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Last year, British beauty brand Lyma created a huge buzz with the launch of an anti-ageing laser that stimulates collagen and cell regeneration. This month, it releases a new iteration – three times the size and nearly three times as strong.
I’m a big fan of lasers: fractional, Nd:YAG, CO2, erbium and non-ablative, and can vouch for their transformational effects. I tested the Lyma Laser Pro for about a month on my knee pigmentation and caesarean scar – nowhere near the three months the company recommends to see real results, but it gave me a sense of its potential.
While the original laser broke new ground, its 500mW power, compact surface area and 15-minute treatment length meant it took a long time to cover larger areas. The new laser – designed for clinics, but which doesn’t require a doctor or professional to operate, so is suitable for at home use – has a larger surface area (33sq cm on each of its two heads, pictured) and increased power (1,450mW), bringing treatment time down to three minutes per area, which saved me considerable time.
Lyma Laser Pro, £4,995 for one, £9,900 for the duo
Both models are non-ablative cold lasers that use low-level laser therapy technology – non-invasive light – to stimulate rejuvenation. They work by heating deep muscle tissue, using infrared to suppress inflammation and speed up the healing process.
For safety reasons, the Lyma Laser Pro does not have the same output as lasers found in dermatologists or clinics. “The laser source is diffracted, which cuts down the energy by the time it hits the skin,” says Harley Street-based laser surgeon Dr Asif Hussein. “The light source is not strong enough for an in-clinic-like effect.” This means deep scars like mine are hard to improve (especially in a short time span). It holds most promise with collagen regeneration and improving elasticity.
Priced at £4,995 for one, and £9,900 for the duo, the new Lyma is a significant outlay – about the same as a full course of in-clinic laser treatments using a medical-grade machine. But it comes into its own for those who might be daunted by in-clinic lasers, and who want something less intense, that they can do in their own time, in their own space, and that avoids downtime. Results might take longer, but it’s likely to shine as part of a maintenance regimen, especially when used after in-clinic and salon treatments. Continuous use will no doubt bio-stimulate the skin to improve firmness and texture.
