Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This article explores how Candela is leveraging its legacy in energy-based devices to lead a shift in aesthetic medicine—from merely slowing aging to actively reversing its visible signs, as highlighted at IMCAS Asia 2026.
K-medical aesthetics: a global competitor once it moves beyond ‘me-too’ products
In aesthetic medicine, the conversation is shifting from slowing aging to reversing its visible signs. Founded in 1970, Candela — a long-established global manufacturer of energy-based devices (EBDs) — set out its answer at IMCAS Asia 2026 through a symposium titled ‘Turning Back The Skin Clock: Strategies in Skin Restoration.’
Speaking with Medical Aesthetic News in Bangkok, Robert Fielitz, Candela’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Global Distributor Operations, described epigenetics as the unifying concept behind a portfolio spanning Vbeam, PicoWay and Matrix RF. He spoke candidly about Asia’s growing weight in the global market, a generational shift in the consumer base, and the rapid rise of Korean medical aesthetics.
‘My team operates three service call centers around the world, supporting our regional distribution partners as they sell, market, and service products in their local markets, secure local regulatory approvals and product registrations, and train physicians on the latest clinical protocols. Given how diverse skin types are across the globe, continuing to provide this clinical education is essential for us.’
‘Candela was the second company in the world to launch a picosecond laser device, and we’ve continued to refine it ever since. In particular, the 730 nm handpiece delivers pulses as short as 250 ps, which we consider to be among the shortest in the industry. This short pulse duration limits thermal diffusion into surrounding tissue compared with longer-pulse lasers and shifts tissue interaction toward photoacoustic and photomechanical effects. Much like a thunderclap setting off a car alarm, the rapid conversion of absorbed laser energy into pressure transients fragments pigment and tattoo ink particles into smaller pieces.’
‘But what matters more is that this isn’t only about pigment and tattoo removal — it’s about skin resurfacing. Our approach with the fractional handpiece is especially distinctive. While other fractional systems deliver energy from the epidermal surface downward, we use a proprietary holographic lens array that focuses energy beneath the surface while sparing the epidermis. Because this non-ablative approach preserves epidermal integrity, patient downtime is substantially reduced and the skin gradually looks younger without visible signs of treatment. Even 11 years after launch, this remains one of the PicoWay platform’s most distinctive features.’
‘More than 50 years ago, we built this entire company on three principles: science, results, and trust. Our engineering team — including PhD scientists and laser physicists — develops what we believe are the best possible products. That’s the ‘science,’ and through it we deliver science-based results that every physician and clinic can trust — giving them confidence in the safety, effectiveness, and consistency of the treatments they provide.’
‘I have staff dedicated to supporting our distribution partners in each region. They market our products within Candela’s global brand framework, while we provide skin type-specific clinical education and support the regulatory approvals and product registrations required in each market.’
‘My staff plays a core role in supporting our closest partners — our distributors. In each country, they are effectively ‘Candela’ itself. Since they operate under the Candela name, it is critical that we train them continuously and hold them to the same brand, service, and clinical standards we expect of our own employees.’
‘Including India, Asia is by far the fastest-growing market in the world. That’s driven by population scale and by the growing sophistication and awareness of Asian consumers. Asian consumers today are among the most informed and experienced customers when it comes to what’s currently available on the market.’
‘IMCAS keeps growing in Asia year after year. This year is noticeably busier than last year, and the year before that. Of course, it’s still smaller in scale than the annual IMCAS in Paris, but the trends that emerged in Paris this past January are now flowing into Asia.’
‘The dominant themes are epigenetics, reversing aging, cutting-edge technology, and capturing younger customers. We’re also seeing growing traction in exosomes and peptides. These products are increasingly being combined with energy-based treatments as adjunctive pre- and post-procedure care, fueling expectations of faster recovery, enhanced product delivery, and better outcomes.’
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