Guide · HydraFacial machines
HydraFacial MD vs Elite vs Syndeo: what the names mean, and what actually differs
Clinic menus in Singapore mention HydraFacial MD, Elite MD and Syndeo, which makes it look as if there are different strengths of HydraFacial. There are not. Here is what each name means, what changed from one machine to the next, what stays the same, and what to check before you book.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 31 October 2026
Quick answer
- HydraFacial MD is not a separate, stronger treatment. It is the registered name of the HydraFacial liquid-based skin exfoliation system, and older devices are often advertised as HydraFacial MD or Elite MD.
- Syndeo is the current generation. The company's 2024 annual report calls the Elite Tower and the Allegro predecessor models. Syndeo launched in the United States in March 2022 and in select Asia-Pacific markets from April 2023.
- All genuine systems deliver the same core facial with Vortex-Fusion tips and HydraFacial serums. Syndeo adds cloud-linked records, on-screen protocols, touch-free controls and built-in LED.
- What matters most for your skin is a genuine device, authentic single-use tips and serums, and the full protocol. SkinRev Lab uses the HydraFacial Syndeo.
The name
What 'HydraFacial MD' means
HydraFacial began at Edge Systems, a company established in 1997, which renamed itself The HydraFacial Company in 2017 and is now part of The Beauty Health Company. HydraFacial MD is the registered trademark of its liquid-based skin exfoliation system. In a 2020 filing, the company called the HydraFacial MD system its premiere system, and its 2024 annual report lists US patents directed to the manifold and console of the HydraFacial MD system and its tips.
So when a clinic advertises HydraFacial MD or Elite MD, it is usually naming the system or an older device, not a medical-strength version of the facial. It does not mean a doctor performs it, and it does not mean deeper treatment. The facial itself is non-medical and works on the surface of the skin.
Generations
Elite, Allegro and Syndeo: the device generations
The company calls each machine a delivery system. In the United States, each is classed as a Class I exempt medical device, the lowest-risk category, which fits a facial that works on the outer skin.
- Elite (Elite Tower): an earlier full-size system, still found in many clinics. The manufacturer continues to offer Elite at a lower price point with a range of feature sets, as well as refurbished devices.
- Allegro: another predecessor model, named alongside the Elite Tower in the company's 2024 annual report.
- Syndeo: the current generation. It launched in the United States in March 2022, with more than 3,000 systems sold that year, and in select markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific from April 2023.
- Syndeo's listed additions: cloud-based records of each client's concerns and past treatments, on-screen protocol guidance, touch-free gesture controls, a built-in LED light device, remote diagnostics and automatic software updates.
Same facial
What changes between machines, and what stays the same
What stays the same on any genuine system is the facial: cleanse and peel, extract, then hydrate, delivered through Vortex-Fusion tips with HydraFacial's own solutions, serums and boosters. A Signature on an Elite and a Signature on a Syndeo follow the same core steps.
What changes is the workflow around the treatment. Syndeo guides the therapist through each protocol on screen, keeps your treatment history in the cloud so the next session can build on the last one, and integrates LED without a separate device. In plain terms, it is about consistency and record-keeping.
The published research does not separate the generations. A 2008 randomised study of hydradermabrasion and a 2024 imaging study using a commercially available hydradermabrasion device both studied the procedure, not a specific machine. There is no published evidence that a newer HydraFacial machine gives better skin results.
Genuine or not
Why genuine matters more than the model name
HydraFacial says every provider needs a valid trademark licence to market the treatment as HydraFacial and to order its tips, serums and boosters, and that second-hand devices must be inspected and recertified before they can be used under the HydraFacial name. Many machines sold as a 'hydra facial' are other hydradermabrasion devices.
The company's 2024 annual report notes that its US patents on the HydraFacial MD system and tips expire in 2026, so more look-alike machines are likely. That makes simple checks more useful, not less.
- Ask which device is used, and look for the HydraFacial name on the screen.
- Watch the single-use HydroPeel tip being opened for you.
- Ask which serums and booster are used, by name.
- Ask how long the session lasts and which steps your tier includes.
At SkinRev Lab
HydraFacial Syndeo at SkinRev Lab
SkinRev Lab uses the HydraFacial Syndeo with genuine single-use tips and HydraFacial serums, and holds HydraFacial's 2026 Certificate of Authenticity. You are welcome to ask to see the device, the tip and the serums.
Every tier, Signature, Deluxe and Platinum, takes about 45 minutes and is performed by trained Aesthetic Therapists. Deluxe and Platinum add a targeted booster and LED support. Pricing is given at the counter or on WhatsApp at +65 8266 9585.
We are at #B1-28 CityLink Mall, 1 Raffles Link, on the underground link between City Hall and Esplanade MRT, open daily 11am to 8pm.
Sources
References & sources
- The Beauty Health Company. Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024. US Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Business Wire. The Beauty Health Company debuts Hydrafacial Syndeo internationally. 30 March 2023.
- Hydrafacial. Authentic Hydrafacial devices: trademark licensing, Syndeo, Elite and refurbished devices.
- Freedman BM. Hydradermabrasion: an innovative modality for nonablative facial rejuvenation. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008;7(4):275-280. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2008.00406.x
- Razi S, Truong TM, Khan S, Sanabria B, Rao B. Hydradermabrasion through the lens of Line-Field Confocal Optical Coherence Tomography. Skin Res Technol. 2024;30(4):e13684. doi:10.1111/srt.13684
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
What is HydraFacial MD?
It is the registered name of the HydraFacial liquid-based skin exfoliation system. It is not a stronger or doctor-only version of the facial.
Is HydraFacial MD better than Syndeo?
Neither gives a stronger treatment. Syndeo is the current generation, with connected records and built-in features; the core facial is the same on any genuine system.
What is the difference between HydraFacial Elite and Syndeo?
Elite is an earlier device that the manufacturer still offers at a lower price point. Syndeo is the current generation, with cloud records, on-screen protocols, gesture controls and built-in LED.
Is a HydraFacial on an Elite machine still genuine?
Yes, if it is a licensed device using authentic tips and serums. Second-hand machines must be recertified by the company to be used under the HydraFacial name.
When did HydraFacial Syndeo come to Asia?
From April 2023, in select markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific, after its US launch in March 2022.
Does a newer HydraFacial machine give better results?
There is no published evidence that it does. The studies are of hydradermabrasion as a procedure and do not compare device generations.
Is a HydraFacial a medical procedure?
No. It is a surface facial; in the United States the delivery systems are classed as low-risk Class I exempt devices, and at SkinRev Lab it is performed by trained therapists.
Which HydraFacial machine does SkinRev Lab use?
The HydraFacial Syndeo, with single-use tips and genuine serums. SkinRev Lab holds HydraFacial's 2026 Certificate of Authenticity.