Halo Laser Skin Resurfacing

Halo Laser Skin Resurfacing

Our skin takes a beating with factors like sun damage, environmental pollutants, and gravity comprising some of the most common.  This constant barrage can sometimes leave our skin with issues like fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, acne scars, large pores, uneven skin tone, and a dry, rough skin texture.  However, a revolutionary laser skin resurfacing treatment called Halo can reverse many of these signs of aging and restore a radiant, youthful, healthy complexion to your face. Keep reading to learn more about Halo laser treatment and how it can help renew your skin with a relatively little downtime.

What is the Halo laser?

Halo is the world’s first hybrid fractional laser from Sciton, a leader in cosmetic laser devices. The Halo platform includes both an ablative and non-ablative wavelength. The former targets the epidermis (upper layer of skin), while the latter works deeper in the dermis (middle skin layer), stimulating the formation of collagen and elastin.

The laser beam causes microscopic damage to the skin. This may sound counterintuitive, but it instigates the body’s natural healing process. The skin responds by speeding up cell turnover and making more collagen and elastin. The result is softer, smoother, more radiant skin that defies age.

The dual-wavelength technology is what makes the Halo laser so special. Laser skin resurfacing with this hybrid fractional laser maximizes results while reducing downtime. This means you can get great results but heal faster compared to conventional fractional lasers.

What does Halo laser do for your skin? Will Halo laser tighten skin? Does Halo laser remove wrinkles?

Halo laser treatments are an ideal solution for men and women with signs of aging and sun damage such as fine lines, wrinkles, creases, pigmentation, discoloration, enlarged pores, age spots, acne scars, uneven tone, and rough texture. The results vary from person to person. However, Halo laser treats both the superficial and deep skin layers. Meaning, the skin resurfacing treatment removes not only the dull, damaged outer layers of skin but also stimulates collagen and elastin formation deeper down. These are proteins that give the skin its smooth, supple, youthful appearance.

As a result, most people notice a significant improvement in skin quality and a more radiant complexion after just one Halo laser treatment.

Interestingly, Halo laser can give you more dramatic results than many other skin lasers. What’s more, the treatment is tolerated extremely well, and healing is faster with a shorter recovery time.

Does Halo laser work on all skin types?

Many conventional lasers for skin resurfacing are only effective in people with lighter skin tones. This is because the laser targets the pigment in skin imperfections. Older lasers can, therefore, only differentiate pigmented areas in people with lighter complexions, overlooking them in darker skin tones.

The dual-wavelength Halo laser offers more options to different skin types, colors, and textures. The platform has a unique motion-tracking technology that maps and measures skin blemishes, including those present in darker skin and located deeper in the skin.

What to expect during Halo laser treatment?

Your Halo laser session time can vary depending on what area we are treating. The skin rejuvenation treatment will start with one of our aesthetic providers cleaning your skin and applying a topical anesthetic (numbing cream) to the treatment area. The numbing medicine helps to reduce discomfort associated with Halo laser treatment. Following this, your provider will carefully scan the Halo laser device over the target areas.

Is Halo laser painful?

Compared to other laser modalities, the Halo treatment is tolerated extremely well. The numbing cream ensures the discomfort is minimal. After the treatment, many patients report feeling “raw,” like a mild sunburn. This side effect of Halo laser usually goes away in a few hours. There can be some lingering redness and swelling for a few days. You should, therefore, schedule your Halo laser treatment at least a week before a big event to give your skin time to heal.

When will I see results from Halo laser skin resurfacing?

As noted, your skin may be mildly red and swollen for a few days after your Halo appointment. Any minor discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain medicine. It is not unusual to develop brown spots (coffee grounds or bronzing) on the treated skin – this will fade in a few days. You will notice an improvement in your skin as early as 2-5 days after your Halo treatment. Notably, healing is much faster after Halo laser therapy compared to traditional fractional lasers. You will be able to apply makeup after 24 hours and return to work in a couple of days. Sun avoidance is recommended in the weeks following Halo treatment, given that your skin will be sensitive.

What is the downtime after Halo skin treatment?

Our aesthetic providers can customize Halo skin resurfacing to your desired results and lifestyle. If you want to rejuvenate your skin but get back to work as soon as possible, a lighter Halo treatment can be planned. In this case, you will be able to go out in public with makeup within 2 days. If, however, you can take a few days off to heal from Halo laser, a more intense treatment can be performed for dramatic improvement in your skin with 5-7 days of downtime.

What are the risks of Halo laser treatment?

Laser skin resurfacing is a highly specialized treatment that should only be performed by licensed professionals who have experience in handling these powerful devices. When performed by a qualified, certified laser professional, Halo treatments are safe and effective. Halo can give you dramatic results by resurfacing 25-30% of the skin, compared to 5% with some other lasers. Yet, the risks are significantly lower compared to older ablative lasers.

Common side effects of Halo laser include minor redness, swelling, and discomfort in the treated area. There can also be some skin peeling as the old layers of skin are shed to reveal healthy, glowing skin beneath.

How long do Halo results last? How many Halo treatments will I need?

There is a noticeable improvement in the skin approximately 14 days after Halo laser treatment. The results continue to improve over the following weeks. Most patients need 1-2 Halo sessions to get the best results. However, the results of Halo laser are not permanent. As you continue to grow older, your skin will develop further sun damage and signs of aging, and your Halo results will fade over time.

Choosing a laser provider

Here at Renaissance Plastic Surgery, we are leaders in both surgical and non-surgical methods of anti-aging.  The Halo laser is another option we offer to our patients in search of skin rejuvenation treatments.  Whenever you are choosing a provider for your laser skin resurfacing treatments, make sure that they are licensed and have the correct experience and training.  All of our aesthetic providers at Renaissance Plastic Surgery are licensed and qualified to deliver these laser skin resurfacing treatments.  If you are interested in learning more about these laser treatments, then reach out to us and schedule a consultation to explore all the options that we have available for individuals just like you.