Dr Ophelia will assess your acne severity, breakout pattern, skin tone, sebum activity, hormonal history, and full treatment history, and recommend AviClear where genuinely appropriate.

A full VISIA scan provides objective baseline data on pore size, sebaceous activity, lesion distribution, oiliness, pigmentation, and surface texture, repeated at follow up visits.

Existing acne scarring is assessed at the initial consultation and a concurrent treatment plan is created, rather than deferring scarring treatment until the acne is fully cleared.

Where acne is significantly affecting a patient's mental health, Dr Ophelia discusses this directly and can refer to allied therapists experienced in supporting patients through the psychological burden of acne.

A full treatment programme is created covering the AviClear course, any prescription skincare or medication, the concurrent scarring plan, and the VISIA monitoring schedule.

Where numbing is needed, Dr Ophelia's clinic uses Zensa numbing cream, with adequate time built into the appointment for it to work fully. Many clinics skip numbing entirely for AviClear; here it is standard for patients who need it.

The AviClear handpiece is passed over the acne-prone areas, delivering controlled 1726nm laser pulses to the sebaceous glands, with the AviCool sapphire cooling system running continuously. Most patients describe the sensation as warmth or a mild snap.

You will receive clear aftercare guidance at each visit, including advice on skincare and sun protection. VISIA imaging confirms the treatment response objectively.

The second and third sessions follow approximately four weeks after each preceding treatment.

Following completion of the AviClear course, the VISIA data and clinical response are reviewed in full, the scarring management programme continues as appropriate, and a long-term acne maintenance plan is agreed.

Dr Ophelia is a Key Opinion Leader for Cutera, the manufacturer of AviClear, and sits on the AviClear UK Advisory Board. Before AviClear was available in the UK, she was sending patients to the United States to access it, and her clinic was among the first in London to bring the device here.

Most clinics offering AviClear cannot prescribe isotretinoin or hormonal therapy, do not have the full range of acne scarring lasers, and do not treat scarring concurrently with active acne. At Dr Ophelia's clinic, the AviClear course is embedded within a comprehensive programme, with scarring treatment incorporated from the outset, VISIA monitoring, and mental health support.

In Dr Ophelia's clinical experience, acne scarring responds better the earlier it is treated. Waiting until the acne is fully cleared allows scarring to become more established and harder to address effectively.

Dr Ophelia has found AviClear particularly valuable for women with difficult to manage hormonally driven acne, teenagers whose parents are concerned about medication side effects, and patients with severe or cystic acne needing an effective non drug approach.

This is a clinical decision based on acne severity, treatment history, the patient's preferences regarding medication, any contraindications to isotretinoin, and the pattern and likely drivers of the acne. Because Dr Ophelia can prescribe both, her recommendation reflects what will genuinely serve that patient best.

Yes. The psychological burden of acne is taken seriously as part of the clinical assessment, and where patients are experiencing significant anxiety, low mood, or social withdrawal, referral to allied therapists is offered as an integrated part of the care plan.

The scarring programme uses vascular Nd:YAG for redness in early scarring, IPL for redness and pigmentation, Fraxel for deeper fractional resurfacing, Clear and Brilliant for milder surface texture, and PicoSure PRO for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. The right combination depends on the scar types and skin tone.

Yes. AviClear is a particularly good fit for teenagers with moderate to severe acne where parents are concerned about the side effects of isotretinoin or spironolactone, offering a non-drug approach with a strong safety record.

Yes. Dr Ophelia has found AviClear particularly effective for women with hormonally driven acne that has not responded adequately to hormonal medications. Its mechanism, targeting sebaceous gland activity directly, addresses the oil production that hormonal acne drives.

Yes. Women planning to stop the contraceptive pill, undergoing fertility treatment, or wanting to reduce their acne burden before conception can all benefit from a carefully timed AviClear programme. Because AviClear is non-drug and non-hormonal, it is a particularly appropriate option for patients who want to avoid medication during this period.

AviClear is designed for all skin types and tones, and the 1726nm wavelength is selected in part for its tolerability across a range of melanin levels. Dr Ophelia has extensive experience treating acne in skin of colour.

Every patient has VISIA skin analysis at baseline and at follow-up visits throughout the programme, providing objective measurements of acne activity, sebaceous output, pore size, pigmentation, and texture.

Most patients describe AviClear as a warm or snapping sensation, which the AviCool sapphire cooling system significantly reduces. For patients who are more sensitive, Dr Ophelia's clinic uses Zensa numbing cream applied well in advance. Many clinics do not offer numbing for AviClear at all.

There is no significant downtime, with most patients returning to normal activities immediately after each session. Mild redness or temporary acne flare-ups may occur in the first few days and usually settle quickly.