LASER & LIGHT TREATMENTS
Halo™ Laser
Reveal Your Radiance.
Halo™ combines ablative and non-ablative laser wavelengths to address sun damage, fine lines, uneven texture, and visible pores.
Skin Renewal | Radiant Results
Model
At Balikian Plastic Surgery, HALO® is one of our go-to treatments when the primary goal is improving skin texture. The hybrid fractional laser resurfaces the skin while also providing secondary improvement in pigmentation, making it especially useful for patients concerned with rough texture, enlarged pores, fine lines, sun damage and uneven-looking skin.
HALO can also be an option for a broader range of skin types than more aggressive resurfacing treatments such as CO2 laser. Treatment settings are customized around your skin, concerns, and preferred downtime.
What Makes HALO Different?
HALO uses two wavelengths to treat the skin at different depths during the same treatment. This allows us to address more superficial concerns while also treating deeper within the skin.
We often describe HALO as a step down from CO2 resurfacing. You still get meaningful resurfacing and improvement in skin texture, but with considerably less downtime for most patients. Multiple HALO treatments can also be performed when additional improvement is desired.
Why patients choose HALO:
- Improves rough or uneven skin texture
- Helps refine the appearance of enlarged pores
- Addresses fine lines and visible sun damage
- Provides secondary improvement in pigmentation
- Can be customized to different skin types and treatment goals
- Offers resurfacing with less downtime than more aggressive CO2 treatments
Together, these benefits make HALO® a versatile option for patients who want meaningful skin resurfacing and texture improvement without the longer recovery associated with more aggressive laser treatments.
What Can HALO Improve?
The primary benefit of HALO is texture improvement. If your skin feels rough, pores appear more noticeable, or the surface simply does not look as smooth as you would like, HALO may be an appropriate treatment.
Pigment improvement is an important secondary benefit. HALO may improve pigment that becomes less noticeable following resurfacing, including some pigmentation that may not respond as readily to BBL alone.
HALO may be used to address:
- Rough or uneven skin texture
- Enlarged pores
- Fine lines
- Sun-damaged skin
- Uneven pigmentation
- Overall skin quality
HALO can be used on areas including the face, neck, décolleté and hands, with treatment customized to the area and the condition of your skin.
HALO or BBL HEROic™… or Both?
HALO and BBL HEROic™ are different treatments, even though they can be performed using the same platform. An easy way to understand the difference is to think about the primary goal of each treatment.
- HALO is primarily about texture. Pigment improvement is an added benefit.
- BBL HEROic is primarily about pigment. Texture improvement is an added benefit.
For patients who have both concerns, combining the treatments can provide a more comprehensive approach. BBL targets unwanted pigment while HALO focuses more strongly on resurfacing and texture. The strengths of the two treatments complement one another.
Our aesthetic provicers will evaluate your skin and help determine whether HALO, BBL HEROic, or a combination of both makes the most sense for your concerns.
What to Expect After HALO
For most patients, HALO involves approximately 3 to 4 days of social downtime. In this context, downtime does not necessarily mean pain. It means your skin may be visibly red and swollen enough that you would rather stay home while it recovers.
Redness and swelling are expected following treatment. Some patients experience considerable swelling, but this inflammatory response is part of the controlled treatment and subsequent rejuvenation process.
HALO Aftercare
Aftercare is intentionally simple.
During the initial recovery period:
- Use gentle skincare products
- Avoid makeup
- Stay out of direct sun
- Use sunscreen as directed
- Allow the skin time to recover without over-treating it
The goal is not to aggressively treat the skin after HALO. It is to protect it and allow the controlled healing process to occur.
HALO vs. CO2 Laser Resurfacing
HALO and CO2 resurfacing are not interchangeable treatments.
Our aesthetic providers describes HALO as a step down from CO2 in terms of resurfacing intensity. CO2 can produce more aggressive resurfacing, but it also comes with substantially greater downtime and more limitations related to skin type.
HALO provides meaningful resurfacing with a shorter recovery period and can be considered across a broader range of skin types. For patients who want additional improvement without moving directly to CO2, HALO treatments can also be repeated.
Choosing the Right Laser for Your Skin
The best laser is not simply the strongest device. It is the treatment that matches your skin, your primary concern, and the amount of downtime you are comfortable with.
If pigment is the dominant concern, BBL HEROic may make more sense. If texture is the dominant concern, HALO may be the better starting point. When both are significant, combining BBL and HALO can address the strengths of each treatment in the same overall rejuvenation plan.
Frequently asked questions
HALO® Hybrid Laser Treatment
Find answers about improving skin texture with HALO®, including treatment areas, downtime, aftercare, and expected results.
What makes HALO® different from a traditional fractional laser?
HALO uses two wavelengths during the same treatment. The 1470 nm non-ablative wavelength creates controlled coagulation within the dermis, while the 2940 nm ablative wavelength precisely treats the epidermis. This allows treatment at both deeper and more superficial levels of the skin. In a multicenter clinical trial, this hybrid approach improved pigmentation, tone, texture and signs of photodamage.
What is HALO® best for?
At Balikian Plastic Surgery, we primarily think of HALO as a texture treatment. It can help improve rough or uneven texture, visible pores, fine lines, sun damage, and overall skin quality, with pigment improvement as an additional benefit. This matches clinical research showing significant improvement in tactile roughness, fine lines, and mottled pigmentation following hybrid fractional treatment.
How does HALO® compare with CO2 laser resurfacing?
CO2 resurfacing is the more aggressive treatment, while HALO provides meaningful resurfacing with a faster recovery and less discomfort. In a study where the same patients received fractional CO2 resurfacing and, years later, hybrid fractional treatment, CO2 produced greater improvement, but healing time and complications were also greater. Interestingly, patient satisfaction was higher following the hybrid treatment.
How much downtime should I expect after HALO®?
For most of our patients, we plan for approximately 3 to 4 days of social downtime, primarily because of redness and swelling. Gentle skincare, avoiding makeup and direct sun, and consistent sunscreen use are important during this period. The shorter recovery compared with more aggressive resurfacing is also consistent with published research comparing hybrid fractional and fractional CO2 treatments.
Does HALO® improve pigmentation as well as texture?
Yes, although we generally consider texture improvement HALO’s primary strength and pigment correction a secondary benefit. A multicenter trial of hybrid fractional laser treatment found improvement in photodamage and dyschromia, with 80% of subjects who completed the study showing significant improvement on photographic evaluation.
Why would you combine HALO® with BBL HEROic™?
The treatments complement one another. We primarily use BBL HEROic for unwanted pigment and color concerns, while HALO is stronger for resurfacing and texture. Combining them allows us to address both dimensions of photodamaged skin rather than asking one technology to do everything. HALO’s ability to improve pigmentation, tone, and texture through simultaneous ablative and non-ablative fractional treatment has been demonstrated clinically.
Is HALO® appropriate for different skin types?
HALO can be considered across a broader range of skin types than some more aggressive resurfacing treatments, but treatment still needs to be individualized. The multicenter HALO study included Fitzpatrick skin types I through IV. Two participants developed post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which resolved within 90 days, illustrating why skin type, settings, sun exposure, and aftercare still matter.
How many HALO® treatments will I need?
There is not one treatment schedule that is right for everyone. Treatment intensity and the number of sessions can be adjusted around the degree of correction desired and the amount of downtime a patient is comfortable with. In the multicenter photorejuvenation trial, subjects received two treatments spaced four to six weeks apart, while Balikian treatment planning is individualized to the patient’s skin and goals.
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Explore More Laser & Light Treatments
Learn more about laser and light-based treatments for pigmentation, redness, skin texture and other concerns at Balikian Plastic Surgery.
