10 minutes with Dr John Sullivan on UltraClear.

By Nicole Montgomery – Guest Editor

UltraClear has been called the biggest breakthrough since the CO₂ laser boom of the 1980s — and for good reason. So, what makes UltraClear revolutionary, and how is it reshaping laser dermatology?

The key lies in how it transforms fractionated ablative laser technology, which itself was a major leap forward from traditional full-field laser resurfacing.

When CO₂ lasers were introduced, they delivered dramatic results but came with significant downsides — prolonged downtime, high risk of delayed healing, post-treatment redness, and complications like infection or scarring.

The advent of fractionated lasers improved safety and recovery by creating microscopic treatment zones surrounded by intact skin, allowing faster healing. However, early fractionated systems had limitations: less impressive results compared to full-field resurfacing and the need for multiple sessions to achieve meaningful outcomes.

UltraClear changes that. Here’s how:

1. Erbium Advantage — With Depth

UltraClear is an Erbium:YAG 2910 nm laser, traditionally considered safer than CO₂ due to its lower thermal damage. But what sets UltraClear apart is its Cold Fiber technology and proprietary pulse sequencing, allowing it to reach depths previously only achievable with CO₂ — without the associated heat injury.

2. Smart Pulse Delivery

Unlike older lasers that use long, heat-generating pulses, UltraClear uses rapid, high-precision Erbium pulses that ablate tissue cleanly and efficiently. This approach minimizes collateral heat, leading to faster healing, less discomfort, and lower risk of complications.

3. Customisable Heat – Where You Want It

One of UltraClear’s most innovative features is the ability to precisely control heat delivery. In areas where thermal stimulation is beneficial, the system can deliver controlled heat at targeted depths. This mimics the rejuvenating effect of CO₂, but in a more even and controlled way, reducing surface trauma and improving recovery time.

4. Transformative Fractionation

Fractionation with UltraClear is more refined, allowing better preservation of surrounding tissue and more uniform healing. And unlike traditional fractionated lasers, it delivers visible results more akin to full-field CO₂ resurfacing without the downtime.

The Transformative Power of UltraClear’s Fractionated Laser – Enhanced by Intelligent Software

One of UltraClear’s most powerful advantages is its advanced software and treatment customisation.

The system offers an extensive range of programmable treatment options, allowing true personalisation based on:

• Skin type

• Specific skin conditions or concerns

• Depth of skin damage

• Desired downtime and recovery profile

The Clear and Clear+ modes enable safe and effective treatment across all skin types — from a light, refreshing laser peel to a deeper resurfacing treatment that mimics full-field ablation, but with fractional sparing for faster recovery.

UltraClear also allows for “drilling” into specific dermal layers, reaching down to the collagen-rich mid and deep dermis to:

• Remodel scars

• Tighten collagen and elastin

• Reverse sun-induced dermal degradation

What makes this system truly transformative is the ability to treat multiple skin levels in a single session. This enables targeting of:

• Superficial collagen layer beneath the epidermis — critical for restoring youthful skin tone and texture

• Deeper dermal layers — where sun damage, acne inflammation, or scarring often resides

I’ll use up to six or more depth levels within one treatment to deliver truly tailored results. This level of customisable, multi-depth fractionated laser delivery is a game-changer.

How does UltraClear compare to other fractional laser systems?

UltraClear stands apart due to its exceptional flexibility and precision, allowing it to address multiple skin concerns in a single treatment session. Unlike older fractional systems that often required combining multiple devices — such as picosecond lasers for pigment, non-ablative lasers for texture, and fractionated ablative lasers for resurfacing — UltraClear can do it all with one platform.

Its intelligent software allows you to tailor the depth, density, and thermal impact of each laser pass. You can deliver precise, low-heat pulses to safely treat pigment or PIH-prone skin, while using more thermally active passes to tighten crepey or lax skin. This makes multi-pass, multi-depth treatments possible without overheating or damaging tissue.

What skin concerns or patient types have you seen benefit the most from UltraClear?

For many patients, the biggest barrier to treatment is fear of pigment disturbance or prolonged recovery — UltraClear’s precision and cooling pulse delivery significantly reduce these risks, allowing us to focus on achieving optimal outcomes.

We’ve seen excellent results in:

• Prejuvenation and prevention, where UltraClear is used to stimulate collagen and enhance skin quality.

• Event preparation, offering a refined “laser peel” glow with minimal downtime.

• Early photoaging, including texture irregularities and minor acne scarring.

• Deeper wrinkles and skin laxity, especially around high-movement areas like the eyes and mouth.

• Scarring, including acne and surgical scars, where UltraClear’s controlled depth and even tissue interaction enable effective remodelling.

• Pigmentation, particularly photoaging in patients with darker skin types, where UltraClear’s reduced thermal diffusion lowers PIH risk.

• Hormonal pigmentation, where growing evidence suggests UltraClear’s collagen and vascular remodelling may help support control of resistant melasma or dermal pigment changes.

In summary, UltraClear allows us to customise treatment to the patient, not just the diagnosis, offering safe, effective outcomes across many skin concerns.

Downtime, pain, and results — UltraClear seems to tick all three boxes. How is that possible?

UltraClear changes the game by combining precision laser engineering with advanced pulse control, allowing us to tailor treatments without compromising outcomes. The “cold” erbium delivery means significantly less heat, resulting in lower discomfort than traditional erbium, CO₂, or even many non-ablative lasers — often with minimal or no anaesthesia.

Patients who’ve experienced CO₂ are pleasantly surprised by how much more comfortable UltraClear is — and with faster healing and shorter downtime, too. What’s remarkable is that none of this comes at the cost of results. In fact, UltraClear’s versatile treatment modes can be layered or combined to maximise efficacy while still maintaining a patient-friendly recovery.

You’re a renowned educator and KOL for multiple devices. What was your first thought when you tried UltraClear? (Be honest, were you skeptical at first?)

Absolutely — I was skeptical at first. On the surface, the claims sounded like classic marketing: less pain, less downtime, great results. I’d seen it all before. But as I looked deeper into the engineering and IT behind UltraClear, it became clear this wasn’t just another laser — the technology genuinely offered something new.

That’s when my perspective shifted. I started to explore how I could safely harness its full range of modes and customise treatment depth and intensity to different skin types and conditions. It wasn’t just about whether I should bring the device in — it became about how I could use it to treat patients more effectively than before. And that’s exactly what it’s done.

For the laser nerds and clinicians reading: What’s going on under the hood? How does the tech behind UltraClear differ from traditional laser systems?

Microcoring really illustrates how far the technology has come.

Mechanical microcoring always intrigued me — the concept of removing sagging or scarred skin without surgery was exciting — but early systems were messy, rigid, and limited in their application. What makes UltraClear different is the precision and control enabled by its advanced IT and laser engineering.

UltraClear’s ability to deliver exact, clean microcoring via laser — combined with the option to pre-treat the skin with a micro-laser peel and deliver topical analgesia and healing actives — transforms the treatment experience. It’s not just less invasive; it’s customisable, repeatable, and a legitimate non-surgical alternative for lifting and rejuvenation in areas like the face, neck, or eyelids.

If UltraClear were a person, how would you describe its personality?

For me, UltraClear is very much the James Bond of lasers — sleek, refined, and full of surprises under the hood. Like Bond, it keeps getting better with each iteration — same power and precision, but constantly evolving with cutting-edge technology. The lightweight handpiece and elegant design make it a pleasure to use with style, not just for patients but for clinicians too. And just like Bond, it’s built to age gracefully — delivering results now and staying relevant well into the future.

Do you see UltraClear replacing older tech, or becoming a complementary tool in a multi-modality practice?

I believe in using devices to their full serviceable lifespan — good technology should deliver value over time. That said, as laser technology evolves to address more—from skin cancer prevention to scar revision and advanced drug delivery—it’s crucial to adapt. UltraClear hasn’t replaced our existing devices, but it’s expanded what we can offer. Its safety in darker skin types, where we might have previously avoided ablative lasers, has been a game-changer.

If you could give one piece of advice to a clinician considering investing in UltraClear, what would it be?

Look beyond the specs and ask how it will fit into your patient journey. UltraClear isn’t just another fractional laser—it’s a platform that can grow with your practice. Spend time learning the different modes, because once you understand its flexibility, you’ll find it’s one of the most adaptable and patient-friendly lasers you’ve ever used.

Any advice you would like to leave us with?

One key insight: while it’s tempting to address everything in a single session, I’ve found that patients often benefit more from a series of thoughtfully tailored treatments. It’s about balancing efficacy with recovery. The skin tends to respond more favourably with repeat treatments—especially when you’re working on skin that’s already been repaired, rejuvenated, and “primed” to heal.

My advice is to layer multiple modes and strategies within each session, but don’t rush. Skin health is a lifelong journey. Tailor your approach to deliver both immediate results when needed—like for events—but also long-term improvements in skin quality, resilience, and function. Combine therapeutic treatment with long-term skin health as the true end goal.

www.kdaa.com.au