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Combining BBL HERO & HALO: The Latest Dynamic Duo in Anti-Aging Skincare Technology

Both of these skincare technologies boast their own unique claims to anti-aging fame: BBL HERO is the latest in broadband light therapy, ideal for treating dark spots; HALO is the latest in fractional laser resurfacing, perfect for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. But when combined together, the duo of devices target more than just a host of skincare rejuvenation concerns – they also enhance each other’s results.

Being better together with BBL & Halo

There are just some things that seem to be better when combined together. Cue the classic analogies: Batman and Robin, peanut butter and jelly, Sonny and Cher.

So when it comes to the world of anti-aging skincare, the latest dynamic duo on the scene is BBL HERO and HALO, two different skincare technologies that can be used, collectively in a session, to target a laundry list of issues – everything from rosacea and broken vessels to discoloration in the form of sunspots, age spots, brown spots, and freckles to fine lines and loose crepey skin – and with no additional downtime even though you’re using two devices.

That’s certainly not to say that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The devices and their unique qualities – one being the latest in intense pulsed light therapy, the other a first-of-its-kind hybrid fractional laser – certainly each stand on their own merits. But used in combination for the right candidate, the results equal a dream team of laser and light therapy technologies, resulting in the most vibrant, smoother, and younger appearing skin that really is the closest thing to a real fountain of youth.

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First of All, What is “BBL HERO” vs Just “BBL?”

“BBL, which stands for ‘broadband light,’ is a light therapy different from a laser that has been around for almost 30 years,” explains Rossli Delorey, a nurse practitioner at AW Plastic Surgery. It works at a cellular level where it delivers short blasts of intense pulsed light on a broad spectrum (hence the name “broadband”) to target unwanted brown spots, pigmentation issues, and redness from rosacea or acne, resulting in a more even skin tone and texture.

“However, BBL HERO is the new-and-improved version of traditional BBL because of the ‘HERO part,’ which stands for ‘high-energy rapid output.’” In a nutshell, because of this high-energy rapid output feature, BBL HERO offers these advantages over traditional BBL:

    •     Three times the power, allowing technicians to work four times faster to treat face and larger areas on the body – such as the back, arms, and legs – all in the matter of one session.
    •     A much more comfortable treatment experience because of its doubled cooling capacity (to keep irritation away).

Did we mention there’s little to no downtime? “It’s the same technology, just having been made much more efficient,” says Delorey.

So How About BBL vs HALO?

Halo-in-the-AW-Office

Unlike BBL technology, HALO, on the other hand, is considered a laser because it uses a narrowly focused dual-wavelength on the light spectrum. However, it’s important to note that HALO is also unlike traditional lasers because it features two wavelengths, meaning the energy from one wavelength precisely removes damage in the skin’s upper layers (a treatment known as ablation, or intentionally harming the skin’s surface), while the other wavelength penetrates deeper (known as non-ablative, or targeting deeper without causing damage to the surface) to selectively break up vessels, deep dermal pigment, and stimulate collagen production.

And while it’s known to be one of the most effective treatments for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, it also tackles other issues – like hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, and scarring – in as little as one treatment (see our other blog post “HALO Laser Treatment: Targeting Multiple Skin Issues in One Device with Minimal Downtime” to learn more)

Why Better Together? The BBL HERO & HALO Experience

If you’re a patient with extreme discoloration and hyperpigmentation, there really is no better combo treatment than BBL and HALO. Yes, BBL alone is already known for effectively treating and removing unwanted pigment by targeting it and causing it to rise to your skin’s surface, where it naturally exfoliates off in the days following the treatment (the pigment that rises actually resembles something akin to coffee grounds). But when you follow the treatment up with HALO, which can be done right there in the same session, it speeds up BBL’s purging process. “HALO helps to create direct pathways for pigmentation to release from the surrounding epidermis,” explains Delorey.

The other added benefit of combining the two is if you’re not just looking to target hyperpigmentation, but stimulate collagen production, for tightening and toning and reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. This is where HALO really shines – quite literally as there is something known as the “HALO glow” to which patients refer. So when you combine it with the tone-evening properties of BBL, your skin actually reflects light better, giving the appearance of skin that glows from the inside out.

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