We have something new for you: UltraClear laser! Our patients have loved their results from IPL and CO2 laser treatments, so we’re excited to add another versatile option to our laser services here at Mountain Radiance in Asheville. Here’s what you need to know about UltraClear and how it compares to the laser treatments you already know and love.
How UltraClear works
Most skin resurfacing lasers rely on heat to remove damaged skin and trigger renewal. That’s effective, but it also tends to mean more redness, swelling, and downtime, especially for deeper treatments or patients with darker skin tones.
UltraClear uses a cold fiber laser instead, delivering concentrated light energy to the skin’s surface while limiting how much heat reaches the surrounding tissue. This lets us treat a wider range of skin concerns and skin tones with less thermal damage than older resurfacing lasers.
Who should consider UltraClear
Between sun exposure from spending time outdoors in the mountains and the normal effects of aging, most of our Asheville patients deal with at least one of the concerns UltraClear treats. If you have concerns with your skin’s tone, texture, or clarity, UltraClear can likely help.
The most common issues we treat with UltraClear include:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Sun damage and age spots
- Uneven skin tone
- Acne scarring
- Enlarged pores
- Rough or dull texture
We can treat the face, neck, chest, and hands with UltraClear, and treatment depth is fully customizable based on your goals and how much social downtime you can work into your routine.
Your treatment options
UltraClear treatments range from light, lunchtime-friendly sessions to deeper treatments for more noticeable renewal. Lighter treatments require little to no downtime and work well if you want a quick refresh without disrupting your schedule. Deeper treatments involve more visible recovery, generally a few days of redness and mild peeling, but deliver more dramatic improvement in fewer sessions.
For the most severe acne scarring, deep wrinkles, or skin laxity, we also offer laser coring, UltraClear’s most intensive setting. It combines fractional resurfacing with micro-coring to remove and rebuild the most damaged tissue. It involves more downtime than a standard deep treatment, but delivers our most dramatic UltraClear results in return.
During your consultation, our team will recommend the treatment depth that best matches your skin and your goals. UltraClear treatments at Mountain Radiance are performed by Dr. Mark Chandler, our double board-certified medical director, along with certified Aesthetic Laser Operators Lauren Chandler, Christina Calott, and Sarah Hefner.
Comparing UltraClear to our other Asheville laser treatments
Here’s a quick comparison of UltraClear against the other lasers we offer at Mountain Radiance in Asheville.
UltraClear vs. IPL
IPL delivers pulses of broad-spectrum light to target pigmentation and vascular concerns like sun spots, age spots, and broken capillaries. It’s a non-ablative treatment, meaning it works beneath the skin’s surface without removing any tissue, so there’s no downtime. IPL is excellent for tone correction, but it doesn’t meaningfully improve texture.
IPL works by targeting contrast between pigment and the surrounding skin, so it does its best work on darker, more defined spots. As pigment lightens, that contrast fades and IPL has less to grab onto. Chemical peels and consistent at-home treatments are the usual next step for these lighter, more diffuse concerns, but UltraClear’s Clear and 3D MIRACL settings are also well suited to them. Rather than targeting pigment directly, these settings resurface the skin’s surface, so they can even out tone regardless of how light or diffuse the pigment has become.
UltraClear can also improve texture, fine lines, and mild scarring in the same session, something IPL doesn’t reach. If tone is your only concern, your pigment has good contrast, and you want zero downtime, IPL may still be the better fit. If you’re dealing with lighter or diffuse pigment, texture, or scarring alongside discoloration, UltraClear typically gets you further in fewer visits.
UltraClear vs. CO2 laser resurfacing
Our fractional CO2 laser remains our most powerful resurfacing option, delivering dramatic results for deep lines, significant sun damage, and more advanced scarring. A full CO2 treatment requires about a week of downtime.
UltraClear’s cold fiber technology allows for a gentler recovery while still reaching many of the same concerns. For patients who want meaningful improvement without committing to a week of visible healing, UltraClear is often the more comfortable choice. For more severe or long-standing concerns, CO2 may still deliver more noticeable results in a single session.
Can’t decide? That’s what your consultation is for. Your laser specialist will walk you through the various options and help you choose the treatment, or combination, that fits your skin and your schedule.
UltraClear can also improve tone, and it goes further by treating texture, fine lines, and mild scarring in the same session.
How many UltraClear treatments will I need?
The number of sessions depends on what skin concerns you’re treating. A single lighter session works well if you’re prepping for an event or want a quick refresh. More significant sun damage or acne scarring usually responds best to a series of treatments spaced several weeks apart. We’ll recommend a specific plan at your consultation based on your skin and your goals.
What to expect during recovery
For a lighter treatment, expect skin that looks and feels like a mild sunburn for the first day, with some warmth and pink to red tone. Light flaking or roughness can follow on day two as the outer skin cells shed. By day three to five, redness fades and skin starts looking smoother and more even.
Deeper treatments follow the same general pattern over a longer stretch, and results continue to improve for months afterward as new collagen forms. We’ll send you home with full aftercare instructions. In general, plan on a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer and daily sunscreen while your skin heals.
Pairing UltraClear with other treatments
UltraClear works well alongside Botox and dermal fillers if you want to address skin quality and volume together. We typically space UltraClear a few weeks apart from injectables and other resurfacing treatments so your skin has time to fully recover between them. Our team can help you sequence your treatment plan if you’re combining UltraClear with other services.
Timing UltraClear before a wedding or big event
If you have a wedding, reunion, or other big event coming up, plan to book a lighter UltraClear treatment at least one to two weeks ahead so any redness or flaking has time to resolve. Deeper treatments need more lead time, since recovery is more visible and results continue to develop for months. Our wedding beauty timeline walks through how Asheville brides and grooms can plan UltraClear alongside Botox, fillers, and facials if you’re scheduling further out.
“Dr. Mark and Lauren truly listened to my concerns, needs, and goals, and the results honestly amazed me. In just about an hour, I left looking refreshed, rejuvenated, and feeling like years had been taken off my face—while still looking natural. I couldn’t stop smiling when I left. We are so fortunate to have a place like this in our area. I highly, highly recommend Mountain Radiance to anyone considering treatments, especially if you’re nervous or new to aesthetics. They make you feel welcomed, heard, and cared for every step of the way.”
—5-star Google review
Come see what the hype is about
Book your consultation with Dr. Mark Chandler or one of our certified Aesthetic Laser Operators to find out. Our Asheville medical spa is located in Biltmore Professional Court, convenient to Black Mountain, Weaverville, Hendersonville, and the rest of Western North Carolina. Call us at (828) 627-2711 or schedule online.
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