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.
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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 patient-facing treatment tiers that cover the full range.​​
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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 treatment tiers built on this platform.
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Pixel Peel (Minimal Downtime)
The 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.
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Pixel Peel is the right tier 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.
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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.
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Hybrid Advanced is the most common recommendation for 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.
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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, and the pricing reflects that.
HOW MANY SESSIONS ARE RECOMMENDED?
Your practitioner will recommend the optimal number of sessions to be performed based on your personal objectives. Treatment times and frequency will be specifically tailored to obtain the optimal results.
HOW QUICKLY WILL I SEE RESULTS?
Visible results can be seen within a few days, but typically after three weeks the most noticeable results appear. Improvements continue up to three months after treatment.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF FRACTIONATED ENERGY?
Radiofrequency (RF) energy is a scientifically proven method to remodel and rebuild collagen. It is minimally invasive, using a matrix of micro pins to renew the deeper layers of the skin with almost no patient downtime.
CAN ANYONE USE MORPHEUS8?
The benefit of Morpheus8’s color blind technology is that it can be used on all skin types. The unique properties allow even darker tones to be treated. CAN THIS BE USED IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER TREATMENTS? Yes, Morpheus8 can be used in the same treatment session, or a few days after other treatments. Morpheus8 can also be combined with other lnMode energy treatments or injectables to achieve more extensive results.
WHEN CAN I PUT MAKE-UP ON AFTER TREATMENT?
Since patient downtime is minimal, makeup can be applied 1 to 2 days after the treatment. Patients should expect to see micro lesions a few days after treatment and slight redness depending on treatment parameters.
WHAT KIND OF POST PROCEDURE CARE IS REQUIRED?
Patients should moisturize the treatment area and avoid direct sun exposure. It is also recommended that patients use a broad spectrum sunscreen every day. In addition to reducing the risk of skin cancer, sunscreens also slow the aging process.