Technology
AviClear is a laser that calms the oil glands behind acne, giving a way to treat breakouts on the face and body without relying on daily medication.
AviClear acne laser
Clearer skin can change how you feel walking into a room, at work or at school. AviClear is an acne laser made by Cutera that treats breakouts at their source.
It uses one specific wavelength, 1726 nm, which is drawn to sebum, the oil inside the skin's glands. Most lasers target pigment or blood vessels. AviClear targets the oil glands themselves, one of the main drivers of acne. By calming those glands and settling how much oil they make, it can help clear skin without daily creams or pills. It's used on the face and on the body, including the back and chest. Sessions are carried out by our senior laser technicians, under the medical direction of Dr. Gidon Frame.
A few reasons patients and parents choose AviClear.
AviClear targets the sebaceous glands, which produce the oil that feeds acne, helping to reduce breakouts over time.
A good option if acne medication hasn't agreed with you, or you'd prefer another approach. AviClear fits into a physician-guided treatment plan.
You can usually start while on your current medication. Your physician reviews what you're taking and guides any changes, sometimes lowering a dose so treatment can go ahead, and sometimes reducing it as your skin responds.
AviClear can be used for acne on the face, back and chest, from the teenage years through adulthood. Larger areas such as the back simply take a little longer per session.
Improvement often continues after the treatment course is complete, as the oil glands stay calmer.
Feeling comfortable at school, at work and with other people matters as much as clear skin. Our team looks at your skin, explains each option and helps you choose the plan that suits you.
Flexible payment plans are available for AviClear, so getting started can fit comfortably around your budget.
The 1726 nm wavelength is absorbed by sebum, so the energy gathers inside the oil glands with little spread into the surrounding skin. Gentle, controlled heat then settles how active those glands are and how much oil they produce, which reduces what acne relies on to form.
While this happens, the surface of the skin is cooled and protected, so the energy can reach the glands deeper down while the top layer stays comfortable. The change is gradual by design. Skin usually keeps improving over the weeks and months after a course, as the glands stay calmer and produce less oil.
AviClear treats active acne, from mild to severe, including breakouts that are hard to settle:
There's no strict age limit. AviClear is used from the teenage years through to mature adults, and suitability is confirmed for each person.
It's a strong option if you'd prefer to avoid long-term medication, or if medication hasn't suited you. It works alongside your medical care through our active acne treatment program, and for many people it becomes the part of the plan that finally settles their skin.
AviClear is FDA-cleared and Health Canada licensed for mild, moderate and severe acne. Its main role is calming the oil glands that drive active acne. Its Canadian licence also covers acne scarring, and established scars often benefit from other treatments as well, which your physician can plan with you.
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic can help you explore this technology, related treatments, and connected concerns.
AviClear sessions are carried out by our senior laser technicians, under the medical direction of Dr. Gidon Frame. You'll wear protective laser eyewear throughout, and the skin's surface is cooled with every pulse.
The team watches for these effects and manages them if they occur.
This is not a complete list.
AviClear may be a good fit if you have active acne that keeps coming back, if medication hasn't agreed with you, or if you'd simply prefer to treat the cause without long-term prescriptions. It suits teenagers and adults alike who want a considered, medical approach and are comfortable with improvement that builds over months.
Some acne responds best to medication or a combination of approaches, and some to AviClear on its own. Your physician explains which route suits your skin, and why.
Your skin is cleansed, and photographs are usually taken so gradual progress can be tracked fairly over the course. Coming well hydrated and with clean, product-free skin on the day helps.
Treatment is delivered by our senior laser technicians, under the medical direction of Dr. Gidon Frame. The handpiece is moved across the area while the surface of your skin is cooled at the same time. Most people feel a warm snapping sensation with each pulse, which eases between pulses. A typical facial session takes around thirty minutes, a little longer for larger areas such as the back.
Most people find it very manageable. In the clinical studies behind its clearance, participants needed no pain relief, and the built-in cooling is a large part of why. If you tend to find treatments uncomfortable, tell the team beforehand so comfort can be paced to you.
Your skin may look flushed and feel warm, a little like mild sunburn, and this usually settles within hours to a day. Most people go straight back to their normal day.
The course. AviClear is usually given as a course of three thirty-minute sessions, spaced roughly three to four weeks apart. Your physician confirms the plan for your skin at the assessment.
When you'll see change. This is a gradual treatment. Some people notice a difference during the course, and the fuller effect builds over the weeks and months afterwards as the glands stay calmer and produce less oil. In studies, results have continued to improve after the third session. Some people have a temporary flare in the early weeks as the skin responds, and this usually settles. Individual results vary.
Follow-up. We review how your skin has responded after the course and adjust the plan from there, including how any medication you're on is managed as your skin settles.
Maintenance. Many people are well served by the initial course. Acne can still be influenced by hormones and other factors over time, so some choose an occasional top-up session later to keep things settled.
Good day-to-day skincare protects and extends what the treatment achieves. In the days after a session, keep things simple and gentle: a mild cleanser, a light non-comedogenic moisturizer, and daily sun protection, which matters for any skin recently treated with a laser. Strong active ingredients are usually paused briefly around each session and reintroduced on your physician's advice.
Beyond that, the clinic can set you up with a medical-grade routine matched to your skin, so what you do at home supports your treatment. You can find our professional skincare in the clinic's online shop.
Acne treatment often happens in stages. Some treatments help manage active breakouts, while others address the redness, marks and texture changes that can remain after acne improves.
Targets acne-related bacteria and inflammation.
Deep cleansing for excess oil, congestion and clogged pores.
Helps improve clogged pores and congestion.
Physician-administered treatment for painful inflammatory acne cysts.
Persistent acne wears people down, and watching your teenager struggle with it is hard too. At your consultation, we look at what's driving the breakouts, review any medication, and plan whether AviClear is the right next step for your skin or your child's. For younger teens, a parent is part of the conversation.
Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
Related Treatments
A physician-guided program to reduce active breakouts and calm excess oil and inflammation, combining in-office and medical options selected after assessment.
A physician-guided topical and skincare program using evidence-based ingredients to help control acne, oil, inflammation and post-acne marks.
Conditions It May Help Address
The relationship between a technology and a concern depends on the treatment plan, patient assessment, and how the technology is being used.
Acne is a skin condition that can affect people of all ages and skin types. Our physicians assess what is happening in your skin and help you choose an appropriate medical treatment, maintenance and preventive plan as well as your at-home skincare.
Excess oil with clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, or uneven texture.
Darkened patches, spots and texture changes caused by excess pigment and cumulative sun exposure.
Persistent facial redness, flushing, visible vessels or rosacea-related bumps and sensitivity.
Talk with Anti-Aging Clinic about your goals and the options that may be worth exploring.
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic
Acne is a medical condition, and at our clinic it's managed within a physician-led acne program. Your skin, history and any medication are reviewed, and AviClear is offered as one part of a plan built around what's driving your breakouts.
Sessions are carried out by our senior laser technicians under the medical direction of Dr. Gidon Frame, and any acne medication is managed by our physicians alongside your treatment, so you're never left to juggle it yourself. Once breakouts settle, we can plan next steps for marks, redness or texture using our own range of light, laser and skincare treatments. Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic has provided physician-led care in Vancouver since 2003, from our clinic in Kitsilano.
Evidence & Patient Resources
AviClear uses a 1726 nm laser wavelength that targets the sebaceous (oil) glands. Its regulatory clearances, FDA (2022) and Health Canada (2022) for mild, moderate and severe acne, were supported by clinical study of this approach. Suitability and results are assessed individually.
References:
This information is reviewed by our physicians and is general in nature. Your own plan comes from a personal medical assessment.
FAQ
Usually not. You can begin while on your current treatment, and your physician can reduce or adjust it as the laser starts to take effect. If you're taking isotretinoin, your physician may lower the dose so AviClear can go ahead safely, and for some patients it then becomes a way to reduce medication further over time.
It can help. Hormonal acne is often driven by excess oil, which is exactly what AviClear targets, and it's frequently used for jawline and lower-face breakouts. For deeper cystic or severe acne, your physician may recommend AviClear as part of a broader plan that includes medical treatment.
Most people find it very manageable. Each pulse feels like a brief warm snap, and the cooling built into the device keeps the surface of the skin comfortable. If you tend to find treatments hard, let the team know and comfort can be paced to you.
Yes. AviClear's wavelength is drawn to the oil in your skin's glands, so it works well across a wide range of skin tones. Your skin and history are reviewed before your first session, and your plan is set with your skin tone in mind.
Yes. Flexible payment plans can spread the cost of a treatment course, so getting started fits comfortably around your budget. Our reception team can walk you through the options when you book.
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