April 6, 2026 — What makes a company truly different? In aesthetics, many would say technology. And while innovation is critical, technology alone doesn’t tell the full story. What shapes innovation, and ultimately the experience customers have, is the culture behind it.
As Sciton celebrates 29 years of innovation, we’re reminded of the people-driven culture that has shaped the company since the beginning. At Sciton, culture influences everything—from how research and development is approached to how teams collaborate with providers and support practices every day.
It’s why many people refer to Sciton not just as a company, but as the Sciton Family. It all traces back to the principles the company was founded on nearly three decades ago.
Where the Sciton story begins
Sciton’s story begins long before the company itself was founded.
In 1966, laser pioneer Dr. Jim Hobart, PhD, founded the laser company Coherent Radiation. At the time, lasers were still an emerging technology, and many of the breakthroughs that would shape the industry were yet to come. Jim would go on to design the first commercially available CO₂ laser, famously powering an early prototype using a 220-volt outlet from a colleague’s laundry room. It was a small moment that hinted at something much bigger: a relentless curiosity and determination to push the boundaries of what laser technology could do.
Over the next several decades, that spirit helped build Coherent into one of the most successful laser companies in the world. In the 1990s, Jim and his team developed the UltraPulse CO₂ laser, which was widely regarded for years as the gold standard in laser resurfacing.
By the mid-1990s, however, the company had evolved into a large publicly traded corporation. With that growth came new pressure, particularly the expectations of Wall Street and the constant drive for higher profits. For Jim, whose reputation had been built on uncompromising standards, the shift toward cost-driven decision-making raised difficult questions about the kind of company he wanted to be part of.
Known for stopping production lines if something didn’t meet his standards, Jim believed that quality should never be negotiable. It was then that he made the difficult decision to leave the organization he had built from the ground up.
Retirement, however, wasn’t in his nature.
In 1997, Jim partnered with Dr. Daniel Negus, Coherent’s Head of Research and Development, and a group of 15 engineers and innovators who shared the same commitment to excellence. Together, Jim and Dan founded Sciton, setting out to build a different kind of company—one where people matter, quality comes first, and doing the right thing guides every decision.
Nearly three decades later, that founding vision continues to shape Sciton’s culture, influencing everything from research and development to the way the company partners with providers around the world.
Over time, Sciton’s founding philosophy shaped the culture that continues to guide how people work together at Sciton today.
The credos that shape the Sciton culture
Inside Sciton, you’ll find something unique for a technology company. A set of credos that guide how people work, collaborate, and serve customers. They aren’t slogans. They’re principles people actually live by.
They remind us to:
- Trust and value people
- Lead with kindness and gratitude
- Listen more than we talk
- Be candid and transparent
- Take responsibility when things go wrong
- Celebrate wins and build others up
- Focus on results, not excuses.
These ideas may sound simple, but together they create a culture where people feel empowered to challenge assumptions, share knowledge, and keep learning.
Why culture matters to our customers
A company’s culture doesn’t stay inside its walls.
It shows up in the way products are designed, how customers are supported, and how challenges are solved.
At Sciton, a people-first culture leads to a few things customers often notice right away.
A relentless focus on quality
The same philosophy Dr. Hobart had decades ago still holds true today: if something isn’t right, we fix it.
That mindset influences everything from engineering to manufacturing. It’s why Sciton teams rigorously test new technologies before they ever reach the market, and why solutions are paused, refined, or improved until they meet the standard providers expect. For customers, that translates to systems they can trust in their practice every day.
“I had bought lasers before my Sciton mJOULE™ purchase, but they never worked so well, and the customer service disappeared the day that I purchased it … but with Sciton, their technology is second to no other company.”
— Dr. Micole Tuchman, MD, Board-Certified Dermatologist
“Not only are Sciton products the absolute best in terms of results, but also in terms of skin health. The consistency we get with these treatments has helped me build my practice from my very first BBL device back in 2006 to my three additional devices, including my newest BBL® HEROic™.
— Sharon Grasso, Aesthetic Consultant and Practitioner
“My experience with Sciton has been nothing short of exemplary. When I first opened my practice four years ago, I knew that I wanted to partner only with the best in class. Sciton did not disappoint … The level of education and support that I have received from Sciton is unparalleled. There are always learning opportunities from the best doctors, and there is no excuse not to be at the top of your game with results.”
— Natalie Sharp, FNP-BC, Cosmetic Dermatology Provider
“As a plastic surgeon, Sciton technology has completely transformed my practice. In one way or another, Sciton technology plays a role in every surgery I perform. Whether it’s rejuvenating areas that surgery can’t or minimizing scarring, the technology is indispensable. In addition, my Sciton lasers have opened up patient populations I would otherwise never have treated. I routinely treat vascular problems, acne, scarring, and prejuvenation with my Sciton lasers. It is quite simply the best.”
— Dr. James Brady, MD, Board-Certified Pediatric and General Plastic Surgeon
A commitment to learning
At Sciton, education doesn’t end once a device is installed.
From hands-on clinical training and advanced workshops to peer-to-peer learning at events and webinars, the focus is on helping providers continually sharpen their skills and expand what’s possible in their practice. The goal isn’t just to introduce technology; it’s to help customers unlock their full potential and deliver results that improve patients’ lives.
Here’s how some customers describe their experience learning and growing with Sciton.
“It’s great to interact with other providers around the country and get amazing pearls.”
“As a PA, I’ve been in derm and plastics for a combined 8 years and have worked with over 10 different device companies … Sciton events are where I learn from the best and go to one every year.”
“Thank you so much for the invitation to the event in Nashville. This was a wonderful experience, the best laser event I’ve been to in my 30 years in dermatology.”
“We can’t stop learning in this industry, as you know. Hands down, Sciton has the best conference. Definitely recommend it. These are the best laser devices on the market.”
A spirit of collaboration
Some of the best innovations happen when engineers, clinicians, and providers work together.
Sciton teams spend time listening to the people who use Sciton’s technology every day—understanding their challenges, their ideas, and what they want to achieve for their patients. Those insights often shape product improvements, new treatment protocols, and educational programs that benefit the entire community.
A belief in transparency
Trust is built through honest conversations.
Whether discussing treatment outcomes, patient expectations, or the science behind technology, Sciton believes in being clear about what works, why it works, and how providers can use it most effectively. That openness helps build stronger partnerships and better results for patients.
Because at the end of the day, success is closely tied to the success of the providers served. When their practices grow, when patients see meaningful results, and when new possibilities open up for their businesses, that’s when the Sciton Family grows stronger, too.
More than a company
For many people who work here, Sciton feels less like a corporation and more like a community.
Walk through the halls at headquarters or spend time at a Sciton event, and you’ll notice it right away. Engineers collaborating with clinicians to understand how technology performs in the real world. Sciton educators sharing insights with providers across the country. Teams celebrating milestones together, from product launches to customer successes.
It’s a culture where people take pride in their work, share knowledge openly, and genuinely want to see each other succeed.
It’s called the Sciton Family, not because it sounds nice, but because it reflects how people show up for one another.
You see it in the way teams rally to solve problems, in the pride employees take in the technology they create, and in the partnerships that grow between Sciton and the providers who trust the company with their practices.
And perhaps the clearest reflection of the Sciton Family comes from the people who experience it every day. Their perspectives tell the story better than any description could.
“I’ll tell you exactly what makes Sciton different. I think most people think it’s our equipment, technology, and innovation that make us different. But what really makes us different is our people. I think we have a very unique culture that is people-driven. You hear a lot of people say that businesses aren’t a family, that businesses are more like teams, and it’s more teamwork. And I could argue that all day long. A good business is a family.”
— Aaron Burton, Sciton CEO
“I think when you’ve got a company that empowers you to do the right thing, there is so much that you can learn from that as a human being. Sciton is just absolutely incredible. The people are phenomenal. Many of them have become great friends, and we’re like a big family. So the culture is just absolutely unique. I’m never leaving Sciton.”
— Karen De Brun, International Sales, Ireland
“You know, I came to Sciton to purchase a machine that was the best technology that you could find. What I ended up getting is a lifelong partner in my growth as a provider and in the success of my business. And that was a wonderful perk.”
— Erin Hennessey, DNP, APRN, Blush Aesthetics (Sciton customer and KOL)
“Over the years, especially when we talk to newer folks who want to join the Sciton family, we often talk about culture. And it takes a little time after they join to truly understand what our culture means, because it’s different from anything I’ve seen in any other organization.”
— Breton Applebaum, Regional Director, Southeast
“What really makes Sciton unique is the results and the people. Honestly, the community. It’s like one big family. We all do the same thing, but support each other, and it’s not a competitive situation.”
— Kenzie Cammuse, LE, Founder and Aesthetician, Nashville Skin Studio (Sciton customer)
Not only is the company built on being the best, but the people behind it are the best I’ve ever worked with. I love my Sciton Family. My devices have changed my entire outlook on providing complete treatment plans to my patients, and our results have never been better.”
— Dr. Mai Kaga, MD, Double-Board Certified Aesthetic and Internal Medicine Physician (Sciton customer and KOL)
The legacy continues
As Sciton celebrates another anniversary, the technology will continue to evolve. New innovations will emerge and will continue to shape the future of aesthetics.
But the foundation remains the same.
A company built by people who believed there was a better way.
A culture guided by principles that value doing the right thing, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
And a commitment to improving the lives of employees, providers, and patients with exceptional laser and light-powered technology.
Because at Sciton, innovation has always been about more than technology.
It’s about the people.