Physician-directed Laser Skin Resurfacing in McKinney, TX from Hartwater Aesthetics
What Is Laser Resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing is a category of treatments that use focused light energy to remove damaged surface tissue and stimulate the production of new collagen in the dermis beneath. The result is firmer, smoother, more evenly toned skin with improved texture, reduced pigmentation, and refined fine lines. Modern fractional lasers deliver this energy in a controlled pattern of microscopic columns, allowing the body to heal quickly while still producing meaningful structural change in the treated tissue.
Laser resurfacing exists on a spectrum from non-ablative (light energy penetrates the skin without removing the surface) to ablative (light energy removes a controlled layer of surface tissue). Non-ablative treatments produce more gradual results with minimal downtime. Ablative treatments produce more dramatic single-session results with longer recovery. The right point on the spectrum depends on what your skin actually needs and how much downtime you are willing to accept. At Hartwater, we use the Alma Hybrid laser, the only platform in aesthetic medicine that combines both ends of the spectrum in a single device, and we offer three treatments that cover the full range.
Laser resurfacing at Hartwater Aesthetics is performed by our two Certified Laser Technicians, Stephanie Robertson, CLT and Tiffany Byres, MA, CLT, each with thousands of energy-based procedures. Initial consultations are conducted by our Clinical Manager, Lindsey Burris, RN, so your laser resurfacing plan is integrated into your broader Pillar One (Skin Quality) and Pillar Two (Skin Laxity) treatment strategy. Both Stephanie and Tiffany also teach energy-based protocols nationally through Hartwater's affiliated CARE Institute.
Medically reviewed by Scott Bradley Burris, MD. Reviewed May 2026.
THE THREE LASER RESURFACING TREATMENTS AT HARTWATER
The Alma Hybrid laser combines two wavelengths in one device: a 1570 nanometer non-ablative wavelength that delivers heat deep into the dermis without disrupting the surface of the skin, and a 10,600 nanometer CO2 ablative wavelength that resurfaces and remodels the surface itself. Most laser resurfacing devices give you one or the other. The Alma Hybrid gives you both, and lets us calibrate the treatment to match your skin, your goals, and your downtime tolerance. Hartwater offers three patient-facing treatments built on this platform.
Pixel Peel (Minimal Downtime)
Pixel Peel uses only the 1570 nanometer non-ablative wavelength. The treatment delivers controlled heat beneath the surface of the skin without breaking the skin itself. There is no ablation, no peeling, and recovery is closer to a brightening facial than to a traditional laser treatment. Most patients leave with mild flushing that resolves within hours. Topical numbing is not always required.
Pixel Peel is the right treatment for patients who want ongoing skin quality maintenance without meaningful social downtime, patients with melasma or darker skin tones who need a wavelength that is safer on pigmented skin, and patients who are not yet ready for a more aggressive treatment. It is sold as a series of three sessions and produces gradual cumulative improvement in tone, texture, and superficial pigmentation.
Hybrid Advanced (Most Popular)
Hybrid Advanced is the flagship dual-wavelength expression of the Alma Hybrid platform. It combines the 1570 nanometer non-ablative wavelength with the 10,600 nanometer CO2 ablative wavelength, delivered through the Alma Hybrid's HyGrid or HyPer mode (a randomized pattern that the device places consistently and uniformly across the treatment area). This is the only platform in aesthetic medicine that delivers both ablative and non-ablative energy in a single channel, and it is the technical innovation that makes the Hybrid Advanced result distinct from a single-wavelength laser.
Hybrid Advanced is the bread-and-butter recommendation for most laser resurfacing patients at Hartwater. The patient profile is most similar to a Morpheus8 candidate: someone who wants meaningful improvement in tone, texture, fine lines, and mild-to-moderate skin laxity, and who can accept a few days of social downtime in exchange for a better result than a non-ablative treatment alone can produce. Hybrid Advanced is sold as a series of three sessions and is available across more treatment areas than Pixel Peel, including the periorbital (eye) and perioral (mouth) regions.
Hybrid CO2 (Best-in-Class Single-Session Result)
Hybrid CO2 is the most aggressive treatment available on the Alma Hybrid platform. The treatment is CO2-dominant and is calibrated to produce significant ablation and dermal remodeling in a single session. It is the closest non-surgical experience to a traditional CO2 laser resurfacing procedure, with the benefit that the Alma Hybrid's 70-watt power output (compared to most competitor CO2 systems at 30 to 50 watts) reduces treatment time and the platform's hybrid technology allows for less aggressive settings to produce comparable results.
Hybrid CO2 is the right treatment for patients seeking the most dramatic single-session improvement in deeper lines, advanced acne scarring, significant skin contraction, and overall surface remodeling, and who are comfortable with significant downtime. Unlike Pixel Peel and Hybrid Advanced, Hybrid CO2 is performed as a single one-and-done treatment rather than a package of three sessions.
WHICH LASER RESURFACING TREATMENT IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
The right treatment for you depends on three factors: your primary concern, your downtime tolerance, and your skin type. Most laser resurfacing consultations at Hartwater land in one of three places, and the decision is honest rather than upsell-driven.
If your primary concern is maintaining your current skin quality, addressing mild pigmentation or surface texture, treating melasma, or improving the look of your skin without taking time out of your week, Pixel Peel is typically the right starting point. If you want meaningful improvement in tone, texture, fine lines, and mild-to-moderate skin laxity, are willing to accept a few days of social downtime, and want a treatment plan that you can compare directly to Morpheus8, Hybrid Advanced is the recommendation most patients land on. If your concerns include deeper lines, advanced acne scarring, significant skin contraction, or surface tissue that needs to be meaningfully remodeled rather than refined, and you are comfortable with one significant downtime commitment in exchange for the most dramatic single-session result available, Hybrid CO2 is the appropriate treatment.
At consultation, Lindsey will tell you honestly which treatment is right for your specific anatomy, goals, and life schedule. If you would benefit more from Morpheus8 than from any of these laser resurfacing treatments, she will tell you that as well. Patients who arrive certain they want Hybrid CO2 sometimes leave with a Hybrid Advanced recommendation because their actual concern is best addressed by the dual-wavelength approach rather than the CO2-dominant treatment. The right tool for the right problem.
COMMON CONCERNS TREATED WITH LASER RESURFACING AT HARTWATER
Laser resurfacing at Hartwater addresses a wider range of skin concerns than most patients realize. Below are the most common indications and which treatment is typically the best fit.
Skin Tone and Pigmentation (Sun Damage, Age Spots, Dyschromia)
Years of sun exposure, age-related changes, and inflammation can leave the skin with uneven tone, sun spots, and dyschromia (general red and brown discoloration). The 1570 nanometer wavelength is particularly effective at addressing these concerns without ablating the surface. Pixel Peel and Hybrid Advanced are both strong options. Patients with significant sun damage may benefit from Hybrid Advanced for a more meaningful single-session result.
Skin Texture (Pores, Roughness, Fine Lines)
Enlarged pores, surface roughness, and fine lines respond well to both fractional ablative and non-ablative energy. Pixel Peel produces gradual cumulative improvement across a series of three sessions. Hybrid Advanced produces more pronounced results in the same number of sessions. Hybrid CO2 is the most effective option for advanced texture concerns and deeper lines.
Acne Scarring and Surgical Scar Revision
Atrophic acne scarring (the "ice pick" and "rolling" scar patterns left behind by inflammatory acne) and surgical or traumatic scars are among the most effective indications for the Alma Hybrid platform. The 1570 nanometer wavelength stimulates dermal remodeling beneath the scar, and the CO2 wavelength resurfaces the skin at the surface. Hybrid Advanced is typically the recommendation for moderate scarring. Hybrid CO2 is the recommendation for advanced scarring and pitted scars. The 1570 nanometer wavelength has also been shown to shrink sebaceous (oil) glands, which is why the Alma Hybrid is useful for active and cystic acne in addition to existing scarring.
Skin Laxity and Aging (Hybrid Advanced and Hybrid CO2 Specifically)
Laser resurfacing is primarily a skin quality treatment, but the heat delivered into the dermis stimulates new collagen and elastin, which produces meaningful skin contraction over the weeks and months following treatment. Hybrid Advanced produces mild to moderate skin tightening on top of its surface remodeling result. Hybrid CO2 produces more pronounced skin contraction. For patients whose primary concern is deeper structural laxity rather than surface quality, Morpheus8 may be a better tool. The decision is made at consultation.
Melasma and Darker Skin Tones (Pixel Peel Specifically)
Melasma and hyperpigmentation can be treated with laser resurfacing, but the safety profile matters. The 1570 nanometer non-ablative wavelength is safer for darker skin types (Fitzpatrick III through VI) than CO2-dominant treatments are. Pixel Peel is the appropriate treatment for patients with melasma or with skin tones for whom ablative treatments carry a higher risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Hartwater treats laser resurfacing for darker skin tones as a precision case that requires the right wavelength choice, not as an exclusion.
THE ALMA HYBRID: DUAL-WAVELENGTH TECHNOLOGY
The Alma Hybrid combines two laser wavelengths in a single platform: 10,600 nanometers (CO2, ablative) and 1570 nanometers (non-ablative). Both wavelengths are gold-standard treatments individually. The Alma Hybrid is the only system that delivers both through a single handpiece, in a single session, with the energy adjustable between the two on the fly. The CO2 wavelength resurfaces the skin from the surface, ablating damaged tissue and forcing the body to grow new, healthy tissue in its place. The 1570 nanometer wavelength leaves the surface of the skin in place and delivers controlled heat deep into the dermis, stimulating collagen production and remodeling the supporting tissue layer beneath the skin.
The Alma Hybrid platform produces 70 watts of CO2 power, compared to most competitor CO2 systems that deliver 30 to 50 watts. The higher power output means treatments are completed faster, with fewer passes required to achieve the same result. The platform's randomized delivery pattern (the "HyPer" mode) distributes the energy uniformly across the treatment area, which produces a more even result and reduces the demarcation lines that can occur at the edges of treatment zones on traditional CO2 systems. Treatment time on the Alma Hybrid is approximately 50% shorter than on competitor devices.
The Alma Hybrid is most often compared to the Halo laser by Sciton, which is the only other dual-wavelength fractional laser on the market. The Halo combines Er:YAG (ablative) with a 1470 nanometer (non-ablative) wavelength. The technical differences matter: the Alma Hybrid uses CO2 rather than Er:YAG (CO2 has been shown in published clinical research to produce more skin contraction and longer-lasting results than Er:YAG at equivalent depths), and the Alma Hybrid delivers each wavelength in independent injury zones rather than the stacked injury zones used by the Halo. The Alma Hybrid also reaches greater depth at maximum settings (up to 1.6 millimeters for CO2 versus approximately 0.7 millimeters for the Halo's combined wavelengths). For patients comparing the two platforms, the practical answer is that both are excellent and the choice should be made on provider expertise and platform calibration rather than on a stand-alone device comparison.
LASER RESURFACING VS MORPHEUS8
Patients researching laser resurfacing at Hartwater frequently encounter Morpheus8, our gold-standard radiofrequency microneedling treatment, and the question of which is right for you is one of the most common at consultation. The two treatments are not interchangeable. They work through different mechanisms and address overlapping but distinct concerns.
Laser resurfacing uses focused light energy delivered in a fractional pattern across the surface of the skin. The 1570 nanometer wavelength penetrates the dermis to stimulate collagen and remodel the supporting tissue. The CO2 wavelength resurfaces the skin itself, removing damaged surface tissue and forcing new tissue to grow in its place. The treatment is primarily a skin quality treatment with secondary laxity benefit. Morpheus8 uses radiofrequency energy delivered through an array of insulated microneedles that penetrate the skin to a controlled adjustable depth (up to 4 millimeters on the face). The radiofrequency energy heats the dermis and the layer of adipose tissue beneath it, stimulating new collagen and elastin and producing meaningful tissue contraction at depth. Morpheus8 is primarily a skin laxity treatment with secondary skin quality benefit.
Laser resurfacing (any of the three treatments) is typically the right tool when the primary concern is skin tone, surface texture, pigmentation, fine lines, or acne and surgical scarring. Morpheus8 is typically the right tool when the primary concern is skin laxity (jowls, neck laxity, body laxity) and deeper structural remodeling. Many patients benefit from a sequenced plan using both: Morpheus8 to address the foundational laxity, and laser resurfacing to address the surface quality. At consultation, Lindsey will design the right sequence for your specific concerns, anatomy, and timeline.
WHICH PILLAR OF AGING DOES LASER RESURFACING ADDRESS?
Laser resurfacing at Hartwater addresses two of the Three Pillars of Facial Aging. It is primarily a Pillar One (Skin Quality) treatment, working on tone, texture, pigmentation, fine lines, and overall skin quality. The dermal heating produced by both the 1570 nanometer and CO2 wavelengths also stimulates new collagen and elastin, which produces meaningful Pillar Two (Skin Laxity) benefit, particularly in the Hybrid Advanced and Hybrid CO2 treatments. This cross-pillar effect is one of the reasons laser resurfacing fits naturally into the broader treatment plans Lindsey designs at consultation. The right tool for each pillar, sequenced in the right order for your situation, produces a stronger overall result than treating any single pillar in isolation.
WHY HARTWATER FOR LASER RESURFACING IN MCKINNEY
Five credentials distinguish laser resurfacing at Hartwater Aesthetics from any other laser resurfacing provider in McKinney or the surrounding north Texas market.
Performed by Stephanie Robertson, CLT and Tiffany Byres, MA, CLT
Laser resurfacing at Hartwater is performed by our two Certified Laser Technicians, Stephanie Robertson, CLT and Tiffany Byres, MA, CLT. Each has personally performed thousands of energy-based aesthetic procedures, which is one of the deepest treatment-team experience bases in the McKinney market. Both Stephanie and Tiffany also teach energy-based protocols to providers from other practices through Hartwater's affiliated provider-training organization, the CARE Institute. Patients who choose Hartwater for laser resurfacing are receiving treatment from providers who help train other providers nationally.
Three Treatments Calibrated to Your Goals
Most laser resurfacing providers offer a single device with one or two settings and recommend the same treatment to most patients. Hartwater offers three distinct treatments calibrated for different patient profiles, downtime tolerances, and clinical concerns. The decision is honest. Some patients are right for Pixel Peel. Most patients are right for Hybrid Advanced. A smaller number are right for Hybrid CO2. The recommendation at consultation reflects your specific situation rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment plan.
Alma Hybrid Dual-Wavelength Platform
Hartwater performs all laser resurfacing on the Alma Hybrid, the only fractional laser platform that combines CO2 ablative energy with 1570 nanometer non-ablative energy in a single device. The 70-watt CO2 output is approximately 50% more powerful than most competitor CO2 systems (typically 30 to 50 watts), which translates into shorter treatment times. The randomized delivery pattern reduces the demarcation lines that can occur on traditional CO2 systems. Together, these technical advantages mean Hartwater patients receive a more comfortable, more uniform, and more efficient laser resurfacing experience than they would on most other devices in the McKinney market.
Initial Consultations with Lindsey Burris, RN
Every laser resurfacing consultation at Hartwater is conducted by our Clinical Manager, Lindsey Burris, RN. Lindsey is an InMode KOL Speaker who teaches Morpheus8 protocols nationally through the CARE Institute, and she designs every laser resurfacing plan to integrate with your broader aesthetic strategy. Your treatment plan is grounded in clinical judgment about your skin and your goals, not in a device-by-device menu.
Three Pillars of Facial Aging Framework
Laser resurfacing at Hartwater is not a standalone treatment. It is positioned within the Three Pillars of Facial Aging framework that Lindsey teaches and applies at every consultation. Your laser resurfacing recommendation is grounded in a clinical framework that explains exactly which pillar the treatment addresses, why it is the right tool for your specific concerns, and how it integrates with any other Pillar work you may need. Patients receive treatment plans, not single-procedure recommendations.
WHAT TO EXPECT: YOUR LASER RESURFACING TREATMENT EXPERIENCE
The treatment experience differs meaningfully across the three treatments. Below is what to expect for each.
Pixel Peel. Pixel Peel is the most comfortable laser resurfacing experience and is closer to a brightening facial than to a traditional laser treatment. The full appointment runs approximately 45 to 60 minutes including any topical numbing time, though many Pixel Peel patients do not require topical numbing at all. The actual treatment time is approximately 15 minutes for a full face. Patients typically leave with mild flushing that resolves within hours. Downtime is close to zero. Most patients return to normal activities including work the same day, with no meaningful social downtime to plan around.
Hybrid Advanced. Hybrid Advanced uses both wavelengths of the Alma Hybrid platform and produces more pronounced results than Pixel Peel alone. The full appointment runs approximately 60 to 75 minutes including topical numbing time. The actual treatment time is approximately 15 minutes for a full face. Patients typically experience a few days of social downtime, similar to the downtime profile of Morpheus8. Expect mild to moderate redness and swelling for two to four days following treatment, gradually resolving over the first week. The patient profile is comparable to a Morpheus8 candidate: someone willing to plan a few days of recovery in exchange for a better result than a no-downtime treatment can produce.
Hybrid CO2. Hybrid CO2 is the most significant treatment on the platform and produces the most dramatic single-session result. The full appointment runs approximately 75 to 90 minutes including thorough topical numbing time. The actual treatment time is approximately 15 to 25 minutes for a full face. Downtime is significant. Expect substantial swelling, redness, and visible skin ablation (the surface tissue physically resurfaces over the days following treatment). Most patients plan approximately two weeks of recovery before they are presentable for non-essential social events, though the exact timeline varies meaningfully based on individual healing, treatment intensity, and the specific areas treated. The patient profile is someone who wants the most dramatic single-session result available, is comfortable with significant downtime planned in advance, and prefers a one-and-done treatment over a multi-session package.
Across all three treatments, your treatment plan is determined at consultation with Lindsey based on your skin, your goals, and your downtime tolerance. Patients undergoing Hybrid Advanced or Hybrid CO2 typically come in for a pre-treatment consultation, then return for the actual treatment after appropriate planning and scheduling. Pixel Peel can often be performed the same day as the initial consultation if your provider determines that you are a good candidate and your schedule allows. Detailed pre-treatment instructions (including any topical or oral medications, sun protection guidance, and post-treatment care) are provided in advance of every laser resurfacing appointment.
HOW MUCH DOES LASER RESURFACING COST IN MCKINNEY, TX?
Hartwater Aesthetics publishes transparent laser resurfacing pricing. Pixel Peel and Hybrid Advanced are priced as packages of three sessions because three sessions is the protocol that produces a complete result, with noticeable improvement typically visible after the first treatment and full result reached after the series. Hybrid CO2 is priced as a single one-and-done treatment because the protocol is one significant session that produces a dramatic single-session result. Pricing varies by the treatment area and the treatment you choose.
A few notes on laser resurfacing pricing at Hartwater. First, all laser resurfacing treatments are performed by our Certified Laser Technicians, with consultation and treatment planning conducted by Lindsey Burris, RN. Second, the pricing difference between Pixel Peel and Hybrid Advanced reflects the difference in technology delivered: Pixel Peel uses the 1570 nanometer non-ablative wavelength alone, while Hybrid Advanced combines the CO2 ablative wavelength and the 1570 nanometer wavelength in the platform's full dual-wavelength expression. Third, Hybrid Advanced is available across more treatment areas than Pixel Peel (including the periorbital and perioral regions and body areas) because the dual-wavelength expression is what those areas typically require. Fourth, Hybrid CO2 is priced as a premium single-session treatment because the single one-and-done structure delivers the most significant outcome the platform produces.
Laser resurfacing on the Alma Hybrid is one of the most clinically sophisticated skin quality treatments in the Hartwater Aesthetics menu, and its pricing reflects what the treatments deliver: dual-wavelength technology, calibrated treatment-specific protocols, and CLT providers who help teach other providers nationally through the CARE Institute. Patients who choose Hartwater for laser resurfacing are receiving treatment from one of the most credentialed laser resurfacing teams in the McKinney market.
MEET YOUR MEDICAL TEAM
Laser resurfacing at Hartwater Aesthetics is performed by our two Certified Laser Technicians, Stephanie Robertson, CLT and Tiffany Byres, MA, CLT. Each has personally performed thousands of energy-based procedures and both help teach energy-based protocols to providers from other practices through Hartwater's affiliated provider-training organization, the CARE Institute. Initial laser resurfacing consultations are conducted by our Clinical Manager, Lindsey Burris, RN, an InMode KOL Speaker who integrates laser resurfacing into your broader treatment strategy. Each treatment plan is reviewed and approved by our full-time on-site Medical Director, Scott Bradley Burris, MD, ensuring that every laser resurfacing visit is supervised by an experienced physician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving McKinney, Prosper, Frisco, Plano, Allen, Celina and Collin County
Hartwater Aesthetics is located at 7200 W University Drive, Suite 110, McKinney, TX 75071. Laser resurfacing at Hartwater is performed on the Alma Hybrid, the only dual-wavelength fractional laser platform available, by our two Certified Laser Technicians. We serve patients from across Collin County including Prosper, Allen, Frisco, Plano, and Celina, and patients travel to Hartwater from across north Texas and around the country for laser resurfacing. Our office is open Monday through Friday, and consultations are by appointment.
