Aerolase Toronto

By Basil Russo, Founder, Bar Beauty Medical, 46 Fort York Blvd, CityPlace Toronto.

Most Aerolase pages online read like a spec sheet copied off the manufacturer site. This one reads like the conversation we would actually have if you sat down in our chair at CityPlace. I bought the Aerolase NeoElite for Bar Beauty in 2024, after nine months of talking to dermatologists, RN injectors, and the engineers who built the platform. So this page covers what the laser is, every concern it handles, what it costs to the dollar, who runs it, and the times we tell people not to bother. We do not upsell, we do not run countdown timers, and we will turn you away if Aerolase is the wrong tool for what is bothering you.

Book a free consult on Jane · Call the clinic: 416-923-1200

What is Aerolase and how does it actually work?

Aerolase is the brand name. The machine we run is the Aerolase NeoElite, a tabletop Nd:YAG laser that emits light at 1064 nanometres through a handpiece firing 650-microsecond pulses. That is the whole platform. When patients walk in asking for “the Aerolase” the way they used to ask for “the Fraxel,” I have to slow them down, because Aerolase is not one treatment. It is a single laser that we dial into different protocols depending on what your skin needs. NeoSkin is the rejuvenation protocol. NeoClear is the acne protocol. The same handpiece does redness, pigment, vascular spots, and hair removal with different settings.

Three details about that laser actually matter, and they are the reason I chose it over a room full of other devices.

First, 1064 nm is the safest wavelength for melanin-rich skin. Melanin absorption drops off sharply as you move from visible light, where IPL works around 500 to 600 nm, into the near-infrared. At 1064 nm the energy still treats pigment and vessels, but it largely passes the melanin in your epidermis rather than dumping heat into it. That is the difference between a laser that improves dark skin and a laser that burns it and leaves a mark.

Second, the 650-microsecond pulse is the part you are actually paying for. Most Nd:YAG lasers in Toronto are either long-pulse, running in milliseconds, or Q-switched and picosecond, running in billionths of a second. Aerolase sits in a deliberate gap between them. The pulse is fast enough to deliver energy before it conducts out into the surrounding skin, so the epidermis never pre-warms, which is why we do not need a chilled contact tip and most people do not need numbing cream. Yet it is slow enough to gently target chromophores instead of shattering them. Less heat up top, more comfort, and one protocol that travels across skin tones without modification.

Third, there is no contact and no needles. The handpiece floats a few millimetres off your skin. Nothing touches you, nothing pierces you. That is why it reaches hair-bearing and oily areas, like the beard line or the sides of the nose, where a sapphire-tip laser cannot get flush, and it is a big part of why there is no real downtime.

See how Aerolase compares to our other treatments · Meet our Medical Director

What can Aerolase actually treat at Bar Beauty?

Here is the honest headline list, the concerns where Aerolase is our first-line laser in this clinic.

• Redness and rosacea. The 1064 nm wavelength is absorbed by haemoglobin in the small vessels that drive flushing and persistent redness, so we can calm a face without the bruising and heat of IPL.
• Tone, texture, and pores (NeoSkin). The rejuvenation protocol warms the dermis enough to trigger a gentle collagen response, which over a few sessions reads as smoother, brighter, more even skin with tighter-looking pores.
• Melasma and pigmentation. Melasma is the stubborn one, and 1064 nm is one of the few wavelengths I trust on it because it does not provoke the rebound darkening that aggressive lasers cause. This is a long game, not a one-and-done.
• Active acne and acne scarring (NeoClear). NeoClear targets the sebaceous glands and the bacteria that feed breakouts, then we shift parameters to soften the marks and shallow scars that acne leaves behind.
• Hair removal on every skin tone. Because the wavelength spares melanin, we can run laser hair removal on Fitzpatrick IV to VI skin and on areas like the beard line where ingrown hairs and razor bumps live.

We also use Aerolase for small vascular lesions like cherry angiomas and broken capillaries, benign spot treatments, and fine-line collagen remodelling. The single most important thing it does, though, is work the same way on dark skin as it does on light skin. That is genuinely rare, and it is why people travel across the city for it.

For deeper reading on a specific concern, we keep dedicated guides for rosacea, melasma, hyperpigmentation, and acne, and a full overview of every skin concern we treat.

Why is Aerolase safe on darker skin when other lasers are not?

This is the question I get most, and it deserves a straight answer instead of marketing. The risk with lasers on Fitzpatrick IV, V, and VI skin is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the dark mark that shows up after the skin is over-heated. Most light-based devices, IPL especially, fire wavelengths that melanin loves to absorb. On darker skin that means the device cannot tell the difference between the pigment you want to treat and the melanin that is just there to protect you, so it cooks both and you end up worse than when you started.

Aerolase changes the maths in two ways. The 1064 nm wavelength is poorly absorbed by melanin, so most of the energy slips past the protective pigment in your epidermis and reaches the target underneath. And the 650-microsecond pulse delivers that energy faster than the surrounding skin can heat up, so there is no slow thermal build that the epidermis has to survive. Put together, you get a laser that treats the concern without punishing the skin for being pigmented.

I will not pretend it is magic. No laser is risk-free, and a careless operator can still cause a problem on any device. That is why our Glow Specialist Julia Barabas starts conservative on a first session, watches how your skin answers, and steps the energy up only when it has earned it. The wavelength gives us the safety margin. The protocol and the person holding the handpiece decide whether we use it well.

The peer-reviewed support here is solid, not hand-wavy. Work by Battle and Soden in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Alexis and colleagues in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and several Aerolase-specific clinical reports document low PIH risk and effective pigment clearance across Fitzpatrick IV to VI when the wavelength and pulse duration are chosen correctly. Dr. Henneberry-Fudge keeps our protocol library current as new data lands.

How much does Aerolase cost at Bar Beauty Medical?

Live pricing, synced with our Jane App booking system and our full price list. No “starting from,” no contact-form bait. Every consult ends with a written quote before you commit to anything.

Hair removal is priced by body area and runs from $75 for a small zone like the chin up to roughly $750 to $805 for a full-body package, so I will not list every line here. The whole menu is on the price list, and it pulls live from Jane at page load, so what you see is what you pay.

A few honest notes on the numbers. Most skin concerns take a series, not a single visit, so the real figure that matters is the course, not the per-session price. We package series of three and series of six at a discount, posted on the price list. And if a clinic is advertising a full-face Aerolase under $250, ask what protocol they are actually running, because that is below our cost to deliver it properly.

View the full price list · Meet Dr. Henneberry-Fudge

What does an Aerolase appointment at Bar Beauty actually look like?

You arrive about ten minutes early and fill out your intake on the Jane tablet at reception. Julia takes you back, cleanses the area, photographs the concern so we have a real baseline to measure against, and fits you with eye protection. Then she dials in the protocol for your skin and your concern and starts the passes.

Most people describe the sensation as a quick warm snap, a bit like a light elastic band flick, and it is not painful enough to need numbing cream in about nine out of ten treatments. A full face runs roughly 15 to 25 minutes. Smaller zones are quicker. There is no contact tip dragging across your skin and no needles, so it feels more like a warm facial than a procedure.

You leave with mild warmth and some pinkness, both of which usually settle within one to four hours. You can put mineral SPF on and walk straight back into your day. Makeup is fine the next morning. No peeling, no hiding indoors, no social schedule to plan around. That low-drama recovery is the entire point of choosing this laser, and it is why people fit it into a lunch break.

Who actually performs Aerolase at Bar Beauty?

This matters more than the device, and most clinics will not tell you who is holding the handpiece.

Julia Barabas, our Glow Specialist, runs the majority of our Aerolase and skin work. Laser passes, NeoSkin, NeoClear, the diagnostic eye on your skin from session to session, that is her. Jasmine Saggu, our Registered Nurse injector, handles vascular and pigment spot treatments at consult and supports the medical side. Shahram Mafazi, our Master Injector, focuses on injectables, the Botox, dermal filler, and biostimulators like Sculptra, and he refers laser work to Julia rather than dabbling in it. Shahram is a Master Injector, not a physician, and we never call him doctor.

Every laser protocol in the building runs under Dr. John David Henneberry-Fudge, our Medical Director, MD FRCPC, CPSO #95972. He sets the standing orders, owns the protocol library, and is the physician on call if anything ever needs a medical decision. That is the part you are really buying when you choose us over a cheaper room with a rented machine. The device is the same anywhere. The CPSO number on the consult document is not.

Meet the team · Book online

How many Aerolase sessions will I need to see real results?

For most concerns, plan on three to six sessions, spaced two to four weeks apart, though it genuinely depends on what we are treating.

Active acne usually starts clearing by session three or four and consolidates through session six. Rosacea and general redness tend to answer in four to six. Pigmented lesions and small vascular spots often clear in two or three. Melasma is the long game and the one I am always honest about, because it can take six to ten sessions plus religious daily SPF and the right topicals, and if you skip the sun protection you will undo the laser work and waste your money. NeoSkin rejuvenation builds gradually, so you see the tone and texture shift accumulate across the series rather than all at once.

The number is set at your consult, not guessed off a chart, and we re-photograph as we go so the decision to continue is based on your actual skin and not a sales target.

What should I avoid before and after my appointment?

Nothing here is complicated, but it changes your result, so I am putting it in plain language.

Before your appointment:

• No active tan on the treatment area, and no sun exposure there for two weeks beforehand
• Stop retinoids for about five days
• Stop exfoliating acids for three days
• Come hydrated, skip anything that thins your skin barrier

After your appointment:

• Mineral SPF 50 every single day, no exceptions, especially if you are treating pigment, because this is the difference between holding your result and losing it
• No retinoids for three days
• No saunas, hot yoga, or heavy workouts for 24 hours
• No exfoliating acids or scrubbing for about five days
• Use the simple post-treatment moisturiser Julia recommends and do not pick at any spots that darken before they flake

If a pigmented spot looks a little darker for a day or two after treatment, that is the lesion responding, not a problem. Leave it alone and let it shed on its own.

What does the recovery actually feel like, hour by hour?

Here is the honest timeline for a NeoSkin Face appointment.

Right when you leave, your skin is warm and pink, about the intensity of mild sun, sometimes with a faint tingle that fades inside half an hour. Over the next one to four hours the pinkness pulls back to a soft flush you can cover with mineral SPF and walk out into the world. Through the first day the skin feels tight in the good way, like it is working, and some pigmented spots may micro-darken over 48 hours, which is normal. By day two to five the skin settles, those spots may flake off naturally, vessels look quieter, and active acne calms down. Somewhere in the day seven to fourteen window the tone and texture change becomes obvious to you and shows up in photos, which is usually when people book the next session.

Are there reasons not to choose Aerolase?

Yes, and I would rather tell you now than at intake. We will not treat you, or we will ask you to wait, if any of these apply.

• You are on isotretinoin, brand name Accutane, or finished it within the past six months
• You are pregnant or actively breastfeeding, which is an absolute no for elective laser in our clinic
• You have an active cold sore or herpes outbreak on the treatment area, clear it first
• You have a fresh tan from the last two weeks, let your baseline come back
• You have open lesions, wounds healing, or recent cosmetic surgery in the area, we need your surgeon’s clearance
• You take a photosensitising medication without a physician sign-off

And separately, Aerolase is not the right tool for every cosmetic goal. If your real concern is deep skin laxity at the jawline, sagging, or significant volume loss, a resurfacing laser is not what you need. We will point you to Morpheus8 for tightening and deep remodelling, or to filler and biostimulators for volume, and we will say so plainly at the consult.

How is Aerolase different from Morpheus8, IPL, and other options?

DIAGRAM4_PLACEHOLDER

Different tools solve different problems, and the worst outcomes in aesthetics come from using the wrong one well. Here is how Aerolase sits against the treatments people most often compare it to.

The short version is this. Aerolase is the only laser in our clinic I will run on all six Fitzpatrick skin types with the same protocol and no downtime. Morpheus8 is the stronger choice when the problem is laxity or deep scarring, because radiofrequency tightening does something resurfacing cannot. IPL is fine on fair skin with broken capillaries, and genuinely risky on darker skin, which is exactly the gap Aerolase fills. We carry more than one device on purpose, so we can match the tool to your skin instead of selling you the only machine in the room.

Can I combine Aerolase with Botox, filler, or Morpheus8?

Yes, and most of our regulars do, because skin and structure are different jobs. The combinations we run most often:

Same-day Aerolase NeoSkin and Botox works well, with the Aerolase first and the Botox once the redness settles 30 to 60 minutes later. Aerolase NeoSkin and Morpheus8 we space about four weeks apart inside the same monthly plan, NeoSkin for tone and Morpheus8 for tightening. Aerolase and PRF microneedling we keep seven to ten days apart, PRF first.

What we will not stack at one visit is Aerolase with a fresh chemical peel, Aerolase over active filler swelling, or Aerolase on an area that had injectable filler placed within the last week. The skin can only do one big job at a time, and rushing it is how you get a complication that was completely avoidable.

How do I book?

The fastest way is our Jane portal. Pick a free consult, fill in the short intake, and come see us at CityPlace. Consults are genuinely free and end with a written quote, so you are never guessing what it costs.

Book your free consult on Jane
Call the clinic: 416-923-1200
See the full price list
Get directions to 46 Fort York Blvd
Meet your team and Medical Director

Patient questions we hear most often

Is Aerolase safe for Fitzpatrick V or VI skin?

Yes, and this is the headline reason it exists in our clinic. The 1064 nm wavelength is poorly absorbed by melanin, and the 650-microsecond pulse delivers energy before the skin can over-heat, so our melanin-rich patients see far less risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation than they would with IPL or longer-pulse lasers. We still start conservative and build up, because good technique matters on any skin.

Does Aerolase hurt?

Most people describe it as a warm snap, a little like a light elastic band flick. It is not zero sensation, but it is comfortable enough that about nine out of ten treatments need no numbing cream. Sensitive spots like the upper lip occasionally get a quick cooling compress.

How much does Aerolase cost in Toronto?

At Bar Beauty Medical the NeoSkin Custom Facial is $350, a full-face NeoSkin is $450, and rosacea, melasma, and hyperpigmentation full-face protocols are $450 each. NeoClear acne and acne scar revision run $300 to $600 by size, and single spot treatments are $50. Hair removal starts at $75 for a small area. The full live list is on our price list.

How soon will I see results?

Vascular and pigment spots often clear in one to two weeks. Acne improves across sessions three to six. Rosacea answers in four to six sessions. Melasma is the slowest and depends on strict daily SPF, with results emerging over a few months. NeoSkin tone and texture builds gradually across the series.

Can I wear makeup after Aerolase?

Not the same day, because we want the skin left alone while the warmth settles. The next morning, yes, makeup is completely fine.

Is there any downtime?

Essentially none. You leave warm and a little pink, that settles within one to four hours, and you can wear SPF and go back to your day immediately. There is no peeling and nothing to hide.

Does Aerolase work on acne scars or only active acne?

Both. The NeoClear protocol has separate settings for active breakouts and for scar revision. Most acne patients run the active programme first to get the breakouts under control, then move into scar revision once things are calm. For deep, pitted scars we may add Morpheus8.

Can Aerolase tighten my skin?

Mildly. The dermal warming triggers a gradual collagen response that firms tone over three to six months. For real laxity at the jawline or under the chin, Morpheus8 is the stronger tool and we will tell you so.

How is Aerolase different from IPL or BBL?

Different wavelength, different pulse, different safety profile. IPL and BBL use broad-spectrum visible light and work best on lighter skin. Aerolase’s single 1064 nm wavelength is safer on darker skin and reaches deeper into the dermis, which is why we reach for it on pigment and redness across every skin tone.

Can I get Aerolase while pregnant?

No. Pregnancy and active breastfeeding are absolute contraindications for elective laser in our clinic. We are happy to re-consult once you are postpartum and finished breastfeeding.

Will my insurance cover Aerolase?

No. Aerolase at Bar Beauty is cosmetic and not covered by OHIP or private insurance. The one exception is documented toenail fungus treatment, which some private insurers will partially reimburse with a physician note.

Do I need to do anything special to keep my results?

Daily mineral SPF 50, no tanning, gentle skincare in the first week, and a maintenance session every three to six months for chronic concerns like rosacea and melasma. Pigment results in particular live and die on sun protection.

Can I do Aerolase and Botox at the same appointment?

Yes. We run the Aerolase first, let the redness settle for 30 to 60 minutes, then do the Botox. It is one of our most common combinations.

Where is your clinic and how do I get there?

We are at 46 Fort York Blvd in CityPlace, downtown Toronto, a couple of blocks south of King West with parking on site. Full directions are on our contact page.

The longer view, for the people who want the detail

What does a year of Aerolase actually look like in our chair?

We do not sell single appointments and hope you come back. The patients with the best skin are on a programme, and a typical Aerolase year here looks roughly like this. Months one to three are the active series, three to six sessions of NeoSkin or NeoClear every two to three weeks. Month four is the first maintenance session with fresh photos and a plan reassessment. Around month seven we often add a combination visit with Botox or filler if it is indicated. Around month ten we may layer in Morpheus8 for tightening. Underneath all of it is daily mineral SPF, medical-grade skincare, no tanning, and no IPL somewhere else that undoes our work. That is the difference between using Aerolase as an emergency facial before an event and using it as an actual skin practice that changes your baseline.

How does Aerolase fit alongside the rest of our cabinet?

Aerolase is our skin-quality and skin-tone tool. It does not add volume and it does not lift structure, so it lives next to, not instead of, the rest of what we do. Sculptra and biostimulators build deep collagen and structure over months. Dermal fillers add instant volume to a specific area. Botox softens the muscles that drive expression lines. Morpheus8 tightens and remodels with radiofrequency. Aerolase makes the surface and the tone of the canvas itself better, which is why it pairs with almost everything. When someone asks me which one treatment to start with, the answer is usually whichever concern bothers them most when they look in the mirror, and just as often the honest answer is that skin quality comes first and the rest comes later.

How is our approach different from a chain medspa or a rented machine?

The NeoElite hardware is the same device wherever you find it. The protocol library, the operator training, and the medical oversight are not. A laser is only as good as the parameters dialled in, the diagnostic eye reading your skin, and the physician on call when something does not go to plan. We are not the cheapest Aerolase in Toronto, and I am fine with that. We are the one with a board-certified physician as Medical Director, a CPSO number on every consult document, a Glow Specialist who runs the machine all day rather than once a week, and a protocol library updated on what actually happens to our patients’ skin, not the generic default a rep handed us in 2024.

What does the research actually support?

The peer-reviewed literature on 1064 nm Nd:YAG in skin of colour is consistent and not controversial. Battle and Soden in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Alexis and colleagues in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and several Aerolase-specific clinical reports document low post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk and effective pigment and vascular clearance across Fitzpatrick IV to VI when the wavelength and pulse duration are chosen correctly. Dr. Henneberry-Fudge keeps our parameters current as new data emerges, so the protocol on your skin today is the one the evidence supports today.

What happens if something does not go to plan after I am home?

You get a direct line, not a recording. Most after-effects are minor, a little extra redness or a spot that darkens before it flakes, and they settle on their own with the simple aftercare we give you. If anything needs a medical decision, our Medical Director oversees the protocol for managing it, and you are never sent off to a walk-in clinic that has no idea what we did to your skin. That continuity is the whole reason we run this under physician delegation instead of as a standalone laser room.

Who is the wrong patient for Aerolase?

The person who wants a single laser to fix deep jawline laxity, that is a tightening problem. The person who expects melasma gone in one session with no SPF afterwards, because that is not how pigment works. The person shopping purely on the lowest price per session, because the cheapest room is rarely the safest one. And the person who wants a dramatic, obvious change overnight, because Aerolase is a steady, low-drama tool that builds. If that is you, we will say so at the consult, and we will not charge you for the honesty.

Related: Psoriasis-prone, reactive skin

Concerns we treat with Aerolase: melasma and hyperpigmentation, rosacea and redness, sun damage and enlarged pores.

Related at Bar Beauty: Aerolase Toenail Fungus Treatment Toronto, Aerolase Razor Bumps & Ingrown Hair Treatment Toronto, Vascular Lesion Treatment in Toronto, Vascular Lesion Treatment Toronto and Hyperpigmentation Treatment in Toronto.