The Beloved HALO Laser Just Got an Upgrade

If you’ve ever had a HALO laser treatment or heard your dermatologist rave about pairing it with MOXI, you already know it’s one of the most popular ways to treat uneven tone, fine lines and sun damage. Now there’s a new version that takes those results even further. The just-launched HALO TRIBRID combines three wavelengths into a single treatment, offering more power, greater precision and the ability to target every layer of the skin in a single session.

Rochester, NY dermatologist Sherrif Ibrahim, MD, who worked closely with Sciton on the device, says the goal was to build on what patients already love about HALO. “When HALO was first released in 2014, it was the world’s first hybrid fractionated laser,” he says. “So it was the first laser to deliver both ablative and nonablative wavelengths at the same time. There was a sort of extra layer of innovation in that we worked with the engineers at Sciton to make sure not only two lasers were being fired at the same time, but actually in the same spot.”

How the HALO + MOXI Duo Evolved

A few years later, the company introduced MOXI, a gentler treatment for brightening and polishing the skin. “MOXI came along in 2020 and it targeted the deep epidermis and the superficial dermis,” says Dr. Ibrahim. “So, it was an area that HALO was missing. HALO would hit very superficial and very deep but would miss that kind of middle-of-the-road layer, which is where we have a lot of problems with pigmentation and smoothness and texture.”

Together, the two lasers became a cult favorite among both doctors and patients for improving tone, texture and glow with less downtime. That pairing inspired what came next. “Many people started doing what we call stacked treatments, doing a HALO followed by a MOXI in the same sitting and we were getting incredible results,” says Dr. Ibrahim. “That was really the impetus for the design of this.”

Triple Wavelengths, One Powerful Treatment

HALO TRIBRID builds on that formula by combining all three wavelengths into one powerful treatment. “You don’t have to sit through two laser treatments,” says Dr. Ibrahim. “It’s almost as fast as a MOXI alone to do all three wavelengths. It is more powerful in its depth, its density. It’s targeting all three wavelengths and therefore three layers of the skin at the same time.”

A major upgrade is how precisely it delivers energy. “The computer now is recognizing, calculating where those double hits are and making sure the MOXI goes in all the other spots,” he explains. “So, the last thing we would want is all three in the exact same location, because that could cause overtreatment.”

That means the device can reach different layers of skin for a fully customized approach, whether you want a light refresh before an event or a deeper treatment for fine lines, acne scars or stubborn sun damage. “You can customize all three wavelengths up to 80 percent coverage,” says Dr. Ibrahim. “So now all of a sudden, in one treatment, you are approximating what we could do with a full field, fully ablative treatment, with a topical anesthetic, with no more downtime really than a HALO.”

And yes, it’s fast. “You could probably do an entire face in about nine minutes, which is really fast,” says Dr. Ibrahim.

Who It’s For and What to Expect

The laser can treat almost anyone, year-round, for a wide range of concerns. “Anybody and everybody,” he says. “Because it’s about versatility and range. You could do any skin type, any time of year, really, for any application.”

That includes helping restore radiance for patients who have noticed changes after weight loss or GLP-1 use. “It’s going to definitely restore the luster, the glow, the quality that people lose with the GLP-1,” he says. “I couldn’t be happier to have this in my practice. It’s a game changer.”

If you’ve been curious about resurfacing treatments that deliver visible results without major downtime, the next generation of HALO may be the closest thing yet to hitting reset on photoaged skin.