AlexDUAL UFO: frequently asked questions about the alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser
The AlexDUAL UFO is SIACSKIN's alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser for permanent hair removal on the face and body. On this page you will find the questions buyers ask most often: wavelengths, power, spot sizes, pulse range, cooling, skin types and hair types.
It also covers the SIA AI with cameras on the handpiece, the service life of the crystal, certifications, the monthly instalment and the question of which clinic or studio the device is suited to. It closes with the comparison with the DEWEON 4LD diode laser, so that you know which of the two devices fits your business.
What is the AlexDUAL UFO and what is it used for?
The AlexDUAL UFO is a dual-wave laser that combines an alexandrite laser at 755 nm and an Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm in one device. It is used for permanent hair removal on the face and body. Permanent here means: the laser targets hairs in the growth phase, so several sessions are needed, and the end result is long-term, marked hair reduction.
The device has a total power of 7500 W, square spots of 10 to 40 mm and a pulse range of 0.3 to 100 ms. The AlexDUAL UFO is developed and built in Germany. It is aimed at clinics, practices and studios that want to offer hair removal for all skin types from I to VI.
Which wavelengths does the AlexDUAL UFO have and when do you use 755 nm and when 1064 nm?
The AlexDUAL UFO works with two wavelengths: 755 nm from the alexandrite laser and 1064 nm from the Nd:YAG laser. The 755 nm wavelength is absorbed very strongly by melanin. On fair skin the energy therefore ends up mainly in the hair, even with finer hairs. The 1064 nm wavelength is absorbed more weakly by melanin and penetrates deeper. In this way the pigment-rich epidermis of dark skin types is spared, while deep-seated, coarse hair roots are still reached.
In practice you choose the alexandrite for fair skin types and the Nd:YAG for the dark skin types V to VI. Both lasers are in the same device. So you change the wavelength and not the treatment room.
How much power does the AlexDUAL UFO have and what does 7500 W mean in practice?
The AlexDUAL UFO has a total power of 7500 W. What counts for the treatment is how much of it reaches the skin: a laser needs power in reserve above all when the energy is to be spread over a large area or delivered in a very short time. If the reserve is lacking, the fluence drops with a large spot, or the pulse has to become longer, and fine hairs are targeted less effectively.
In the AlexDUAL UFO, this power comes with square spots of up to 40 mm and pulses from 0.3 ms. This combination is intended for large areas such as the back and legs just as much as for short pulses on thinner hairs. When comparing offers, therefore, always look at power, spot size and pulse duration together and never at the wattage alone.
Which spot sizes does the AlexDUAL UFO offer and what are square spots good for?
The AlexDUAL UFO offers square spots with an edge length of 10 to 40 mm. You use small spots for the upper lip, chin, contours and tight areas, and large ones for legs, back, chest and abdomen. The larger the spot, the fewer pulses an area needs and the less light scatters away sideways, so that more energy arrives at depth.
The square shape has a practical advantage: the fields can be placed edge to edge. Round spots leave gaps that you have to compensate for by overlapping. That costs time and exposes individual areas twice. A 40 mm spot covers 16 cm² per pulse, which noticeably shortens the appointment for large areas.
What pulse range does the AlexDUAL UFO have and why do 0.3 to 100 ms matter?
The AlexDUAL UFO covers pulse durations of 0.3 to 100 ms. The pulse duration determines how quickly the energy flows into the hair. Thin hairs give off heat rapidly to their surroundings and need short pulses in order to become hot enough. Thick hairs and dark skin tolerate longer pulses better: the epidermis then has time to give off heat, while the thick hair shaft retains it.
With the wide range you can set both cases on the same device: short pulses at 755 nm for finer hairs on fair skin, long pulses at 1064 nm for skin types V to VI. The device's SIA AI sets skin type, body area and energy automatically.
Does the AlexDUAL UFO need an external cooling unit?
No, the AlexDUAL UFO has built-in compressor cooling and fourfold cooling and needs no external cooling unit. In hair removal, cooling fulfils two tasks: it protects the epidermis from the heat generated during the pulse, and it makes the treatment more comfortable. Because alexandrite and Nd:YAG lasers work with a lot of energy per pulse, it is part of the basic equipment.
Having the cooling inside the device saves floor space and a further device that has to be operated and maintained. Those who would like additional cooling in sensitive areas can place the KYROMASTER alongside it. It works with cold air down to minus 50 °C before, during and after the pulse and requires no consumables.
Which skin types is the AlexDUAL UFO suitable for?
The AlexDUAL UFO is designed for all Fitzpatrick skin types from I to VI. This is made possible by dividing the work between two lasers: the alexandrite laser at 755 nm treats fair skin, the Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm the dark skin types V to VI. In dark skin there is a lot of melanin in the epidermis. The longer wavelength is absorbed less by it and passes the pigment to reach the hair root.
For you as an operator this means: you do not have to turn anyone away because of their skin type. In the transitional range, for instance with skin type IV, you decide which wavelength is suitable after a test pulse and the skin reaction. As with any laser, you let a fresh tan fade first. The SIA AI supports you by setting skin type, body area and energy automatically.
Does the AlexDUAL UFO also target fine and light hairs?
Fine hairs yes, as long as they still contain pigment: on fair skin, the alexandrite laser in the AlexDUAL UFO targets fine to coarse hairs from dark blonde to dark. The 755 nm wavelength is strongly absorbed by melanin, and pulses from 0.3 ms heat even thin hairs before the heat dissipates. That is why the alexandrite laser is the obvious choice for finer hairs, where longer wavelengths become less effective.
The limit lies in the pigment. Light blonde hairs and vellus hair contain so little melanin that the VCL DERMALIGHT is intended for them, an LED system with 750 to 890 nm. White, grey and red hairs hardly respond to light and lasers. Those who want to serve both dark and light hairs combine the two devices.
What does the SIA AI do with the cameras on the handpiece of the AlexDUAL UFO?
The SIA AI sets skin type, body area and energy automatically. On the AlexDUAL UFO, the cameras for this sit directly on the handpiece, in other words where the treatment takes place. This helps above all new members of staff and with areas whose skin tone differs from the rest of the body, such as the underarms or the intimate area.
The software also includes a client management system with client data, documentation of the treated areas and a shot counter. The responsibility nevertheless remains with you: you check the settings, deliver a test pulse and observe the skin reaction. The automatic function is an aid and does not replace training. Induction training on the device and software is included in the purchase.
How long does the crystal of the AlexDUAL UFO last and what has to be bought again later?
The crystal of the AlexDUAL UFO is designed for 100 million shots, and according to SIACSKIN no replacement purchase is envisaged. To put this in context: a session for both legs requires a few hundred to a few thousand pulses, depending on spot size. Even at high utilisation over many years, the crystal thus remains far from this limit.
The alexandrite crystal comes from a manufacturer in the USA, and the device is developed and built in Germany. As the cooling is built in, there is no need for an external cooling unit. SIACSKIN gives a 2-year manufacturer's warranty on the device, and regular maintenance is offered. Which maintenance makes sense at which interval is best clarified straight away in the consultation.
For the AlexDUAL UFO, SIACSKIN states a medical approval as well as CE and FDA. CE marking is the prerequisite for placing a device on the market in the European Economic Area, while FDA refers to the market of the USA. Such evidence is important for operators because insurers and authorities may ask for it and because it forms part of the device documentation.
Ask to see the documents before buying and add them to your device files. Who may carry out which treatment with the device is regulated differently from country to country. SIACSKIN sells to more than 140 countries. Which documents are required at your location is something you raise in the consultation.
How much does the AlexDUAL UFO cost and what is the monthly instalment?
The AlexDUAL UFO is available from approx. €1,190 per month, and you will find the current net price on the product page. As a guide, leasing comes to around 1% of the net price per month over a term of 60 months, plus VAT and subject to creditworthiness. Purchase, financing, leasing or hire purchase via SIACSKIN's principal bank are possible, on request without a deposit and also for newly founded businesses.
The process: you make a non-binding enquiry, SIACSKIN checks the financing and gets back to you within 24 hours. Installation by SIACSKIN technicians and comprehensive training are included free of charge. Whether the instalment pays off for you depends on your utilisation. You can run through this in advance with the price calculator.
Which clinics and studios is the AlexDUAL UFO the right choice for?
The AlexDUAL UFO suits businesses in which hair removal is a main focus and which want to treat every skin type. These include dermatology practices, aesthetic clinics and specialised laser studios with high utilisation. Three reasons then speak for the device: alexandrite and Nd:YAG cover skin types I to VI, spots of up to 40 mm shorten appointments on large areas, and the alexandrite laser also targets finer hairs that remain after a few sessions.
It makes less sense as a first device on a small budget and with demand still uncertain. For that, the DEWEON 4LD with its lower instalment is the more fitting entry point. Those who grow can place the AlexDUAL UFO alongside it later as a second device.
What is the difference between the AlexDUAL UFO and the DEWEON 4LD diode laser?
The AlexDUAL UFO is a solid-state laser with two wavelengths, the DEWEON 4LD a diode laser with four. In the AlexDUAL UFO, 755 and 1064 nm are generated in crystals, with a total power of 7500 W, pulses from 0.3 ms and square spots of up to 40 mm. The DEWEON 4LD generates 755, 808, 940 and 1064 nm with a total power of 6000 W, pulses of 1 to 200 ms, up to 30 Hz and spots of up to 15 × 40 mm.
Both treat all skin types. The AlexDUAL UFO has its strength in finer hairs and very large spots, the DEWEON 4LD in cost-effectiveness: its instalment is considerably lower. The service life is specified similarly, at 100 million shots for the crystal and around 100 million for the handpiece.
What training, installation and warranty come with the AlexDUAL UFO?
When you buy the AlexDUAL UFO, installation and training are included free of charge, along with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. Installation is carried out by SIACSKIN technicians. The training takes place as individual specialist training at the handover of the device or on site at your business. Afterwards you have access to an online training platform with video tutorials and receive a training certificate. Further courses are offered by the SIAC Akademie.
After the purchase, SIACSKIN remains available: support applies for life, regular maintenance is offered, and spare parts are generally available within a few days. On request, the aluminium housing is painted at no extra charge in a colour from the Pantone colour guide to match your premises.
