Repair summer sun damage with laser skin resurfacing treatments.
As the calendar moves into the cooler months, skin clinics across the city are heating up with patients seeking treatment from summer sun damage, skin pigmentation and the passage of time.
While many, including myself, don’t intend to erase the evidence of a good life, taking the next step toward rejuvenating skin health after years of wear and tear and sun damage is an affordable course of action.
In the 8 West Cosmetic Surgery & Skin Clinic In Vancouver, the Halo Hybrid Fractional Laser treatment is one of the most popular non-surgical skin procedures, which also includes radio frequency micro-acupuncture and broadband light (BBL) treatments. These procedures offer maximum treatment benefit with minimal downtime.
Photo courtesy of 8 West Clinic.
Halo launched in the Canadian market in 2015, offering dual-action laser skin resurfacing, a versatile non-surgical treatment for patients in their thirties to their 70s. Dual lasers are activated simultaneously but work at different skin depths. The non-ablative laser is attracted by the water in the tissue, working on fractions of the dermis and creating controlled injuries to the skin. These produce an immune response, new collagen is produced to heal the areas and the injured tissue is pushed to the surface and removed.
The ablative laser works at a different wavelength and on the epidermis, the most superficial layer of the skin. The higher heat vaporizes the epidermis, revitalizing the cell cycle and paving the way for fresh, healthy skin cells.
Suzanne Power, a senior medical esthetician at the clinic for nine years, notes that the lasers work synergistically as light or as heavy as the patient needs. Pre-treatment consultations are key to educating patients and determining if Halo is the right procedure. “We want patients to enjoy the experience and be excited about the results that follow.”
Photo courtesy of 8 West Clinic.
Choosing Halo for my treatment, his visions Star Trek crews locking lasers on targets danced through my head. As I submitted my fifty face to the process, I was ready to explore a strange new world where many have gone before.
After applying an ointment that takes about 30 minutes to start, the twin fractional lasers are activated for a 10-20 minute treatment, depending on strength and depth settings.
At first I was scared by the stinging sensations and sounds of static electricity as the lasers moved across my face. I started to feel like I had spent too much time in the sun, even though the treatment only lasted 10 minutes.
The immediate results were visible: redness and swelling of the face. I was grateful for the frequent sprays of Evian ice water during the first 24 hours. Within two days, the swelling had subsided and peeling began, with twice-daily application of healing products from the Biologique Recherche skin care kit after the treatment.
After seven days, my face was back to its normal size, but it looked brighter and smoother. The dark spots and rosacea flare-up were gone and I was enjoying the benefits of exploring the new world of Halo.
Note: Optimal results are visible approximately two to three months after treatment.
January 4, 2024
