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As far as non-invasive skin treatments go, lasers are one of our favorite options. They can be used on everything from acne scars to hyperpigmentation to fine lines and wrinkles and are a great way to rejuvenate the skin and boost complexion. However, not all lasers are created equal. The Lutronic Ultra Laser is a relative newcomer to the scene, garnering a ton of buzz for its quick results, minimal downtime, and a slew of benefits. Intrigued?
Read on for everything you need to know about the Lutronic Ultra Laser Treatment.
What Is a Lutronic Ultra Laser Treatment?
The Lutronic Ultra Laser is a simple and fast treatment option that resurfaces the skin, giving it a brighter tone and more even texture. And Weiser says it’s one of the most versatile and well-tolerated treatments offered in her practice. The laser is also incredibly adaptable—it’s tunable from mild to aggressive and can be done as a single treatment for a quick pick-me-up or as a series of sessions for more significant changes in skin texture, brightness, and luminosity.
To get highly scientific about it, the Lutronic Ultra is a “non-ablative 1927 nm Thulium resurfacing laser,” Weiser explains. This means it stimulates collagen production by heating up underlying skin tissue, thereby promoting improved skin texture and tone. By contrast, ablative lasers remove the top layer of skin and heat up the underlying tissue. As a result, non-ablative lasers require less downtime and an easier recovery process.
According to Adashev, the laser “creates microchannels in the skin to help exfoliate, which in turn brightens, shrinks pores, smoothes sun damage, and manages redness.” In short, it’s a real one-stop-shop treatment.
“Lutronic Ultra is an excellent gentle laser that is safe for essentially all skin types,” Weiser shares. “It is less aggressive than many non-ablative laser resurfacing devices yet more effective than the extremely gentle lasers on the market.”
Benefits of Lutronic Ultra Laser Treatment
The Lutronic Ultra Laser generally helps refresh and rebuild new, healthy skin in all skin types and ages. More specifically, it offers a few key benefits:
- Reduces discoloration (diminishes acne scarring, brown spots, stretch marks, sun damage, etc.): According to Weiser, the Ultra Laser targets a variety of discoloration, including melasma, brown spots, and other forms of hyperpigmentation. Graf agrees, adding that the laser particularly benefits those with sun damage and acne scarring.
- Stimulates collagen production: Per the experts, the Lutronic Ultra Laser creates microscopic wounds in the skin near the junction of the dermis and epidermis, forcing the skin to create new cells and stimulate collagen production during the healing process.
- Tightens the skin and reduces fine lines and wrinkles: The Lutronic Ultra is an excellent option for those looking to target aging at the surface, as it can help tighten the skin and thereby reduce fine lines and wrinkles, Graf explains.
- Improves the appearance of uneven texture and tone: Both doctors note the laser’s ability to improve overall skin texture and tone.
- Works for nearly all skin types and tones: According to Adashev, it’s safe for all skin types and tones—so much so that she says the only people she turns away from the treatment are those with active, peeling sunburns. “Lutronic Ultra is an excellent gentle laser that is safe for essentially all skin types,” Weiser adds. “It is less aggressive than many non-ablative laser resurfacing devices yet more effective than the extremely gentle lasers on the market.”
- Offers a customizable experience: Unlike other lasers, Lutronic Ultra doesn’t necessarily require a series of sessions to see results. As Weiser mentioned, it can be done as a one-off treatment for a quick boost of luminosity or as a series of sessions for more significant changes. Beyond the frequency, it can also target particular issues at different intensity levels.
How to Prepare
Preparation for a Lutronic Ultra Laser Treatment is extremely simple. Per Graf, avoid sun exposure and stop using actives like chemical exfoliants or retinoids for a couple of weeks pre-treatment. She also suggests staying away from aspirin. Additionally, Adashev suggests coming to your appointment with a clean face. Byrdie’s editor-in-chief, Hallie Gould, says preparation was incredibly simple: “I washed my face with my favorite hydrating cleanser, applied a calming serum (one that specifically addresses irritation), and a thick moisturizer that morning. I arrived sans makeup and was ready to go.”
What to Expect
On the day of your treatment, you can expect to receive 15 to 30 minutes of topical anesthetic, which Weiser says makes laser sessions well-tolerated and virtually painless. Both experts say you may feel a warm, almost static-like sensation on the skin surface during the treatment, but there shouldn't be any active pain. A full face treatment takes 10 to 15 minutes, with the skin feeling hot, like a sunburn, immediately after. Weiser says this should dissipate in minutes to hours. The following morning, the skin may have a sandpaper-like texture. "The experience was a bit spicy, but not full-on painful (there were areas of my face that felt more sensitive than others)," Gould shares. She adds, "Overall, it was easy to tolerate the entire way through."
Aftercare
Again, aftercare is fairly minimal. Using a gentle cleanser, a liberal amount of moisturizer, and plenty of sun protection will help speed the healing process, Weiser says. Meanwhile, Graf suggests avoiding actives until the skin is fully healed and using emollients like petroleum jelly to moisturize the skin. That sandpaper texture generally resolves in four to seven days for the face or up to 14 days for the neck and chest.
Potential Side Effects
Graf generally suggests avoiding the treatment if you have active acne flare-ups or hypersensitive skin. Aside from that, Graf notes that risks are fairly minimal but can include temporary redness, swelling, and itchiness post-treatment. Weiser says patients will likely end up with that sandpaper-like texture on the treated area for around a week post-treatment, though this is nothing to be concerned about.
According to Weiser, long-term risks can include an exacerbation of melasma pigmentation if treated aggressively, and, like all lasers, there is the potential for burns and discoloration (though this is quite rare).
Cost
Pricing varies depending on geographic location, but Graf says it generally ranges between $400 and $700 per session, though it can certainly be offered for more or less.
The Final Takeaway
Whether you want to do a single treatment for a quick refresh or several sessions for significant changes, the Lutronic Ultra is an excellent choice. It offers visible results sans extensive downtime. While it won't help with active acne, the treatment targets just about every other skin concern out there. It can help reduce discoloration, stimulate collagen production, tighten the skin, and improve texture and tone.
Article Sources Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
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Preissig J, Hamilton K, Markus R. Current laser resurfacing technologies: a review that delves beneath the surface. Semin Plast Surg. 2012;26(3):109-116.
