How to work out the payback on an aesthetic device
Before you buy a machine, work out how many treatments it takes to pay for it. The sum is simple, and it changes how you compare devices.
Published 10 November 2026 · Lazenix
The basic sum
You need four numbers: the price of the device, the price you will charge per treatment, the consumable cost per treatment, and how many treatments you expect to perform each week.
- Net per treatment = treatment price − consumables per treatment
- Net per week = net per treatment × treatments per week
- Payback in weeks = device price ÷ net per week
A worked example
These figures are for illustration only. Use your own.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Device price | £12,000 |
| Price per treatment | £60 |
| Consumables per treatment | £5 |
| Treatments per week | 15 |
| Net per treatment | £55 |
| Net per week | £825 |
| Payback | About 15 weeks |
Be honest about bookings
The number that matters most is treatments per week, and it is the easiest one to overestimate. Start with what your current clients are likely to book, not what a full diary would look like. Then run the sum again with half that number. If the device still pays for itself in a time you are comfortable with, the decision is much safer.
Work out the real consumable cost
Consumables differ a great deal between technologies, and they come straight off your margin.
- Cartridge devices such as HIFU: divide the price of a cartridge by its rated shots (10,000 on the EternaLift Elite Pro), then multiply by the shots used in a typical treatment.
- Lamp devices such as IPL: divide the price of a replacement lamp by its rated life (about 500,000 shots on the LasePro IPL).
- Devices without cartridges, such as a diode laser or vacuum RF: count the smaller items instead, such as gel, oil, water and filters.
- Single-use tips, as on a hydrodermabrasion system: one tip per client, plus solutions.
What the simple sum leaves out
A payback figure is a guide, not a forecast. It does not include staff time, rent, marketing, insurance, training or tax. If you rent or use a rent-to-own agreement, compare your monthly payment with your expected monthly net income from the device instead of working out a payback period.
Use it to compare devices
The same sum is a fair way to compare two machines. A cheaper device with expensive consumables can take longer to pay back than a dearer one with none. Ask every supplier for the consumable prices in writing before you decide.
Enter your own prices and volumes and see the payback straight away.
Open the payback calculatorThis article is general information for clinic owners and practitioners. It is not medical, legal or financial advice. Device figures are taken from the operator manuals and may vary with configuration.