Stellar M22: What You Need to Know

The Stellar M22 is an FDA-cleared system with four light-based technologies that treat a broad range of skin concerns, from lines and wrinkles to age spots and freckles, broken blood vessels, and acne. It also offers both hair removal and tattoo removal. 

For patients, this means that more than 30 skin concerns can be conveniently, effectively treated in a single office visit. 

Developed by Lumenis, the Stellar M22 device offers these treatment technologies:

• Intense pulsed light (IPL), often referred to as a photofacial, treats a variety of skin concerns, including excess pigmentation—like age spots, sunspots, freckles, and melasma—and redness from broken capillaries and rosacea
• ResurFX, a non-ablative fractional laser commonly used to treat hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, stretch marks, and mild acne scars
• Multi-Spot Nd:YAG, a non-ablative laser used to treat vascular lesions (like broken capillaries) and varicose veins in the legs
• Q-switched Nd:YAG, a non-ablative laser used to remove pigmented lesions and dark tattoos

Let's dive into how each technology works to address cosmetic concerns.

Stellar IPL photofacial treatment targets brown and red pigment in the skin. They can also target the bacteria that causes acne, reducing its severity, along with stimulating collagen production, to help firm skin and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Stellar IPL treatments can be done on the face, neck, chest, arms, and the backs of hands. Additionally, it can be used to remove unwanted hair on the bikini area, legs, and underarms as well as elsewhere on the body. 

It's an incredibly versatile treatment for more than 30 skin concerns, including:

• Rosacea
• Freckles
• Hyperpigmentation
• Photodamage
• Melasma
• Port-wine stains and other pigmented birthmarks
• Broken capillaries
• Leg veins
• Acne
• Unwanted hair

The Stellar IPL has multiple settings to address brown and red discoloration. It’s safe to use on a variety of skin tones, including tanned, brown, and deep skin. 

Each treatment takes 15–30 minutes, depending on the concern being treated and size of the area.

The device cools the skin between pulses, reducing the risk of skin damage. You may experience a stinging sensation like a rubber band snapping, but it shouldn’t be painful.

Most providers recommend a series of treatments, typically spaced between four and six weeks apart, for optimal results. 

ResurFX is a non-ablative fractional skin resurfacing laser that uses heat to stimulate the production of collagen, to rejuvenate skin. It’s used to treat textural issues and signs of aging like:

• Enlarged pores
• Fine lines and wrinkles, such as vertical lip lines around the mouth and crow’s-feet
• Sun-damaged skin, including brown spots related to sun exposure
• Mild acne scarring

The laser creates controlled microdamage to a small fraction of skin—about 6% on average—which minimizes side effects and downtime (compared to ablative lasers that remove the skin’s top layer). 

Unlike other fractionated lasers, ResurFX requires just one pass, so each treatment session is quick (only 15–30 minutes). Continuous contact cooling helps keep skin comfortable. 

You may have a little swelling in the treatment area for a day or two, followed by some slight inflammation for up to five days, but you can apply makeup and return to your daily activities right away. 

You’ll see some immediate improvement, but three to five sessions are usually recommended. The benefits continue for six months after the last treatment as new collagen and elastin develop. 

Multi-Spot Nd:YAG is a long-pulse laser that treats vascular lesions and leg veins on all skin types. (Long pulse refers to the amount of time the targeted tissue is exposed to the laser energy.)

The laser energy is selectively absorbed by the targeted lesion, which is destroyed by the heat. In the case of hair removal treatments, hair follicles are damaged to the point that they can no longer grow hair. 

According to Lumenis, the system enables deeper penetration of the light energy as well as a pulse duration that’s longer than that of some other lasers and is crucial for effective treatment. 

Concerns usually treated with the Nd:YAG laser include:

• Telangiectasias, or small dilated blood vessels that occur along with rosacea, aging, pregnancy, sun exposure, and varicose veins 
• Birthmarks like port-wine stains (aka hemangiomas)
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Leg veins
• Unwanted hair

In long-pulse mode, Nd:YAG lasers are considered pigment-friendly, which makes them the laser of choice for patients with Fitzpatrick skin types V or VI, the deepest skin tones—particularly those with very coarse and dark hair.

Q-switched Nd:YAG is a laser used to erase unwanted dark tattoo ink and pigmented lesions (like brown spots) and reduce unwanted hair. 

Q-switched lasers produce extremely short bursts of high-intensity energy. The energy from the laser is absorbed by ink pigment or the melanin in spots or hair follicles, causing it to break down while surrounding skin is left unharmed. 

The handpiece features seven spot sizes, so treatments can be customized as needed. 

Results can be seen after one session, but multiple sessions are typically required in order to achieve the desired results.