What's the difference between HALO, BBL, 1064 and IPL? Trying to tighten skin, minimize pores, help with scarring, age/sun spots

Question

I’ve had a few different doctors recommend different laser treatments for my face, but I don’t really know the difference between them and which would produce the most results. I’m trying to tighten skin, minimize pores, help with scarring and get rid of age/sun spots that don’t respond to pigment gel. Can someone explain the difference between HALO, BBL, 1064 and IPL? Which will produce the most drastic results?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Matthew Richardson, MD · Answer

There are many different lasers out on the market, and all have different brand names associated with them. If scars, skin laxity, and pores are the primary problem, then these are not going to respond to something like 1064, BBL, or IPL. These problems need skin resurfacing with something like a fractional CO2 laser or Erbium laser. I typically recommend fractional CO2 most commonly for resurfacing. IPL and BBL can be effective for dark spots, but so can fractional CO2 and Erbium lasers. More important than the particular device is the user. Don't see a laser technician at a med spa - see a doctor who specializes in facial aesthetic procedures and can provide you with clear recommendations about the best way to treat your skin and achieve the goals you are looking for.
All the best,

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Fraxel or Co2 are best for resurfacing. I always combine lasers with microneedling/prp, Sculptra, peels and rf treatments for more robust outcomes for facial rejuvenation. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a cosmetic dermatologist. Best, Dr. Emer

Robert G. Aycock, MD, FACS · Answer

Resurfacing lasers are the ones that will change the texture of your skin. Which laser to use depends on your skin type. Not every skin type can tolerate lasers. A nice baby step into lasers is starting with BBL to clean up sun spots however it will not help with scarring. When treating scarring, combinations are typically needed to address that concern. Depending on the depth of it, multiple treatments are needed as well.

Laura Riehm, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  Every doctor will have a preferred device and vendor for their treatment options.  The most common question posted on Real Self is "Which is better?".  There is no correct answer for everyone.  It really depends on the device and the amount of experience of the people in the office.  Has the device been services/calibrated and do they do a good job of cleaning the optics?  Are they using the correct settings for your skin type and condition?We recommend finding a doctor's office close to you that has lots of treatment options and excellent reviews.  If they only have one device, they probably recommend it for everything.  A competent office should be able to able to juxtapose all of the options and benefits from different treatments.  We would offer a several choices and explain the benefits of each.  You have many more options that haven't mentioned.  Research: PicoSure FOCUS, ICON 1540nm Resurfacing and Pelleve just for starters.  Best of luck.

What's the difference between HALO, BBL, 1064 and IPL? Trying to tighten skin, minimize pores, help with scarring, age/sun spots

Answers (5)

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