iRestore Elite Laser Hair Growth System Review: Surprisingly Effective
Source: Wired
How Red Light Therapy Works
Red light therapy has come a long way since its early days. Rahman explained that red‑light wavelengths activate the mitochondria in skin cells and increase blood flow to hair follicles. This uptick in stimulation encourages mitochondria to increase their production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which promotes new growth.
FDA Clearance
When it comes to efficacy, iRestore Elite is FDA‑cleared. This designation is bestowed on moderate‑risk tools that are sufficiently similar to other cleared devices already on the market. The iRestore Elite was cleared through the FDA’s 510(k) pre‑market evaluation.
iRestore Product Lineup
There are three hair‑growth devices in iRestore’s lineup:
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Essential – $499 – Affiliate link
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Professional – $899 – Affiliate link
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Elite – $1,899 – Affiliate link
Each device contains iRestore’s “Lumitech” technology, which combines LED lights and medical‑grade lasers. The laser diodes are proprietary to iRestore and are called Vixo lasers, operating in the 655‑ to 680‑nanometer (nm) range. Preliminary studies with mice have shown that red light in the 600‑ to 660‑nm range, and infrared wavelengths in the 800‑ to 850‑nm range, can promote cell regeneration and pain relief.
Elite Model Details
The Elite is iRestore’s top‑of‑the‑line offering and has the most LEDs of the three systems, with 500 diodes total—300 lasers and 200 LEDs. By comparison:
| Model | Lasers | LEDs | Total Diodes | Power (mW) | Daily Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | 51 | 69 | 120 | 600 | 25 min every other day |
| Professional | 82 | 200 | 282 | 1,410 | 25 min every other day |
| Elite | 300 | 200 | 500 | 2,500 | 12 min daily |
The Elite also covers a larger area of the scalp, allowing for shorter treatment sessions and potentially faster results. If price is not an object, the Elite is the no‑brainer choice for more concentrated light therapy.
Rooting for You
Photograph: Julia Forbes
The helmet arrived in hefty red packaging, containing the helmet, portable battery pack, charging cord, and a red‑and‑black zippered travel case. It feels very fragile, and I wouldn’t throw it around—then again, you probably wouldn’t be shoving a $1,899 helmet in the back of your bathroom vanity.