"Pre-owned is the way to go in today's market," says Edward Kirk, president of Spectrum Laser Services, which sells and services cosmetic, surgical and ophthalmic laser systems, as well as IPLs, diode lasers and microdermabrasion systems. "You can get a laser system for 40 percent of its original [suggested retail price.] As a consumer you are no longer at the mercy of the manufacturer."

Some say that facility closures have flooded the market with used systems, which has had a dramatic impact on prices.


"The market for used cosmetic lasers was pretty anemic for most of 2008 and nearly all of 2009," commented John Bailey, owner of Minn.-based equipment supplier BMX Medical, Inc. "This is due to the staggering number of cosmetic lasers available in the marketplace caused by an unprecedented number of medi-spas and related businesses forced to close [due to the recession] in 2008-2009."

Others agree that the market is flush and prices are low, but they argue that many businesses are still faring well and growing in the current economic climate.

"There is a healthy number of equipment in the market which tends to bring down the prices when the supply is ample," says Alison Fortin, director of purchasing for Global Inventory Management LLC, a supplier of both cosmetic and surgical lasers based in Dover, N.H.

On the provider side, Jim Mousseau, co-owner of The Laser Network, a Colorado-based seller of surgical, ophthalmic and cosmetic lasers, says physicians have an edge in the market over aestheticians. "Doctor-led medi-spas are holding steady while non-physician medi-spas are shrinking."

Laser refurbishing and service

For laser refurbishers, hospitals are a big customer base, as are surgery centers, but John Minor, sales and operations manager for Laser Labs, Inc., in Tampa, Fla., says independent doctors make up the majority of his clientele.

"We have in-house, factory-trained technicians that perform the work, either onsite or at our facility," says Minor. "We provide everything from preventative maintenance on systems to complete refurbishment. We can change YAG heads, CO2 tubes, power supplies, articulated arms, etc. We carry a large inventory of parts and accessories to handle most any job. We even carry parts for systems that have been called 'obsolete.'"

Others say the hospitals are the ideal client, because of regulatory legislation that obligates them to seek service.

"Hospitals are the backbone for any service company since they are under federal mandates to have their laser systems inspected twice a year," says Kirk.

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