It’s time to say goodbye to summer! As you freshen up your winter clothes and take your holiday decorations out of storage, don’t forget your skin! All that fun in the sun is likely to have left behind some damage to your skin, even if you were diligent about using sun protection. At our med spa near Des Moines, our preferred option for undoing some of summer’s effects is treatment with the Sciton® HALO™ laser. This patient favorite is popular thanks to its versatility and the incredible balance it delivers between visible, quality results and a gentle treatment experience.
Types of Laser Treatments
Cosmetic lasers typically fall into 1 of 2 categories: ablative and non-ablative. Ablative lasers actually remove the outermost layers of skin, while non-ablative layers encourage collagen development beneath skin’s surface without removing any layers of the skin. HALO is a hybrid laser, which means it combines the best of these 2 approaches—effective skin rejuvenation and gentle, minimized recuperation—into a single procedure. Because the HALO device is adjustable, your provider can administer a single, more intense treatment or several less intense procedures, depending on your preferences and timeline. HALO is our pick for treating the following conditions:
- Rough texture
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Certain types of scars
- Dark spots
- Enlarged pores
The HALO Procedure Explained
The HALO procedure doesn’t require any kind of anesthesia or sedation. Once your skin is adequately prepared, your provider moves the HALO hand piece across your skin while it simultaneously emits pulses of laser energy. Your appointment can be quite quick (as fast as 15 minutes) or more than an hour, depending on your specific treatment plan and the symptoms you want to treat. During your initial consultation, we’ll give you a more specific idea of exactly what you can expect.
What to Expect After Treatment
After your HALO treatment, you’ll likely be able to return to all of your normal daily activities as soon as you’d like. However, you should take care to keep your skin out of the sun during the initial healing process. After a laser treatment, skin is extra-sensitive to UV rays, so it’s very important to allow it to rebuild itself before heading outside without a hat or sunblock. This is another reason why treatment with HALO is great for fall. As the weather cools off and the days get shorter, you’re probably spending more time indoors anyway. Why not make that time work for you and your skin?
Combining HALO with Other Treatments
While HALO can create an amazing outcome on its own, its results can be further enhanced by other skin resurfacing treatments. Popular adjuncts include SkinPen™, a microneedling device that creates microscopic injuries and stimulates the skin to heal itself. BBL (short for broadband light), is another popular treatment frequently combined with HALO. This light-based therapy is especially effective at fading dark spots and reducing the appearance of redness.
We all love summer, but we don’t have to love what it does to our skin. Check out our gallery of before-and-after laser treatments so you can envision the possibilities!
If you want to learn more, request a consultation online or call our office at (515) 277-5555.
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