Skin aging can manifest in various ways, from wrinkles and dark spots to uneven texture and a loss of that youthful glow. The HALO® laser offers a comprehensive solution, addressing many skin concerns in a single treatment. This advanced technology rejuvenates your skin with minimal downtime, revealing a more youthful and radiant complexion.
To help you understand if the HALO® laser is right for your skin concerns, we’ve consulted with our board-certified dermatologists, Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger, to answer the most frequently asked questions about this transformative laser treatment.
- What is a HALO® laser treatment?
- What happens during a HALO® laser treatment?
- What is HALO® laser recovery like?
- How many HALO® laser treatments will I need to experience results?
- HALO® laser before and after photos
What is a HALO® laser treatment?
HALO® is the world’s first hybrid fractional laser skin treatment. It combines both non-ablative and ablative wavelengths to improve skin concerns on the face, neck, chest and other areas of the body. Board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon and Mohs surgeon Dr. Daniel Schlessinger breaks it down for us, “HALO®’s non-ablative part targets more surface level concerns like dark spots, enlarged pores and uneven texture, while ablative wavelengths, penetrate deeper into the dermis where they stimulate collagen, tighten skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles.”
HALO® laser works by creating tiny thermal openings in the skin, stimulating your body’s natural healing processes and allowing skin cells to regenerate to improve signs of aging and skin damage. What makes HALO® truly unique is its ability to be adjusted to penetrate deeper or more superficially depending on the severity of your skin concerns and your desired results.
Board-certified dermatologist, cosmetic surgeon and Mohs surgeon Dr. Joel Schlessinger adds, “Before HALO®, patients had to choose between aggressive or non-aggressive laser treatments. By combining these technologies, we can offer dramatic results with minimal downtime.”
What happens during a HALO® laser treatment?
Are you ready to take a look into a HALO® laser treatment experience at Schlessinger MD? It begins with a personalized consultation appointment with our board-certified dermatologists Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger where they will examine your skin and discuss your health and medical history. During this time, you can ask any questions you may have about the treatment process and expectations of results. From there, we can discuss other aspects of HALO® laser, including cost, what your personalized treatment plan might look like and post-treatment instructions.
If it’s decided that the HALO® laser is right for you, the next step is your treatment! At Schlessinger MD, we will work with you to schedule your HALO® laser treatment (typically within a few days following your consultation), so you can begin your journey to younger-looking, glowing skin right away. You will likely have some prescriptions to fill prior to the procedure in order to accelerate your recovery time and comfort level.
Once in the treatment room, our cosmetic coordinators will answer any remaining questions you might have and prep your skin for the laser. At Schlessinger MD, we apply a high-grade topical anesthetic for up to one hour prior to the laser and use a unique cooling technology during the laser to make you comfortable.
The HALO® laser treatment lasts anywhere from one to two hours after numbing, depending on the area treated. During this time, our dermatologists will pass the HALO® handpiece over the treatment area one fraction of skin at a time. Your skin will feel warm, and you may feel an occasional prickling sensation.
Immediately after treatment, our providers will apply a recovery cream or ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology which uses a blend of proprietary peptides to help support the generation of new collagen and elastin. It also contains arnica and a phytonutrient called phytoene to minimize recovery time and calm post-treatment redness.
Pro Tip: We recommend you use ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology for two weeks before and two weeks after laser treatments to clear damaged collagen and elastin, prepping and strengthening skin ahead of your treatment.
What is HALO® laser recovery like?
Each HALO® laser recovery experience will vary, depending on the depth of treatment, but generally, recovery is minimal compared to ablative laser treatments of the past. Immediately after treatment, your skin will feel warm, and you may experience tightness, swelling and redness, similar to a sunburn.
In the following days, you can cleanse your skin with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, (we will recommend one, based on your skin type) and apply moisturizer, avoiding letting the skin dry out. Additionally, push pause on using any exfoliating active ingredients, like alpha hydroxy acids, retinoids or anything with fragrance until you get approval from your dermatologist.
Dr. Daniel Schlessinger says it’s important to be very gentle with your skin during the healing period, adding, “You have to think of your lasered skin as being like the skin of a newborn: very fragile and sensitive to the elements. As your skin heals, it may ooze a bit, swell and eventually develop crusts as it naturally exfoliates and sloughs away. It’s important to resist picking or pulling at crusting skin, as it can lead to scarring or damage. If you have itchy hot spots, you can apply FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm as needed up to four times daily.”
Dr. Joel Schlessinger adds that protecting your skin is also key to achieving the best possible results, “Your skin is more vulnerable to sunburn and sun damage post-laser treatment. Avoiding intentional direct sun exposure for a week or two afterward is helpful, but many patients who live in sunny climates are unable to avoid this and do well. If you are in the sun, always wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen, seek shade and cover up with clothing or a hat.”
Finally, avoid any pools, lakes and oceans that might contain bacteria or contaminants that can lead to infections in your lasered skin for a few days after the procedure. Once your skin heals, you can resume swimming. This usually occurs within a few days or so, but lakes or ponds are dirtier and should be avoided for up to a few weeks after the procedure.
How many HALO laser treatments will I need to experience results?
With HALO® laser, many patients may see visible results in just two to five days after your first treatment depending on the intensity, with continued improvement as your skin heals. Dr. Joel Schlessinger elaborates, “Many patients see an immediate tightening of the skin and experience the famous HALO® glow in the days after treatment once the skin has healed a bit.”
While you will experience visible improvement with just one HALO® laser session, most patients see their best results with a couple of treatments. Dr. Daniel Schlessinger says, “We recommend one to three treatments each year to maintain great results and experience continued improvement.”
HALO laser before and after
Are you ready to experience the real benefits of a HALO® laser treatment? Our results speak for themselves. Take a look at a HALO laser before and after photo from a real Schlessinger MD patient:
If you’re ready to take the first step in rejuvenating your skin with HALO®, you can visit our convenient appointment portal to book your consultation with Drs. Joel and Daniel Schlessinger today.