned and operated Spa Thira salons throughout the country
which used SoftLight until their unprofitability forced them
to spin them off. In summer, 1998, ThermoLase announced the
closing of its original Spa Thira in La Jolla, CA, along with
others in affluent communities. The few remaining ThermoLase
spas are folded into full-service Greenhouse spas.
On page 28 of their December 18, 1998 10k ThermoLase states:
“The Company has received complaints from several of its
physician licensees, joint venture partners, and consumers stating
that that the Company's SoftLight hair-removal process has not
met their expectations. Some of these parties have filed lawsuits
against the Company.”
On December 30, 1998, Gary S. Weinstein, Thermo Electron Chairman
and CEO stated, “The greatest source of disappointment
has been the poor financial performance of our ThermoLase subsidiary,
which had a net loss of $41.2 million for fiscal 1998.”
1999: The fallout
continues
ThermoLase announces complete restructuring following losses
totaling over $41 million in 1998.
They sell off Greenhouse Spas, terminate licensing program.
ThermoLase announces they will become a wholly-owned private
subsidiary of Thermo Electron.
2000: The party's
over
On August 15, ThermoLase was taken off the American Stock Exchange
at $2.75. Since it high in 1996, the stock had lost over 92%
of its value.
I got the following from the thermo.com webmaster on 20 May 2003:
Andrea, please update the information on this page. Thermo
Electron does not own Thermo Lase any more.
Old contact information (UK)
- Address: ThermoLase U.K, Ltd. 45-47
Chevel Place, Knightsbridge London SW7 1EW UNITED KINGDOM
- Telephone: +44 20 7581 4499
- Fax: +44 20 75 81 5118
- website: http://www.softlight.co.uk/
Old addresses:
- 2055 C Luna Road, Carrollton, TX 75006
(phone 617-622-1000)
- 9550 Distribution Ave, San Diego CA92121
(phone 619-587-5885)
- Old site (now defunct) http://www.thermolase.com/
- Spa Thira locations (now Greenhouse)
- Greenhouse Spas(9 day spas and original
destination spa in Arlington, TX ) http://www.thegreenhousespa.com/
Available devices
SoftLight Nd:YAG laser
Technical Specifications
- Wavelength: 1604 nanometers
- Repetition Rate: 1 Hz, 2 Hz 5 Hz, 10Hz,
single shot
- Pulse duration: 12-18 nsec (nominal)
- Fluence: 2.5 to 3.0J/cm2 max
- Beam diameter: 7mm
- Energy Instability: 19% maximum for
98% of pulses
- Safety goggles: OD 8.0 @ 1064nm (minimum)
- Electrical requirements: 100/120 VAC,
50/60 Hz nominal, 15 A max.
- 220 or 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz nominal, 8
A max.
- Ambient operating temperature: 10ÍC
to 30ÍC
- Ambient storage temperature: -25ÍC to
70ÍC
- Beam delivery: Through an articulated
arm.
- Physical dimensions: 114.3 x 45.7 x
71.1cm
- Weight: 124.9 kilograms
Sources:
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