Woman with clear glowing skin is getting a laser treatment on her face from a provider. (Models)

In the quest for radiant, youthful skin, laser treatments such as HALO® Laser and BBL® Laser offer powerful solutions that address concerns ranging from smoothing away wrinkles to reversing years of sun damage. But before deciding which treatment is right for you, it can be helpful to understand the recovery process.

To assist you in making informed decisions, we’ve prepared visuals highlighting HALO laser recovery vs BBL laser recovery. Keep scrolling to learn more, and then contact our medical spa to arrange a personalized consultation.

BBL and HALO Laser Recovery: What’s the Difference?

BBL delivers precise pulses of light energy to targeted skin areas to treat concerns such as sunspots, freckles, and discoloration. The laser stimulates healthy cell turnover without damaging the skin’s surface, making it a gentle treatment that requires minimal downtime.

On the other hand, HALO hybrid fractional laser treatment uses ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to target damaged skin at different depths during a single treatment. This approach is considered more aggressive and requires a lengthier downtime.

Day by Day HALO Laser Recovery (Pictures)

Before & After Laser Treatments Case 29 View #1 View in West Des Moines & Ames, IA
HALO® Laser Before and After by Dr. Koch in Des Moines, IA
Before & After Laser Treatments Case 33 View #1 View in West Des Moines & Ames, IA
HALO® Laser Before and After by Dr. Koch in Des Moines, IA

While every patient varies, here is an overview of what to expect day by day during your HALO laser recovery:

HALO® LASER RECOVERY TIMELINE
HALO Laser Downtime: A few days up to 1 week
Skin appears sunburned (2 to 3 days)
Minor swelling/ bronzing (3 to 4 days)
Peeling/flaking (3 days post-treatment)
Healthy, fresh skin appears (1 week
post-treatment)
Continued improvement over several weeks

BBL Laser Recovery Day by Day (Pictures)

Before & After BBL® Laser Case 206 Left Oblique View in West Des Moines & Ames, IA
BBL® Laser Before and After by Dr. Koch in Des Moines, IA
Before & After BBL® Laser Case 205 Front View in West Des Moines & Ames, IA
BBL® Laser Before and After by Dr. Koch in Des Moines, IA

Due to its gentler approach, patients typically experience less downtime after BBL laser. Here’s what to expect day by day after BBL treatment:

BBLⓇ LASER RECOVERY TIMELINE
BBL Laser Downtime: Little to no downtime.
Skin appears sunburned (12 to 24 hours)
Mild redness and swelling (1 to 2 days)
Healthy, fresh skin (2 to 4 weeks post-treatment)
Full results following a series of treatments

BBL laser has a shorter recovery period that may include mild redness and swelling but requires a series of treatments to achieve your desired results. HALO laser treats deep skin concerns with a slightly longer recovery window. Depending on your specific aesthetic needs and goals, you may consider combining both treatments for optimal results. After laser skin resurfacing treatment, it’s wise to avoid sun exposure and use gentle skin products to promote proper healing.

Schedule Your Consultation

If you’re interested in exploring what’s possible for your skin with laser skin resurfacing, request a consultation using our online form or call us at (515) 277-5555 to get started.

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