When it comes to skin rejuvenation, there is no single “best” approach because every person is different. At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez takes great care to select the latest and most effective treatment options, so we can offer our patients a range of choices that can produce top-quality results for everyone. Many of these options are very versatile, so they seem to overlap. How do you know which one is right for you?
We’re here to help you choose. Two of our most popular choices are Halo hybrid laser treatment and microneedling, so let’s compare them.
Halo Is a Unique Type of Laser Treatment
Halo is a dual fractional laser, which means that it uses two laser wavelengths at once. One targets the surface to resurface the skin, helping to clear melasma, improve sun damage spots, and smooth fine lines. The other laser wavelength treats the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production. This thickens and firms the skin, diminishes deep wrinkles, and tightens pores.
Halo is often the best choice because so many patients have more than one type of skin concern and, with Halo, we can treat multiple issues at the same time. Its fractional technology makes it faster, more comfortable, and safer than traditional lasers.
Microneedling Is a Proven Winner
Microneedling uses tiny, surgical grade needles to create pinprick-like wounds in the skin. This triggers the body’s natural healing process, which in turn produces new and healthy skin cells. Dr. Hernandez can vary penetration depth, so microneedling is valuable for treating multiple mild to moderate skin imperfections from signs of aging such as loose skin and fine lines and wrinkles to stretch marks and scarring from acne or an injury, to rough texture.
Patients can also add Plasma to Halo and microneedling treatments, which helps to speed healing and further improve results.
>How Do They Compare?
Who Is a Good Candidate
Both Halo and microneedling are safe and effective for all genders, skin types and tones. This fact alone sets Halo and microneedling apart from many other treatment options, especially laser treatments.
What They Can Do
Both treatment options improve the texture and tone of the skin and are customizable to meet each person’s specific skin condition and desired improvement goals. Microneedling is suitable for any area of the body, including very delicate skin. Halo is most often associated with facial skin rejuvenation, but we can also use it to treat the neck, décolletage, arms, hands, and legs.
Halo is more effective when targeting melasma (which is caused by hormones and is present in the deeper layers of the skin), while microneedling is suitable for superficial pigmentation such as hyperpigmentation and sun damage. Halo also resurfaces the skin, whereas microneedling does not.
Number of Treatments
Microneedling typically requires 3-6 treatment sessions (about a month apart) to achieve optimal results. With Halo, patients often achieve their improvement goal with just one treatment, though in some cases Dr. Hernandez may recommend an additional session.
Downtime
Microneedling requires minimal recovery time. You may appear slightly sunburned for a day or two, but you can go back to normal routine right away following treatment. Halo requires a few days for recovery — initial mild bruising and swelling will diminish in a couple of days, then skin will peel for a couple of days.
Results
Microneedling produces more subtle results that appear gradually with each treatment and as the body has time to produce new skin tissue. Halo can produce dramatic improvement quickly, with continued improvement as new skin replaces old, damaged skin.
Halo hybrid fractional laser and microneedling are excellent, versatile treatment options. You can schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Hernandez to learn more about them and find out which one is right to help achieve your skin improvement goals.