Omicron class action excerpts, 1973

In 1973, PhotoEpilator manufacturer Omicron Systems was sued in California Superior Court by ten dissatisfied owners. The case was settled out of court by Omicron.

The ten owners purchased and used Omicron machines in 1971 and 1972, but quickly found the device did not perform as promised. The plaintiffs in the suit state in court documents, "We strongly feel that there is very little evidence that the photoepilator has any potential of permanent hair removal." Based on their use of the devices, they further state that "it does not perform as represented and is not reasonably effective in the permanent removal of hair."

The owners also describe the pain of the punching into a follicle with the oversized fiberoptic probe and the tweezing effect from poorly treated hairs. Finally, they claim it is "extremely boring, tedious, dull and an exhausting technique" that took up to 40 seconds per hair.

Upon settling the lawsuit, Omicron gave refunds after the plaintiffs returned the devices. Unfortunately, the devices were then resold to Carol Block, who continues to market photoepilators under the D’Plume brand name to this day.

Sources: California Superior Court, San Mateo County, Docket 173345 (Bien et. al. v. Omicron)