Laser Halo Review: I tried treatment for smooth, shiny skin

Nothing makes us more excited than talking about a non-so-little tweakment or a process-tuck. In the spirit of transparency, Marie Claire’s Aesthetics column, Life in plasticIt delivers a top top to what is happening behind the doctor’s door.

I am a sucker for laser treatment. Every time friends ask me how I keep my smooth and even skin texture, I always do it until annual laser appointments, along with good daily skin care habits. My laser is Moxi (a non-abstract laser), which has done miracles for managing over-coloring and sun damage. However, this year, I began to notice many more thin lines that grow along my cheeks and around my mouth, which remain positioned even when my face is in a state of rest, which means that I have to try a new kind of laser that is particularly concerned with these concerns.

If you follow any beauty creators you probably have heard of the “halo” caused by the Halo. Halo is a more aggressive laser than Moxi and can target deeper coloring and texture concerns, including large resources, fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars and dark spots. This sounded like just what I was looking for, so I took out my professional laser Laura Fischer, MSN, FNP-C to help me navigate the treatment.

Keep reading about my Halo Laser experience, how to prepare, take care of and restore and take the photos before and after.

What does Halo do remarkable?

Before creating my appointment, I wanted to know what Halo puts besides other lasers. According to Fischer, Halo is a hybrid laser that uses both abstracts (a laser that destroys the outer layer of the skin and heats the underlying skin) and non-abusive wavelengths. “Halo is a dual wavelength laser,” he explains, “which means that a wavelength is abstract, creating numerous small open channels on the skin (similar to a micronedling but laser). According to the dermatologist and founder of the double council and founder Som Aesthetics; Saami Khalifian, MD“Halo combines both types of lasers in one treatment giving patients the best of both worlds with a useful collagen remodeling, renewal of the skin and correction under the surface.”

Since my goals were softening fine lines and were addressing the damage from the sun and over -coloring I had gathered during the summer, Halo was my choice last autumn. Keep reading as they document how the Halo process went, from appointment to the end result.

My skin before taking the halo laser.

(Credit Picture: Aviel Kanter)

Preparation of an appointment Halo

“Limiting sun exposure and avoiding any skin irritation products is the first step in preparing for a laser appointment,” says Fischer. He also said that if you have used in the long -term Tretinoin or retinol and does not irritate your skin, you can continue to use it before the laser. However, if you are young in Tretinoin and experiencing irritation, minimize the use of this product for a week leading to laser. You should also stop using any active ingredients such as beta hydroxy acids, such as salicylic acid, and alpha -hydroxy acids, such as glycolic acid, a week before your appointment. Make sure you do not have chemical peels or exfoliating procedures in the office within four weeks of treatment in the halo and tell your derm if you have a history of cold incredible.

During my appointment at the halo

Aviel Kanter with numbness cream in a gray hoodie

Sitting with my cream before the Halo laser.

(Credit Picture: Aviel Kanter)

With most lasers you will spend the first 45 minutes to one hour with numbness with numbness all over your face. Halo is one of the most intense lasers, so you may have the option of having nitrate (also known in laughter). If you have this option, I would say you have to use it absolutely. I think it would be quite difficult to go through this treatment without it – it’s one of the most painful treatments I’ve sat. It feels that the hot lava crawling on your face. I won’t lie to you, it’s not really fun. Fortunately, it only takes about 15 minutes and the nitrous makes almost all your problems leave and time ceases to exist (I think I may have inhaled too much …). This is a time you really want to sit on the chair of a professional who trust you will give you breaks when you need it and talk to you through it.

The laughter gas they use in these settings (usually called Pro-Nox) is worn about a minute after starting to inhale it, so you should not add after the end of your treatment and you can drive home safely. You probably want to sit in the office for a minute after completing your session and use the cold air hose and some ice packages before you start the world. For me, the only thing I wanted to do was return home and put on my couch with ice packages that cover my face, so I won’t plan to go out and after your treatment.

Laser recovery halo

I’m not going to cover it. The recovery is rough. We likened it to Harry Potter’s face after Jinx. I am never honestly so swollen in my life-but I will say that Fischer warned me that this would happen, and even showed me images of her own post-Halo “fat baby” face. “With two different wavelengths of energy mounted simultaneously on the skin, Halo is more intense than purely non -abstract laser treatments, such as Moxi, which causes more swelling, especially around the eyes,” says Dr. Khalifian. “This is because the skin takes” double zapped “, disrupting the outer barrier of the skin and the heating targets under the surface.”

He explained that Halo creates a strong inflammatory response, which, while necessary for the regenerative process, causes temporary swelling for a few days after treatment. To be specific, “treatment activates local immune cells and intakes additional immune media in the treatment area, leading to a cytocin -based response that helps stimulate the production of fibroblast growth and renewal of the skin”.

Aviel Kanter in a three -part grid after the Halo Laser

(L to r): My skin immediately after the Halo laser. The day after the laser. Two days after laser

(Credit Picture: Aviel Kanter)

Immediately after treatment my face felt as if it were in a fire – as my cells burn from within. It was quite unpleasant, but it only lasted two hours. Basically I sat in front of AC launch and used ice packages. As you can see, I was very red and there were some bloody spots in offer areas, which is perfectly normal. It is important not to touch your face while in this inflammatory state to avoid any transfer of bacteria. During bedtime, I applied a liberal amount of Senté epidermal repair cream and slept on my back to avoid my skin touching the pillowcase.

The next morning, the swelling had begun (it tends to peak on the third day according to Fischer) and the redness had deepen, along with the appearance of tiny necrotic debris or restorations that make your skin look like sandpaper. On the second day, I began to clean in the morning and night with a gentle washing (I used Dieux Baptism Gentle Foaming Cleanser and incorporated an exosome serum (the plated intense serum) before applying the Senté Cream. After 48 hours I was able to add a mineral spf to my routine – Universal hat with spacious and wore it every time I was close to the sun for all my recovery.

After about five days, the swelling had receded and the sandpaper texture had begun to peel on its own. My skin is quite sensitive, so I had a little rosacea that was activated, which means I was a bit of a lane (felt like a lizard) for a few days and it was slightly itching for a day or two. Dr. Khalifian says this is normal: “You can also experience a” acne phase “as the baby’s skin regenerates on days seven to 10.” This was resolved using my rosacean radiation cream and some rounded cotton rounded in diluted white vinegar. It took about nine days in total to feel my skin was fully recovered. I was a little more pink than usual (also normal) for about another week, but honestly was cute, so I don’t mind.

Cost laser halo

Like most aesthetic treatments, the cost will depend on where you live, what experience of a doctor or nurse you go to and the areas of your body you want to face. Usually, a halo for your face and neck costs between $ 1,500 and $ 2,500. It is good to note that this laser usually lasts fewer sessions to get results. For example, I will probably need to have only one session once a year.

Aviel Kanter with shiny skin in a black jacket and gray beanie

My glittering results after healing by Halo laser.

(Credit Picture: Aviel Kanter)

The results of my halo

“Halo Laser has several different waves of improvement,” says Fischer, “the first of which is shown after the dry skin flakes, and the second wave that begins to show in four to six weeks due to the new collagen formation. My skin looked really aircraft and the over -colonization was wiped away, but I didn’t see a difference in the fine lines around my mouth and my cheeks.

Overall, I am very pleased with my results – called, for me, I am not sure I am emotionally equipped to go through the swelling phase at any time soon. Maybe it will catch me in a year when I have forgotten the above photos and I’m ready to put it again – I can’t deny that Halo is an incredible choice for the treatment of fine lines that other lasers or local products are unable to target.

Get to know the experts

Laura Fischer, MSN, FNP-C is an aesthetic nurse at Skinspirit in Beverly Hills

Saami Khalifian, MD, is a dermatologist with a double committee and founder of SOM Aesthetics. He is also the medical director of the Allergan Medical Institute and is a miniature surgeon Mohs.

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