StarLux 500
Palomar (now Cynosure)
- Brand Tier
- Established
- Technology
- Hybrid
- Wavelengths
- 525nm-1200nm (IPL) · 1064nm (Nd:YAG handpiece)
- Skin Types
- Depends on handpiece. IPL handpieces (LuxR/LuxY): Fitzpatrick I-V. Lux1064 Nd:YAG handpiece: Fitzpatrick V-VI and tanned skin.
- Cooling
- Contact cooling (advanced sapphire cooling, 5°C)
Notes
Multi-technology platform combining IPL and laser handpieces on one compact base unit. Hair removal primarily uses IPL handpieces (LuxR for large areas, LuxRs for small areas, LuxY/LuxYs for finer hair). The Lux1064 handpiece is an actual Nd:YAG laser for darker skin types. Over a dozen handpieces available covering hair removal, vascular lesions, pigmented lesions, fractional resurfacing, and skin tightening. Palomar acquired by Cynosure in 2015. Successor: Cynosure Icon. Predecessor: StarLux 300. Many units still in active clinical use despite being discontinued. Palomar's proprietary Photon Recycling and Smooth Pulse technologies. 58 lbs base unit: one of the most compact multi-treatment platforms.
Overview
Palomar's flagship multi-treatment platform, combining IPL and laser technologies via interchangeable handpieces. Widely installed in US clinics from mid-2000s through Cynosure's acquisition in 2015. The StarLux 500 improved on the StarLux 300 with faster cooling (1 minute vs 5+ minutes) and compatibility with additional fractional laser handpieces (Lux1440, Lux1540, Lux2940).
How It Works
The base unit delivers optimized pulsed light through application-specific handpieces. For hair removal, IPL handpieces (LuxR, LuxRs, LuxY, LuxYs) use filtered broadband light with AccuSpectrum dual-filter technology to target melanin in hair follicles. The Lux1064 handpiece switches to true Nd:YAG laser for darker skin types. Smooth Pulse technology delivers energy in controlled pulses to prevent epidermal damage. Photon Recycling captures scattered light and redirects it to the target.
Typical Uses
- Hair removal via IPL handpieces (LuxR for large body areas, LuxRs for face/bikini, LuxY/LuxYs for finer hair)
- Hair removal on dark skin via Lux1064 Nd:YAG handpiece
- Vascular and pigmented lesion treatment (LuxG, MaxG)
- Fractional skin resurfacing (Lux1540, Lux2940)
- Practices wanting one platform for multiple treatment types
Key Features
Important: when a clinic says 'we use StarLux for hair removal', ask which handpiece. The LuxR/LuxY handpieces are IPL (not laser). Only the Lux1064 handpiece is a true laser. This is a multi-purpose platform, not purpose-built for hair removal. Succeeded by the Cynosure Icon, which uses upgraded 'Max' handpieces (MaxR, MaxYs, MaxG) on the same platform architecture.