One of the first things people ask me when they’re considering AviClear is, “Does it hurt?”
And I always tell them the same thing: I’m going to give you an honest answer, not a sales pitch.
So here it is — yes, you’ll feel it. But “painful” isn’t really the right word either. It’s more nuanced than that, and your experience will be completely your own.
I say that as someone who’s both had AviClear done on myself and performed hundreds of treatments. I know what it feels like from both sides of the laser.
What You’ll Actually Feel During Treatment
It starts with a metal cooling plate resting against your skin. It’s cold – very cold – so that’s the first thing you’ll notice. We also spritz your skin with water, which feels soothing, but starts feeling really wet as we get into the treatment.
When the laser fires, most people describe a prickly, almost electrical sensation. At the same time, we press the cooling plate against the skin, so there’s a bit of pressure mixed in too.
Different spots on your face feel different. The cheeks are usually the easiest. Around the nose and lips, things tend to get a bit more intense because that skin is naturally more sensitive. The forehead has its own thing going on — a lot of clients say the cold plate feels exactly like a brain freeze. Weird more than anything, but it always catches people off guard the first time.
The good news? The moment the laser pulse ends, the sensation fades almost immediately.
Does It Get Easier Each Time?
For most people, yes — and here’s why.
AviClear works by targeting your sebaceous glands, the ones responsible for producing oil. As those glands calm down after each treatment, there’s simply less for the laser to work on. Many patients tell me their second and third sessions felt noticeably easier than the first.
That tracks with my own experience too. My first three treatments were uncomfortable — I won’t sugarcoat it — but I wouldn’t call them painful. By the time I had maintenance treatments later on, I could barely feel anything at all.
Is It the Same for Everyone?
Not at all, and this is exactly why I never give people a “pain scale” number.
Pain is deeply personal. Some clients finish up and say, “Honestly, that wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought.” Others find it uncomfortable but totally manageable. And occasionally, someone has a harder time with it even with numbing cream. There’s no shame in any of those reactions — everyone is different, and we take all of it seriously.
What We Do to Keep You Comfortable
Over time, we’ve figured out that the small things really matter.
We now offer prescription-strength numbing cream before every treatment. It doesn’t eliminate all sensation, but most clients feel like it cuts the discomfort down by half or more.
During the treatment itself, we have a few tricks up our sleeves:
- Taking short breaks whenever you need them
- Using a T-shaped cooling and numbing bar between pulses
- Giving you squeeze balls to help redirect your focus
- Inviting a support person to attend, who can gently tap your arm or leg as a grounding distraction
It sounds simple, but these things genuinely help. Our only goal is for you to feel taken care of the whole way through.
Why I’ll Never Tell You “It Doesn’t Hurt”
Because that would be a lie, and you deserve better than that.
I’d much rather over-prepare you and have you leave thinking, “That was easier than I expected” than have you feel blindsided. Honestly, that’s what happens more often than not when people know what’s coming.
Everything starts with trust — and trust starts with honesty.
The Real Question Worth Asking
When someone tells me they’re nervous, I don’t push them toward treatment. We just talk.
We talk about what it actually feels like, what the realistic benefits are, and what the risks look like. And then I ask one simple question: Would you rather sit through about 30 minutes of discomfort per session, or keep dealing with acne for another few years?
Only you can answer that.
By the time most people come in for a consultation, they’ve already tried the creams, the prescriptions, the routines. They’re tired. And I get that – not just professionally, but personally.
Acne isn’t just a skin condition. It follows you into the mirror every morning. It makes you skip photos, wear more makeup than you want to, cancel plans, and sometimes just feel like a dimmer version of yourself. I know because I’ve lived it.
Why This Work Means So Much to Me
Before we ever offered the AviClear treatment at Collab Medspa, I was a patient struggling with stubborn acne. I know what it’s like to avoid mirrors. To feel embarrassed walking into a room. To wonder if your skin is ever going to cooperate.
That’s the reason I do this work.
When someone sits down across from me for a consultation, I don’t just see acne. I see someone who’s exhausted from fighting it. And because I’ve been in that exact seat, our conversations feel different — less clinical, more real.
Sometimes people tear up during consultations. Not because of anything scary — but because years of frustration and hope and trying-everything all rise to the surface at once. I get it. Completely.
A Moment I’ll Never Forget
One patient came in with severe acne before leaving for school. She completed all three treatments, and when she came back months later to grab some skincare products, her skin looked beautiful.
But that’s not what stopped me.
It was the way she carried herself. She walked differently. She smiled more freely. There was this brightness about her that just wasn’t there before.
I still get a little emotional thinking about it.
That’s what this treatment really does. It doesn’t just clear skin — it gives people themselves back.
So, Is AviClear Worth It?
For me? Without question.
Even if it had been the most uncomfortable thing I’d ever done, I’d still do it again. The confidence that comes with clear skin — the freedom to just live without thinking about your face — is genuinely life-changing.
Three treatments. Lasting results. And a version of yourself you might not have felt in years.
If you’re curious but nervous, that’s completely normal. Come in and talk to us. We’ll answer every question honestly, tell you exactly what to expect, and be right there with you every step of the way.
Because that’s exactly what I’d want if I were the one in the treatment chair.
