My Experience with the HALO Laser Therapy

HALO Treatment Experience + Recovery

Read more for an in-depth understanding of the HALO laser therapy. Discover what conditions HALO can treat, understand the entire treatment process, and learn about recovery and downtime for addressing acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and sun damage.

Karlie Routledge

Marketing Manager

Hello, my name is Karlie. I am the Marketing Manager at Healthy Complexions Spa by Western New York Dermatology. I recently received the HALO laser therapy and wanted to share my experience with you.

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Skin Health Background

For some background, I had moderate-severe acne in my teens throughout my late 20s, and I have managed to get it largely under control by working with WNY Dermatology and using Environ’s medical-grade skincare from Healthy Complexions Spa. However, even though my acne is largely under control (I still experience minor hormonal-related breakouts), I have rolling scars left over from cystic acne when I was younger, as well as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and some sun damage (brown spots).

Last year, I began treatment for my acne scarring. I received one microneedling treatment, two dermal rolling treatments, and one RF Needling treatment. These treatments helped to minimize the appearance of some of the surface-level scarring and fine lines and wrinkles; however, the majority of the scarring that I was trying to correct is deeper in the dermis and couldn’t be addressed fully with microneedling, dermal rolling, or RF Needling – which are more effective for treating surface-level concerns. At the time, Healthy Complexions Spa did not offer HALO laser therapy, so we worked with what we had.

What Makes HALO Different?

HALO is an altogether different treatment than microneedling, dermal rolling, and RF Needling. It is a hybrid fractional laser that combines both ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to target both the surface (epidermis) and deeper layers (dermis) of the skin. What this essentially means is that it can help to improve surface layer issues such as pigmentation, pore size, and fine lines while simultaneously addressing deeper issues such as texture and scarring, hyperpigmentation, brown spots, and skin laxity.

HALO is a completely customizable treatment, and the provider will tailor it to your specific skin. In fact, before the treatment begins, the provider rolls the handpiece over the treatment area (in my case, just the face, but you can treat your neck, chest, and other body areas, too), and the HALO device actually maps out the treatment area, identifying issues such as texture, pigment, wrinkles, laxity, and more, allowing the provider to adjust the depth and intensity of both wavelengths (ablative and non-ablative) specifically for your skin concerns. Schedule a free consultation to find out if you’re a candidate for HALO

HALO Treatment Experience

To be completely honest, I was nervous about this treatment. I knew it was considered “more aggressive” than treatments I have received in the past, but just because it is a “more aggressive” rejuvenation than microneedling, dermal rolling, and RF Needling, doesn’t necessarily mean it is more painful. In fact, this was the MOST TOLERABLE treatment I have received so far (aside from facials). It was quick (about 45 minutes), and my pain level during the treatment was never more than a 3 out of 10.

HALO Laser Pain Level

The HALO treatment was quick (about 45 minutes), and my pain level during the treatment was minimal. This is how I would rate medical aesthetic treatment pain levels based on my experience:

• Facials: 1 out of 10
• Chemical Peels: 2 out of 10
• HALO: 3 out of 10
• Microneedling: 4 out of 10
• RF Needling: 6 out of 10
• Dermal Rolling (at a medically corrective depth): 8 out of 10

Even though the treatment pain level is lower with HALO, the social downtime is longer. I recommend working with your Aesthetic Specialist to determine what treatment is best for your skin condition and lifestyle.

Preparing for HALO Laser Therapy

Jane, the Aesthetic Nurse Specialist who performed my treatment, applied a topical numbing 45 minutes before my treatment began. Once the numbing took effect, we went to the treatment room, where she removed the numbing cream, cleaned and prepared my face for the treatment, and put on protective goggles to protect my eyes from the light of the laser. The treatment began with her rolling the HALO handpiece over my face to assess the depth of my acne scarring, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and overall skin health. Once that was all set, she adjusted HALO’s settings to best suit my skin concerns and began treatment.

During the HALO Laser Treatment

The HALO treatment feels like a minor crackle against your skin. It wasn’t painful for me; however, multiple passes with the HALO device were necessary in certain areas, and I did feel a bit more warmth. Overall, the treatment was very tolerable. The HALO device has a built-in cooling mechanism to help reduce the feeling of heat, which helped to minimize discomfort.

The whole treatment took about 45 minutes. Jane continuously asked me if I was all right or experiencing any discomfort; she let me know when she would be starting on a new section of my face, updated me with how far along we were, and made the entire experience very calm and relaxed. After the treatment was done, Jane provided me with an air device that I could use on my face to cool it down and provided me with a post-care kit for at-home care.

Immediately Post-HALO Laser Therapy

Immediately post-treatment, my face felt warm-hot and a little dry. The Avène Thermal Spring Water is perfect for this (included in post-care kit); it’s a cool, refreshing mist and helps you to feel moisturized while cooling the feeling of heat (I only used this a few times post-treatment because I was fairly comfortable, but I was thankful I had it because it really helps). You can also apply cool compresses after treatment to reduce the sensation of heat, but you want to be sure not to overdo this because it can extend the length of time your skin feels hot. I had some pinprick bleeding in a couple of areas on my face (which is normal). It scabbed quickly, and I didn’t touch it – actually, you’re not supposed to touch your face basically at all while healing. You also have to sleep on your back, by the way, preferably with your head propped up; this helps to minimize the swelling. Schedule a free consultation to find out if you’re a candidate for HALO

Recovering from HALO Laser Therapy

HALO Post-Care Kit

The post-care kit is specifically curated for recovering from the HALO treatment.

Here’s what it includes:

• Environ AVST Cleansing Lotion: This is a super gentle cleanser and feels incredible when washing your face post-HALO. It’s essentially a moisturizing cleanser that aids in healing.
• Avène Thermal Spring Water: This is amazing immediately post-treatment and keeps you feeling cool and soothed throughout the healing process.
• Medical-Grade Petroleum Jelly: This was great the first few days after treatment; it helped lock in the moisture on my face and keep my skin from feeling chapped.
• Jane Iredale Magic Mitt: This is a microfiber cloth that gently exfoliates your skin while cleansing and helps remove any residual topical products you have on your face. Use this every time you cleanse for best results. This is also great for makeup removal and cleansing once you’re healed.
• Environ’s A, C, & E Oil: This keeps your skin hydrated while feeding it topical vitamins to help speed up the healing process.
• Elta MD SPF: This protects your skin from UV rays and reduces the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (darkening of skin), hypopigmentation (lightening of skin), and discoloration (brown spots).

HALO Laser Recovery Photos

HALO Laser Post-Care Diary

1 Day Post-Treatment

• AM: When I woke up the following day, my face was red and swollen, but the sensation of heat had dissipated entirely overnight. I gently (very gently, like almost no pressure) cleansed with the Environ AVST Cleansing Lotion and Jane Iredale Magic Mitt, blotted my face dry (you do not want to wipe or scrub dry!), then applied sunscreen and petroleum jelly and went to work. Now, if I didn’t work at the medical spa where I received the treatment, I would have planned to work from home or take a few days off.
• PM: When I got home from work, I noticed my face had swelled slightly more, and the redness had deepened throughout the day. I gently cleansed my face again, reapplied the petroleum jelly, and spent the night in. I also noticed some dark brown, coffee ground-like spots had begun to develop on my face. These are called MENDS (microscopic epidermal necrotic debris). The presence of MENDS indicates that the treatment was performed correctly, that the damaged skin cells have been eliminated and will begin to slough (shed) away, and that new skin cells are being regenerated.

2 Days Post-Treatment

• AM: The next day, I still had swelling and redness, but it seemed to be starting to go down a bit. Again, I gently cleansed with the Environ AVST Cleansing Lotion and Jane Iredale Magic Mitt, applied sunscreen, and moisturized with petroleum jelly.
• PM: I noticed the presence of MENDS was more apparent. When I washed my face with Environ’s AVST Cleansing Lotion and Jane Iredale Magic Mitt, I could feel some of the skin starting to slough away. After I patted my face dry, I could tell the skin was very dry and was beginning to flake away a bit. At this point, I switched from using petroleum jelly as a moisturizer to Environ’s A, C, & E Oil.

3 – 5 Days Post-Treatment

• On days three through five, I continued to gently cleanse with Environ’s AVST Cleansing Lotion and the Jane Iredale Magic Mitt while protecting my skin with Elta MD’s SPF (during the day) and moisturizing with A, C, & E Oil. The MENDS fully developed over this time and the outer layer of my skin began to slowly flake off while washing. Do NOT peel, pick, scratch, or rub at the dry skin while you’re recovering from HALO. It’s crucial to allow things to heal and resolve on their own time; touching your skin during this healing opens you to the risk of infection, inflammation, and scarring.

6 – 8 Days Post Treatment

• By this point, the swelling had fully resolved. However, my skin was still pink–red. During this time, I continued to cleanse with Environ’s AVST Cleansing Lotion, protect my skin with Elta MD sunscreen, and moisturize with ACE Oil. At this stage, my skin was healed enough that I could begin wearing makeup again.

9 Days Post Treatment

• This is when I would say I was fully healed from HALO; my skin color returned to its usual tone, all the dead skin cells had flaked away, the dryness had resolved, and my skin felt normal again.

Provider’s Perspective: HALO Laser Therapy

Jane Lee, BSN, RN

Aesthetic Registered Nurse Specialist

To provide a bit more context about HALO, I interviewed Jane, our Aesthetic Registered Nurse Specialist who performs the HALO laser therapy treatments at Healthy Complexions Spa. Jane has been working in cosmetic dermatology with the HALO laser and other resurfacing lasers for over eight years.

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How Does HALO Work?

The HALO laser works by combining two different wavelengths in a single treatment, delivering powerful results with minimal downtime. The non-ablative wavelength creates microscopic heat columns in the dermis to stimulate collagen production, improving skin texture and tightness. The ablative wavelength vaporizes microscopic portions of the epidermis, effectively targeting texture and pigmentation concerns. By blending these technologies, HALO delivers the transformative results of an ablative treatment with the reduced downtime of a non-ablative approach. Book free consultation

What is HALO Best at Treating?

I have been working with HALO and resurfacing lasers for over eight years. HALO is an excellent option for addressing textural irregularities like large pores and fine lines, with most patients benefiting from just one treatment every 12 to 18 months. HALO is also highly effective for improving deep wrinkles and scarring; however, multiple treatments may be needed to achieve optimal results. Book free consultation

When Can I Expect to See Results from HALO?

Patience is key with HALO. While you’ll notice the signature “HALO glow” within a couple of weeks, the final results take time, typically appearing over 3 to 6 months as collagen remodeling gradually occurs. To maximize your results, it’s important to use high-quality active skincare products once your skin has healed. Incorporating ingredients like retinol, glycolic acid, and vitamin C into your routine can significantly enhance the benefits of your HALO treatment.

Interested in Seeing What HALO Can Do For You?

Schedule your free consultation with an aesthetic specialist today. Call or text 716-300-1444, book online, or fill out the form below.