iRestore Elite Laser Hair Growth System Review: Surprisingly Effective

Since then, red light therapy has come a long way. Rahman explained that wavelengths of red light activate mitochondria in skin cells and increase blood flow to hair follicles. This increased stimulation encourages the mitochondria to increase their production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which promotes new growth.

When it comes to effectiveness, we noted that iRestore Elite is FDA approved. This is a designation given to moderate-risk tools that are sufficiently similar to other authorized devices already on the market. There are specific pathways that devices must follow to gain FDA clearance, and the iRestore Elite has been cleared through the FDA’s 510(k) premarket review.

There are three hair growth devices in the iRestore line: the entry-level Essential ($499), the mid-level Professional ($899), and the Elite ($1,899). Each contains iRestore’s “Lumitech” technology, which combines medical-grade LED lights and lasers. These laser diodes are owned by iRestore and are called Vixo lasers, operating in the range of 655 to 680 nanometers (nm). (Preliminary studies in mice have shown that using red light in the 600 to 660 nm range and infrared wavelengths in the 800 to 850 nm range can promote everything from cell regeneration to pain relief.)

The idea is that this dynamic duo can penetrate deeper into the skin than regular red light from lasers, while the LEDs ensure the light is distributed across the scalp for maximum effectiveness. Together, they max out at 2,500 milliwatts (mW), compared to 1,410 mW for the Professional and 600 mW for the Essential.

The Elite is iRestore’s premium offering and has the most LEDs of the three laser hair growth systems, with 500 diodes in total, or 300 lasers and 200 LEDs. The Essential has 51 lasers and 69 LEDs for a total of 120 diodes, while the iRestore Pro has 82 lasers and 200 LEDs for a total of 282 diodes. The Elite was also designed to cover more of the scalp. The Elite requires 12 minutes of daily use, while the Professional and Essential require 25 minutes every other day.

If price isn’t an issue, the Elite is the obvious choice for more concentrated light therapy, shorter duration of use, and potentially faster results.

Rooting for you

Photography: Julia Forbes

The headset arrived in a large red package, containing the headset, a portable battery, a charging cord, and a red and black zippered travel case. It seems very fragile and I wouldn’t throw it away. Then again, you probably wouldn’t slide an $1,899 headset into the back of your bathroom vanity.