Lutronic Ultra Thulium Laser (LaseMD Ultra) : Advanced Skin Rejuvenation in the San Diego Area
Dr. Melanie Palm is a board-certified dermatologist and nationally recognized laser expert who lectures at premier dermatology meetings including the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). Dr. Palm’s experience with thulium laser technology dates back to 2012, making her one of the earliest adopters of this wavelength in the dermatology community and uniquely positioned to deliver safe, effective, and personalized thulium laser treatments. At Art of Skin MD, Dr. Palm and her team offers the Lutronic Ultra—also known as the LaseMD Ultra—a state-of-the-art 1927 nm thulium fractional laser that delivers remarkable skin rejuvenation with minimal downtime. Her offices are located in Solana Beach, CA, just north of San Diego.
What Is the Lutronic Ultra (LaseMD Ultra) Thulium Laser?
The Lutronic Ultra, marketed as the LaseMD Ultra, is a fractional non-ablative thulium laser operating at a 1927 nm wavelength—specifically tuned to target water in the skin and the chromophores responsible for pigmentation and sun damage. Unlike fully ablative lasers that remove the entire outer skin surface, the Lutronic Ultra delivers thousands of microscopic columns of laser energy into the skin, creating controlled micro-zones of heat energy skin stimulation while leaving surrounding tissue intact. This fractionated approach drives rapid healing, collagen remodeling, porous channels to deliver topical actives more effectively, and meaningful improvement in skin quality with very limited recovery time.
The device features Lutronic’s proprietary IntelliTrak™ magnetic roller tracking system and Controlled Chaos Technology™, which together ensure consistent, uniform energy delivery across the treatment area. A full-face treatment can be completed in as little as 6 to 8 minutes, making the Lutronic Ultra one of the most efficient fractional laser platforms available. With a maximum power of 20W and a precise 200 μm beam diameter, the laser is powerful yet highly controllable, and can be safely adjusted to suit a wide range of skin types, skin concerns, and treatment goals.
Combination treatment: Ultra Thulium, INVO-Brightening-Booster, Spectra
Combination treatment: Ultra Thulium, INVO-Brightening-Booster, Spectra
What Conditions Does the Lutronic Ultra Treat?
· Sun damage and photoaging – years of ultraviolet exposure create diffuse brown discoloration, uneven skin tone, and a dull, tired complexion. The Lutronic Ultra breaks up excess melanin and stimulates fresh collagen, restoring a brighter, radiant, and more even appearance.
· Brown spots and lentigines – solar lentigines (“sun spots”) and other benign pigmented lesions – like seborrheic keratoses – respond reliably to the 1927 nm Ultra wavelength, which preferentially targets melanin-rich cells.
· Melasma – this hormonally influenced form of brown discoloration is one of the most challenging pigmentation disorders to treat. The Lutronic Ultra’s gentle, fractionated approach reduces melanin in the skin while minimizing the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—a particular concern in darker skin types. Dr. Palm frequently uses the Lutronic Ultra as a key component of her comprehensive melasma management program.
· Actinic keratoses (precancerous spots) – actinic keratoses are rough, scaly patches caused by chronic sun exposure that, if left untreated, may progress to squamous cell skin cancer. The Lutronic Ultra is FDA-cleared for the treatment of actinic keratoses, offering a field-treatment option that addresses both visible and subclinical lesions across a broad surface area simultaneously.
· Enlarged pores – the collagen stimulation triggered by the laser causes contraction and tightening around pore openings, leading to a visibly refined skin texture.
· Textural irregularities – rough or uneven skin surface texture is significantly smoothed as the body replaces thermally altered tissue with organized new collagen.
· Mild acne scarring – shallow atrophic acne scars respond well to fractionated thulium laser resurfacing, which promotes dermal remodeling and gradual scar softening.
· Collagen stimulation and skin laxity – by inducing a controlled wound-healing response, the Lutronic Ultra promotes new collagen and elastin synthesis, improving overall skin firmness and reducing the appearance of fine lines over time.
How Many Lutronic Ultra Treatments Are Needed?
Best results with the Lutronic Ultra are achieved through a series of treatments rather than a single session, as the cumulative effects of repeated treatments drive progressively greater collagen remodeling, pigmentation clearance, and skin renewal. Most patients achieve excellent outcomes with a series of two to three treatments spaced approximately four to six weeks apart, though the optimal number of sessions may vary depending on the condition being treated and the individual patient’s response and goals.
For melasma, a more gradual treatment approach with careful interval monitoring is often preferred to reduce the risk of triggering post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. For actinic keratoses, the series of treatments provides a field-treatment effect—clearing visible lesions as well as subclinical damage across the full surface of the treated area. After completing the initial series, Dr. Palm recommends periodic maintenance treatments, typically once to twice per year, to sustain results, continue stimulating collagen production, and stay ahead of ongoing photoaging. Each individual treatment session typically takes less than 15 to 20 minutes, including preparation time.
What Is Lutronic Ultra Treatment Like? Does It Hurt?
Treatment at Art of Skin MD with the Lutronic Ultra is straightforward, efficient, and comfortable. Prior to the procedure, a topical anesthetic cream is applied to the skin for approximately 1 hour to maximize comfort. The laser handpiece is then glided smoothly across the treatment area using the IntelliTrak™ roller system. Many patients feel virtually nothing at all during the treatment, while others describe a mild sensation of light sparklers on the skin—brief, superficial, and well-tolerated. The procedure is fast, with a full-face treatment completing in as little as 6 to 8 minutes, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule.
Thulium Ultra to Face
Thulium Ultra to Face
Thulium Ultra to Face
Downtime and Side Effects After Lutronic Ultra Treatment
One of the most appealing features of the Lutronic Ultra is its minimal recovery profile. Immediately following treatment, the skin will appear red and flushed, much like a mild to moderate sunburn. The skin may also feel warm to the touch during this initial phase, which typically lasts approximately two days. This is a completely expected and normal response as the skin begins its healing process.
Approximately two days after treatment, the skin may begin to feel rough, similar to the texture of fine sandpaper. This is a sign that the skin is actively shedding the thermally altered surface cells and generating fresh, renewed skin underneath. This sandpaper sensation is temporary and typically resolves over the course of several days. Unlike more aggressive ablative lasers, the Lutronic Ultra does not produce weeping or raw skin, and the overall recovery experience is manageable for the vast majority of patients.
At Art of Skin MD, patients are provided with a comprehensive skincare routine to support their skin through the healing process and accelerate recovery. Direct sunlight should be avoided throughout the treatment series and beyond. Beginning the day after treatment, patients may apply broad-spectrum sunscreen and resume their regular makeup routine, allowing them to return to work and normal social activities with confidence. Diligent sun protection is essential to achieving and maintaining the best possible results.
Significant side effects are uncommon when the procedure is performed by an experienced dermatology clinic such as Art of Skin MD. Rare complications can include transient post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (temporary darkening of the skin), particularly in patients with darker skin types who tan easily. During your consultation, Dr. Palm and her team will review all potential risks and tailor the treatment protocol to your individual skin type and history.
If you are interested in the Lutronic Ultra Thulium laser for sun damage, melasma, actinic keratoses, textural refinement, or overall skin rejuvenation in the San Diego area, contact Art of Skin MD to schedule a consultation with Dr. Melanie Palm. Call us at 858.792.SKIN (7546) or visit us at our Solana Beach location, just north of San Diego.
