When Bill Wiedemann’s clinical customers began asking for a high-performing LED face mask they could sell to their patients in 2022, he knew he had a problem. The clinics using his full-sized red light therapy panels, which deliver 25 milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm²) average power, didn’t want to offer their customers the LED masks flooding the consumer market. They had seen firsthand what real red light therapy could accomplish with proper power and coverage, and they refused to sell what they considered “toys.”
This request from his clinical customers became the catalyst for what would become the VISO mask, a second-generation red light therapy device that Wiedemann claims exposes the LED mask market for what it really is: an industry built on ineffective “toys” that provide little more than expensive placebo effects. The clinics wanted something that would complement and support the treatments patients were receiving in-clinic, rather than undermining their credibility with ineffective devices.
“I am upset that 95% of the red light products sold do nothing,” said Wiedemann, the President and Chief Technology Officer of Lumara Systems, speaking from his San Jose, California headquarters. “When I discovered that one of the major companies was delivering products that were less than effective, I set out to make a red light solution that was actually effective.”
The Accidental Revolutionary
Wiedemann’s journey into red light therapy began not in a laboratory, but through personal experience. In 2016, two friends introduced him to the benefits of red light therapy, sparking the curiosity of an engineer with 36 years of experience in capital-backed venture companies, leading sales, marketing, business development, and engineering since graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1980 with a degree in Electronic Engineering and Technology.
What started as a personal interest quickly evolved into professional outrage when Wiedemann began investigating the existing providers in the market. Armed with precision measurement equipment and an engineer’s skepticism, he began testing the full-sized red light therapy panels that were generating hundreds of millions in revenue annually.
“When I measured one of the top three companies and compared our optical power to theirs, my first product provided 15 times the optical power and enabled very short treatment times,” Wiedemann explained.
The competitor’s device delivered a mere 1.1 milliwatts per square centimeter, while his engineering approach achieved 25 mW/cm², providing over twenty times the therapeutic power. This discovery led to the founding of Lumara Systems on July 1, 2016, with a clear mission: create red light therapy devices that actually work. Wiedemann’s initial goal was to develop an effective full-sized panel solution at an $1,800 price point that could compete with existing providers. What he created was a clinical-grade device delivering 25 mW/cm² average power and redefined the capabilities of effective red light therapy.
The Billion-Dollar Problem
By 2022, the LED face mask market had exploded, with over $1 billion in total sales over the past six years, with annual sales projected to exceed $500 million this year. Sleek marketing campaigns and celebrity endorsements were driving sales of the devices that promised professional-grade results in the comfort of the consumer’s home. Yet, Wiedemann’s experience with clinical devices revealed a troubling truth: these mass-market devices were providing what he called “spotty coverage at best.”
“The LED face masks that have generated over $1 billion in sales over six years are less than effective,” Wiedemann stated bluntly. “They are considered toys, as they provide 8% to 25% coverage. A simple analogy is: would you put your sunscreen on using a cotton swab on 10 places on your forehead? Certainly not.”
The problem, according to Wiedemann, lies in fundamental design flaws that prioritize manufacturing cost over therapeutic effectiveness. Most LED masks use widely spaced LEDs—about 2.5 centimeters apart—creating a patchwork of light that leaves significant portions of the face untreated. It’s like trying to paint a wall with a brush that only covers 10% of the surface with each stroke.
“All of the companies that have generated over $1 billion in total revenue over six years provide very spotty coverage,” Wiedemann explained. “They’ve built an industry on devices that simply don’t deliver the uniform, high-powered light therapy that clinical research shows is necessary for real results.”
Engineering the Solution: The VISO Breakthrough
Recognizing the massive gap between marketing promises and actual performance, Wiedemann set out to engineer a true second-generation LED face mask. The VISO mask, which took exactly one year to develop, represents what he referred to as a “fundamental reimagining of how red light therapy should be delivered.”
The breakthrough lies in the details that matter most when considering therapeutic effectiveness. While competitors use widely spaced LEDs that create coverage gaps, VISO employs closely spaced 660nm LEDs that provide 100% uniform coverage across the entire face. The wavelength selection wasn’t arbitrary—660nm is the most researched wavelength for skin rejuvenation and represented by decades of clinical validation.
“660nm equals results,” Wiedemann explained. “This wavelength has the most robust research backing its effectiveness for cellular turnover, improved skin texture, and overall skin health.”
The engineering challenge wasn’t just in the LED arrangement, but in creating a power supply capable of driving the necessary optical output. While developing VISO, Wiedemann encountered skepticism from potential manufacturers who “did not believe they could make an LED mask with so many LEDs and manufacture a power supply that could provide the necessary output power to achieve real-world results.”
After six months of searching, Wiedemann finally found a factory capable of building his design. The result was an LED mask that delivers uniform optical energy with the necessary optical power to achieve visible results in just days.
The Five-Day Proof
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of VISO’s performance is the speed of visible results. Wiedemann has developed what he calls the “five-day test,” a protocol that not only delivers rapid results but also demonstrates the critical importance of proper device-to-skin contact.
“I recommend that users start on a Monday and look at their skin one last time, as they will not be looking at it for 5 days,” Wiedemann explained. “Place the mask on the face snugly with the straps tight. The closer to the skin, the better. Now, lie on your left or right side and use the mask for 20 minutes at the highest power, positioning the side of your face on a pillow so that the pillow helps press the mask firmly against the face.”
The results of this protocol provide a stark demonstration of VISO’s power. After five days, users can compare both sides of their face, with the pillow-pressed side showing dramatically better results. “The other side will not look as good, as it was not pressed into the face,” Wiedemann noted. “Just the 1/4 inch that the mask was away from the face limited the penetration of the optical power from VISO into the skin.”
This simple test accomplishes two things: it delivers visible results in improved skin texture, smoothness, smaller pore size, and a healthy glow, while simultaneously proving the importance of the high-powered, uniform coverage that VISO provides. Users can literally see the difference between effective and ineffective treatment on their own faces.
Market Disruption and Clinical Adoption
Since launching VISO at a $600 consumer price point, Lumara Systems has sold thousands of units and is experiencing rapid growth. The company plans to reach 1,000 units per month by summer 2025, scaling to 1,000 per week by the end of 2025, and ultimately achieving 1,000 units per day by 2026.
More significantly, medical professionals are taking notice. Lumara has developed a wholesale program that enables clinics to purchase VISO masks for $300 and resell them to patients for $600, creating a new revenue stream while providing patients with professional-grade red light therapy for home use.
“Several clinics are selling up to five VISOs each week, and one clinic sells 100 each month,” Wiedemann reported. This clinical adoption represents validation from medical professionals who can distinguish between effective therapeutic devices and consumer “toys.”
The company has also earned recognition from industry professionals, being awarded one of the top three most recognized names in red light therapy by the Associated Skin Care Professionals, a testament to the impact VISO is having on the professional community.
The Technology Behind the Results
What makes VISO genuinely different isn’t just marketing claims; it’s measurable engineering specifications. The device delivers uniform 660nm light across 100% of the face at 20 mW/cm² average power with 35 mW/cm² peak power, compared to the 8-25% coverage and minimal power of competing devices. This puts VISO’s performance nearly on par with Lumara’s clinical panels, which deliver 25 mW/cm² average and 35 mW/cm² peak power, but in a convenient at-home format.
The optical power density and uniform coverage work together to stimulate cellular turnover, resulting in smoother skin and a more uniform tone.
All of Lumara’s designs are proprietary and patent-pending with the USPTO, representing genuine intellectual property, rather than variations on existing designs. This intellectual property protection ensures that the technological advantages VISO provides can’t be easily copied by competitors focused on cost-cutting rather than effectiveness.
The manufacturing process itself reflects Wiedemann’s commitment to quality. Lumara manufactures at its San Jose facility while collaborating with worldwide manufacturing partners for components built to its specifications. This hybrid approach ensures quality control while leveraging global supply chain efficiencies.
Industry Resistance and Future Vision
Interestingly, the major suppliers of LED masks haven’t yet responded to VISO’s market-leading solution. “The big suppliers would have to admit that the LED face masks that have generated over $1 billion in total sales over six years are very inadequate, and that they have been providing little more than ‘toys,'” Wiedemann observed.
This market resistance actually validates Wiedemann’s thesis about the industry’s fundamental problems. Companies that have built businesses on over $1 billion in total sales over six years with ineffective devices can’t easily pivot to admitting their products don’t work without facing significant liability and reputation damage.
Looking ahead, Wiedemann envisions continued evolution in red light therapy technology: “Lower and lower cost, with better and better effectiveness, and more and more uses.” This vision of continuous improvement stands in stark contrast to an industry that has remained largely static and prioritized marketing rather than technological advancement.
The $40 Million Monthly Opportunity
The LED face mask market represents a $40 million monthly opportunity that Wiedemann believes is ripe for disruption. With consumers increasingly educated about the differences between effective and ineffective devices, and medical professionals seeking legitimate therapeutic tools, the market conditions favor genuine innovation over marketing hype.
For medical professionals, VISO represents both a treatment tool and a business opportunity. Clinics can offer patients professional-grade home therapy while generating revenue through device sales. The wholesale pricing structure makes VISO accessible to practices while maintaining healthy margins.
“Contact Lumara directly at (408) 872-4800 or reach out to us through TopDoctor Magazine to find out more about the Lumara VISO mask and capture a piece of the $40 million a month LED face mask market,” Wiedemann offered.
Beyond the Technology: A Mission for Effectiveness
What drives Wiedemann isn’t just engineering excellence; it’s frustration with an industry that has prioritized profits over patient outcomes. His 12-person team in San Jose, supported by eight additional team members across the United States, shares this mission of delivering genuine therapeutic value.
“I am upset that 95% of the red light products shipped do nothing,” Wiedemann emphasized. This isn’t just a business complaint—it’s the driving force behind a company that has chosen to compete on effectiveness rather than marketing budgets.
The contrast is stark: while competitors focus on celebrity endorsements and social media marketing, Lumara Systems invests in engineering, clinical validation, and measurable results. This approach may be slower to market, but it builds sustainable competitive advantages based on genuine technological superiority.
The Second Generation Revolution
Bill Wiedemann’s story represents more than just successful product development—it’s a case study in how genuine innovation can expose and disrupt established industries built on inadequate solutions. By applying rigorous engineering principles to an industry dominated by marketing, Wiedemann has created not just a better product, but a new category of truly effective red light therapy.
The VISO mask represents what second-generation LED therapy should be: uniform coverage, therapeutic power levels, measurable results, and clinical validation. As more medical professionals and informed consumers recognize the difference between effective devices and expensive “toys,” the market opportunity for genuine innovation continues to expand.
For medical professionals considering red light therapy options for their patients, the choice is increasingly clear: continue recommending devices that provide minimal therapeutic benefit, or embrace second-generation technology that delivers measurable results in days rather than hopes and promises.
The billion-dollar question isn’t whether the LED mask market will continue to grow. It’s whether that growth will be built on genuine therapeutic value or continued marketing of ineffective devices. Bill Wiedemann and the VISO mask represent the former, and early adoption numbers suggest the market is ready for real solutions.
In an industry where 95% of products “do nothing,” being among the 5% that actually work isn’t just a competitive advantage; it’s a moral imperative. For Bill Wiedemann, that’s not just good business; it’s good engineering.
To learn more about the VISO mask and wholesale opportunities for medical practices, visit LumaraSystems.com/VISO or contact Lumara Systems directly at (408) 872-4800.
