Alma Hybrid Laser

ALMA Hybrid is the very latest in skin resurfacing combining two wavelengths in one delivery. This laser can address-

• Sun damage including sunspots
• Age spots & barnacles
• Wrinkles ranging from superficial to deep
• Skin laxity
• Scars, including acne, surgical, traumatic & burns
• Pores
• Pigmentation 

The point of difference between this laser & others is the unique combination of two lasers & ultrasound in the one session. This gives unparalleled results, with minimal downtime.

• CO2 fractional laser – this wavelength provides the best energy for collagen remodelling. This wavelength is the Gold Standard for scars & skin rejuvenation.
• 1570nm laser – a powerful non-ablative modulated fibre laser which creates a thermal effect that promotes new dermis synthesis while leaving the epidermis intact. This means super-fast recovery.
• IMPACT for Trans Epidermal Delivery (TED) – a patented ultrasound device that delivers pharmaceuticals trans-epidermally, through the micro-channels created by the CO2 laser. This optimises penetration to the deeper skin layers to maximise results.

The number of laser sessions depends on your goals, skin condition & skin type. As a guide-

• Rejuvenation: 1-3 sessions
• Sun damage & pigment: 1-3 sessions 
• Acne scars & traumatic scars: 2-4+ sessions
• No downtime skin rejuvenation: 3-5+ sessions 

We control the settings; in turn we control the downtime. As a guide; 

• Very superficial resurfacing: 24 to 36 hours
• Superficial resurfacing: 1-3 days
• Medium depth & density: 3-6 days
• Deep density & depth: 5-8 days

Nothing beats a real time clinical examination. Book a free* consultation with our nurses & discuss your aims & expectations. Alternatively, book an appointment with our consultant dermatologists. 

*T+C applies. Appointments with dermatologists incur a standard consultation fee of $270.

Both lasers combine non-ablative with ablative wavelengths. Sciton uses an underpowered erbium at 100 microns max (about 15 times less powerful than the Sciton Joule). The ALMA on the other hand uses a powerful 70-watt CO2 laser. 

Sciton HALO is ideal for beauty bars & spas where customers sign up to half a dozen sessions with an overall cost of $4,000 to $8,000. ALMA Hybrid patients typically undergo one session at a quarter the cost of HALO laser. 

Nothing wrong with erbium as we use the big brother of HALO at Cutis Dermatology. In the context of optimal COLLAGEN remodelling & tightening, a fractional CO2 with a short pulse duration is more effective than erbium. 

The downtime can be tailored depending on the density & power. Yes, the Sciton folk will try to sell you the erbium component of HALO, but we all know that a short pulse duration CO2 with randomisation of spots to reduce thermal load gives superior & safer outcomes than an erbium with equal penetration. The entry hole size of the erbium beam is HUGE. How do we know? We also have the HALO erbium component of Sciton!

Side effects are rare, but include the following-

• Infection: occurs in less than 2% of cases. If you have a history of cold sores, a laser may reactivate this virus. All patients must be on an anti-viral. 
• Persistent redness: is common if you have inflamed skin, namely rosacea or sensitive skin. In these cases, we recommend a series of vascular lasers to reduce rebound red. 
• Persistent pigmentation: is more commonly seen in Asian & ethnic skin types. It can occur in 5% of cases, higher if we are chasing acne scars. PIH will settle in 4-8 months, however pico lasers can speed resolution by a factor of 10.
• Persistent gridding: is rare. It’s more common in females & in patients with thin skin. Ethic skin types are at higher risk. Grids will reduce in appearance over 6-12 months.

OScar is the unique ALMA Hybrid’s mix of CO2, non-ablative laser resurfacing & ultrasound for acne, surgical, & traumatic scars. 

The combination of the CO2 & 1570nm laser wavelengths in bespoke settings that control depth of penetration, density, & pulse duration improves scarring like no other laser on the market. ALMA Impact is the final step of the revision process, delivering skin actives into damaged tissue. 

The impact is a form of Trans Epidermal Delivery (TED). It uses ultrasound technology. This overcomes the forces of intracellular fluid produced & optimises delivery pharmaceuticals & cosmeceuticals trans-epidermally. It acts synergistically with the micro-channels created by the CO2 laser, penetrating deep into the skin layers to achieve enhanced results.

Impact can deliver anti-inflammatories, ALA, as well as retinoids into the deeper layers of skin, optimising clinical outcomes. 

The SoftLift is a minimal downtime laser designed to improve skin quality, lines, wrinkles, & minor scarring. It uses the non-ablative 1570 wavelength that penetrates the dermis, whilst sparing the upper layers of skin. 

This wavelength stimulates collagen production, in turn giving firmer skin with improved tone. It is suitable for all skin types. 4-6 sessions spaced 4-8 weeks apart are recommended. 

Most cases of skin rejuvenation will only require one session, albeit a downtime of 4-7 days. For acne & traumatic scars, we recommend a series of 2-5 sessions depending on the severity. 

If downtime is an issue, the SoftLift mode of Hybrid can give outstanding results. The flipside is that 4-6 sessions are recommended for the best results. 

This laser can safely treat skin types 1-5. This includes ethnic Asian, Middle Eastern & darker Pacific islanders. 

We adjust the density, power & ‘mix’ of the laser to ensure that treatments are safe & effective. As a guide, if you have darker skin, you may require an additional 1-2 sessions to meet your goals & expectations.

Treatments are comfortable as we tailor anaesthetics according to your proposed laser profile. 

• Light fractional laser & Impact mode: only topical anaesthetic is used.
• Heavier fractional laser: topical numbing gel + blocks. 
• High density fractional laser resurfacing: numbing, blocks & mild sedation. 

This novel ultrasonic device allows us to deliver potent pharmacologically active molecules into the deeper dermal layers of skin. This is typically conducted after a session of CO2 fractional resurfacing. Our favourite actives include-

• Antioxidants
• Retinoids including tazarotene, retinoic acid & trifarotene
• Pigment inhibitors
• Anti-inflammatories 

Fraxel is a great laser for superficial skin concerns, including pigmentation, sun damage & sunspots. Unlike Alma Hybrid (which is a true hybrid laser as it delivers 2 wavelengths emitted from the same handpiece), Fraxel requires changing of wavelengths during your procedure. This has three major disadvantages-

1. It takes longer to perform a Fraxel session than an Alma Hybrid session
2. A long session means more discomfort
3. Fraxel has consumables, this is added to your Fraxel bill

The short pulse CO2 component of Hybrid is much better than the superficial Fraxel:RePair. It is widely accepted that the CO2 wavelength is the best for collagen remodelling & scar revision. 

If you are into your lasers & physics, you know what to look for in a laser system. What makes this an outstanding laser is-

• The power. Most lasers are rated at 30 watts. The ALMA has a minimum of 60 watts. In the realm of CO2, power is everything.
• The short pulse duration: having a short PD enables deeper penetration, with less collateral damage to the non-fractionated areas. This equates to less side effects including persistent redness & post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 
• The ability to randomise delivery: this decreases the thermal load to the untreated areas surrounding the fractional spots. The result is less side effects & a more comfortable treatment. 
• The functionality of a non-ablative wavelength: add to the clinical outcomes & reduces downtime.
• The ability to dial in bespoke treatments: using HyGrid technology, we can dial in a customised mix of both CO2 & 1570. 
• A super huge spot-size: means faster, more comfortable treatment. The 20 mm spot size of the ALMA Hybrid is one of the largest in the industry. 
• The IMPACT: potentiates the channels made by lasers to deliver pharmaceuticals effectively & efficiently into the deeper layers of skin.
• The reliability of Israel manufacturing: have you ever seen a Galil jam, or Merkava get stuck in mud, or the fire button of the iron dome not work? Though not. Those in the know understand the superior construction of Israeli manufacturing.

CO2 & non-ablative lasers are awesome at treating textural & skin quality issues. Lasers do not address volume loss due to depletion of fat, nor do they address marked laxity of fat pads & retaining ligaments. 

Volume loss is best addressed with treatments & fat transfer, whilst laxity is best treated with HIFU, RF & dermal threads. 

No. This laser can reduce sun induced pigmentation, freckles, age spots, & pigmented sunspots, but it does not treat melasma. 

Melasma is best treated with nano QSL & medical therapies. 

Cutis Dermatology is the go-to laser training hub for Australia. Not only do we deliver the best outcomes in Brisbane, but we train the industry. Our specialists have over 20-years of experience in dermatology & aesthetics, with numerous peer reviewed scientific publications.

Our experience, skill sets, & passion for the industry translates to unparalleled outcomes for our patients.