Equipment profile · Candela
Candela Nordlys: Price, Specs, FDA Clearance and Alternatives
Nordlys is Candela’s multi-application platform for practices that want IPL, non-ablative fractional resurfacing and an Nd:YAG laser on one console. It combines SWT narrowband IPL, 1550 nm and 1940 nm fractional lasers and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG, and handpieces can be added over time.
The short answer
Nordlys is FDA cleared for IPL hair reduction, vascular, pigment and acne treatments, Nd:YAG vein and vascular work, and fractional resurfacing with its 1550 nm and 1940 nm lasers. The 1940 nm laser gained a pigment indication in 2021. Candela doesn’t publish prices, so ask for an itemized quote by handpiece.
Who should buy a Nordlys?
Shortlist it if
- You want IPL, non-ablative resurfacing and vein work from one console.
- You’d like to add handpieces over time as demand grows.
- Your team can run several protocols, from IPL to fractional to Nd:YAG.
Compare another option if
- You want broadband light with motion tracking: compare Sciton’s BBL HEROic.
- You only need non-ablative fractional resurfacing: price the Nordlys Mini.
- You want picosecond pigment and tattoo work: compare the PicoWay.
Our take: Nordlys or Nordlys Mini?
Buy the full Nordlys if IPL and vein work are on your menu. The Mini carries the same two fractional lasers, so if resurfacing is the only goal, it’s the simpler purchase.
Either way, the handpiece list is the real purchase. Price each IPL handpiece you’ll use, ask whether any handpiece has per-treatment costs, and confirm what service covers once the warranty ends.
Document-based buying analysis. Not a NuWays MD hands-on test of this device.
Nordlys specifications at a glance
| Specification | Nordlys | What it means for your practice |
|---|---|---|
| SWT IPL | Narrowband IPL with dual filtering and sub-millisecond pulses; handpieces include PL 400, PR and PRS 530, VL and VLS 555, and HR, HRL 600 and HRD 645 | Each IPL handpiece targets a different indication. Buy the ones your menu needs. |
| Frax 1550 | Non-ablative fractional laser for deeper resurfacing | Ask about cooling and any per-treatment costs. |
| Frax 1940 | Shallow non-ablative fractional laser (to about 200 µm), cleared in 2021 for benign pigmented lesions on skin types I to IV | A light pigment and texture service. |
| Nd:YAG 1064 nm | Leg veins 0.1 to 3 mm, vascular lesions, port-wine stains, venous lakes, warts and clear nail (onychomycosis) | Adds vein and vascular work. |
| Nordlys Mini | A smaller, separate system with only the 1550 nm and 1940 nm lasers | If you only need fractional resurfacing, price the Mini. |
Sources: Candela.
See it next to the alternativesSpecs, cleared uses and ownership questions in one table.
Nordlys vs. Nordlys Mini: which one?
Candela sells two systems with the same fractional lasers. The full Nordlys adds IPL and Nd:YAG.
| Feature | Nordlys | Nordlys Mini |
|---|---|---|
| SWT IPL | Yes | No |
| Frax 1550 | Yes | Yes |
| Frax 1940 | Yes | Yes |
| Nd:YAG 1064 nm | Yes | No |
Sources: Candela.
What is the Nordlys FDA cleared for?
Each 510(k) number links to its record in the FDA database. The summary PDFs are listed under Sources.
510(k) K150907 (Ellipse Nordlys), cleared July 7, 2015. Product code GEX; Class II medical device. The platform clearance for IPL and Nd:YAG uses.
| Module | Cleared uses (summarized) |
|---|---|
| IPL (by filter band) | Permanent hair reduction; telangiectasias, port-wine stains, rosacea and poikiloderma; benign pigmented and vascular lesions; inflammatory acne. |
| Nd:YAG 1064 nm | Leg vessels 0.1 to 3.0 mm, benign vascular lesions, venous lakes, port-wine stains, warts and clear nail. |
Source: FDA 510(k) K150907.
510(k) K212492 (Frax 1940 for Nordlys and Frax Pro), cleared December 20, 2021. Product code GEX; Class II medical device. Two clinical studies supported a new benign pigmented lesion indication.
| Module | Cleared uses (summarized) |
|---|---|
| Frax 1940 | Skin resurfacing, coagulation of soft tissue and benign pigmented lesions on skin types I to IV. |
Source: FDA 510(k) K212492.
510(k) K161162 (Frax 1550), cleared September 16, 2016. Product code GEX; Class II medical device. Clears the Frax 1550 laser.
| Module | Cleared uses (summarized) |
|---|---|
| Frax 1550 | Coagulation of soft tissue and skin resurfacing. |
Source: FDA 510(k) K161162.
Clearance describes what a device may be marketed for; it does not predict results for a given patient.
Nordlys clinical studies
Published studies we found on this system, its earlier models and related technology, each labeled by what it tested. Most are small, and some have manufacturer-affiliated authors, so use them to frame questions for the demo rather than as proof of results.
What we found: None on this system; 2 on earlier models.
- Earlier model: Ellipse IPLLong-pulsed dye laser vs. intense pulsed light for the treatment of facial telangiectasias: a randomized controlled trialPulsed dye laser versus an Ellipse IPL, the system line Candela’s Nordlys comes from.
- Earlier model: Ellipse IPLPhotoepilation with a diode laser vs. intense pulsed light: a randomized, intrapatient left-to-right trialDiode laser versus an Ellipse IPL for hair removal; both reduced hair counts.
Links open the PubMed record.
How much does a Nordlys cost?
| Price evidence | What we found |
|---|---|
| New system (manufacturer quote) | Candela does not publish prices, and we found no reliable public price for a new Nordlys. Get a quote that lists each handpiece. |
| Used (asking prices) | Not reviewed for this profile. Older Ellipse-branded units are on the used market; confirm the configuration and Candela support. |
| Documented sale prices | None found. |
What ownership adds after purchase
| Cost area | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Handpieces | IPL and Frax handpieces can be bought over time; get current and later prices in writing. |
| Consumables | Ask whether any handpiece uses disposable tips or lightguides and what they cost per treatment. |
| Service | Ask what the plan covers for IPL handpieces and lasers after the warranty. |
| Training | IPL, fractional and vascular work are separate protocols; confirm training for each. |
Nordlys alternatives to compare
| Device | Technology | Why compare it |
|---|---|---|
| Sciton BBL HEROic | Broadband pulsed light; not a laser | Sciton’s broadband light handpiece with motion tracking, on JOULE or mJOULE. |
| Lumenis Stellar M22 | Pulsed light and modular laser platform | Lumenis’s IPL and laser workstation. |
| Solta Medical Fraxel DUAL · earlier generation | 1550 / 1927 nm non-ablative laser | Non-ablative 1550 and 1927 nm fractional resurfacing, if fractional is the main need. |
Different technologies are not interchangeable. Compare configurations, cleared uses and ownership costs before you book demos.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Nordlys or Nordlys Mini, and which handpieces are included (IPL, Frax 1550, Frax 1940, Nd:YAG)?
- What do additional IPL handpieces cost later?
- Do any handpieces use consumables, and what do they cost per treatment?
- What does service cover after the warranty, for IPL handpieces and lasers?
- How many training days are included, and what is the total with tax, freight, installation and financing?
Plan the purchase
Plan your Nordlys purchase.
- Compare it side by side with its closest alternatives.
- Check what each quote includes: configuration, supplies, service and financing.
- Model the monthly payment against realistic treatment volume in the ROI calculator.
Other IPL and light machines to research
InModeOptimasMAXFull guideMulti-application RF, laser and pulsed-light workstationRead the full page →
ScitonBBL HEROicFull profileBroadband pulsed light; not a laserRead the full page →
ScitonmJOULE · BBL HEROic + MOXIFull profilePulsed light plus fractional non-ablative laserRead the full page →
LumenisStellar M22Full profilePulsed light and modular laser platformRead the full page →
Cuteraexcel V+Full profile532 / 1064 nm laserRead the full page →All IPL and light machines →More Candela equipment →Full equipment catalog →
Sources
Show all 4 sources
- Candela: Nordlys (November 7, 2026). Checked November 7, 2026.
- FDA 510(k) K150907: Ellipse Nordlys (July 7, 2015). Checked November 7, 2026.
- FDA 510(k) K212492: Frax 1940 for Nordlys and Frax Pro (December 20, 2021). Checked November 7, 2026.
- FDA 510(k) K161162: Frax 1550 (September 16, 2016). Checked November 7, 2026.