Moxi Vs. Halo…Which Laser is Right for Me?

Laser season is officially here! We LOVE our lasers here at ARTisan Skin and Laser Center and that means we provide a variety of lasers that suit different needs and concerns, stages of aging, skin types and even our patients' busy schedules! Two of our favorite lasers are the HALO® laser and the Moxi™ laser! Although these two lasers have similarities, they are also very different!

Meet HALO®

HALO is a fractionated hybrid laser that penetrates the skin for deep rejuvenation. It targets signs of aging by using both ablative and non-ablative wavelengths. This means you get resurfacing at the superficial layers of the skin and collagen stimulation deeper within the skin. HALO is a great laser if you want to work on deeper lines & wrinkles, skin texture, hyperpigmentation from sun damage, acne scars, enlarged pores and more advanced signs of aging. This laser is recommended for patients ages 21-80, can be done on most skin types and is best in the fall/winter months where sun exposure is minimal. 

Depending on your skin concerns, we generally recommend at least one HALO treatment for initial correction and then one HALO per year for maintenance of skin health. HALO has an average of 7-10 days of downtime that include redness and swelling. With this treatment our patients numb with a topical numbing cream for 1 hour prior to treatment and treatment typically ranges from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Popular areas to treat with this laser include: face, neck, chest. Patients with deeper wrinkles around the mouth or eyes will add these two areas on to their face treatment for an extra deep treatment. We offer prescriptions such as Valium to help patients relax during treatment, prednisone for post treatment swelling, and Valtrex for patients with histories of cold sores that may be triggered from treatment. If you’re looking to combat aging and rejuvenate the skin, this laser is for you! 

Meet Moxi™

Moxi laser is non-ablative and really polishes the skin. It is great for correcting skin texture concerns, fine lines, enlarged pores, hyperpigmentation from sun damage, melasma, SKs (seborrheic keratosis - benign skin growths), AKs (actinic keratosis - precancerous skin lesions caused by the sun) and improving the overall complexion of the skin. This laser is fabulous for first time laser patients and patients ages 21-50. It can be done on all skin types and all times of the year as it is non-ablative and does not create a physical injury to the skin like HALO does. 

We recommend a series of 3 Moxi laser treatments 4-6 weeks apart for initial treatment. To maintain results and the health of your skin we recommend an average of 2 a year (every 6 months). This laser has an average of 3-4 days of healing with minimal to no swelling. Patients can wear makeup the following day allowing for less interruption of needing time off or away from events. With this treatment, patients numb with a topical numbing cream for 15 minutes prior to treatment and treatment lasts about 5-10 minutes. Popular areas to treat with this laser include: face, neck, chest, backs of hands, arms, and even legs. No prescriptions necessary for this laser! If you’re looking for a clean up and polishing to your skin, this is the perfect laser for you! 

Maintenance 

It is important to note that with any treatment, maintenance is an important part of the conversation. We love the beautiful initial results of lasers, but these results do need to be maintained with treatments throughout the year. HALO is recommended as at least one treatment per year. Moxi, after the initial series of 3 treatments, is recommended to be repeated at least once every 6 months. However, based on the patient's concerns and stages of aging, these recommendations may change. Wearing sunscreen daily and using medical-grade skin care products recommended by your provider can make a big difference in your skin journey and help you maintain your investment! 

To learn more about what laser option is best for you, call us at 605.371 .7057.