What is the HALO Laser?
HALO laser is the world’s first hybrid fractional laser able to deliver both ablative and non-ablative laser energy to the skin. Traditionally, non-ablative lasers required multiple treatments to achieve desired results. Ablative lasers on the other hand, can achieve much more dramatic results but have a significantly longer downtime. HALO is able to achieve ablative laser results with non-ablative laser downtimes.
How does HALO work?
It combines two laser wavelengths, 1470nm (non-ablative) and 2940nm (ablative), in a single pulse, effectively combining two different treatments that previously would be given separately. The ability to customise treatments allows precise targeting of skin damage whilst providing flexibility in downtime.
What is the HALO laser used for?
Over the years, our skin can lose its youthful glow due to sun exposure and the body’s inherent ageing processes. The result of this is often the development of sun spots, fine lines, and loss of the natural healthy glow seen in earlier years. Older technology lasers were not able to effectively remove this damage. HALO can eliminate years of damage by precisely targeting the damage to your skin at the right depth.
HALO re-establishes that luminous glow you once had, improving overall texture and appearance of the skin by treating fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, large pores and pigment dyschromia including poikiloderma. It can be used to treat the hands and arms but the face, neck and chest achieve the best results.
Why HALO laser?
Every patient’s skin is different. Skin type, degree of sun damage, lifestyle and tolerance of downtime differ for everyone. HALO allows treatments to be customised individually for patients to optimise results and fit their lifestyle. Can’t afford long periods away from work? A light treatment creates smooth, vibrant skin that’s ready for makeup the next day. Want to WOW them? A more intense treatment will bring back that youthful glow with only a few days of downtime.
What is the treatment like?
Most patients describe mild discomfort only during the procedure. A full face will take between 30-45 minutes to complete. Local anaesthetic creams are used to reduce discomfort. The HALO laser blows cooled air over the surface of the skin as it treats the skin. This cools and soothes the skin during the treatment making the patient feel more comfortable.
Patients are generally able to drive following the treatment.
How many treatments are required?
One treatment will often provide impressive results. However, patients with more sun damage will benefit from a second treatment to optimise results.
What to expect following treatment?
Redness is normal and expected following the HALO treatment. Redness generally increases in intensity the first few days after treatment with day 3 being most intense. Redness can persist for up to 7 days depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment. Pinpoint bleeding may occur. This can last for a few hours up to 12 hours depending on the treatment depth and may be isolated to certain treated areas.
Immediately after treatment, swelling is common and expected. Use of a cold compress or ice packs will help to relieve the swelling. To avoid further swelling, we encourage patients to sleep in an upright position the first night after the treatment. The morning after treatment, swelling is more prevalent, especially under the eyes. Swelling may last 2-4 days depending on the aggressiveness of the treatment but this is normal.
The treated area may feel warm for 12-24 hours after the treatment. Cold compresses or ice packs may provide comfort during this time.
On day 2 or 3 after treatment, tiny dark spots and a bronzed appearance appears on the treated skin. This is called the MENDS (microscopic epidermal necrotic debris). This is part of the healing process as new fresh skin is regenerated. The skin will feel very dry during the stage of healing and have a sandpaper texture and will begin to flake and peel. The face generally takes 5-7 days for the peeling process to be completed. The neck, chest or other areas of the body generally take up to 2 weeks for this stage of healing to be completed.
After the peeling, the skin will have a rosy, pink glow that will gradually resolve.