AviClear results are long-lasting, with clinical data showing continued improvement for at least two years after the final treatment session. The longest published follow-up shows a 97% reduction in inflammatory acne lesions at 24 months, and notably, skin continues to improve over that entire period rather than gradually reverting.
How AviClear Works on Oil Glands
AviClear uses a specific wavelength of laser light (1726 nm) that targets the oil-producing glands in your skin. The laser heats these glands and physically reduces their size. Smaller glands produce less of the oily substance called sebum that clogs pores and feeds acne-causing bacteria. This is why the results are durable: the treatment changes the glands themselves rather than temporarily suppressing oil with medication.
The standard protocol involves three 30-minute sessions spaced two to five weeks apart. That’s the full course. There’s no daily pill, no ongoing maintenance required in the initial treatment plan.
Results Timeline: What to Expect
Your skin won’t clear overnight. In the FDA clearance trial of 104 patients with moderate-to-severe acne, inflammatory lesions dropped by roughly 37% at four weeks after the last session and by about 50% at 12 weeks. That early improvement is meaningful, but it’s not the full picture.
What makes AviClear unusual is that the skin keeps getting better long after treatment ends. At 12 months after the final session, 92% of patients saw at least half their inflammatory acne resolved. By 24 months, that number climbed to a 97% reduction in inflammatory lesion count. This progressive improvement likely reflects the ongoing remodeling of sebaceous glands after the laser energy has done its initial work.
So the realistic timeline looks something like this: noticeable improvement within weeks, significant clearing by three to six months, and peak results around one to two years out.
Can Acne Come Back?
The two-year data is encouraging, but AviClear is still a relatively new treatment (FDA-cleared in 2022), so there isn’t published data beyond 24 months yet. The physical shrinking of sebaceous glands suggests results should be lasting, but acne is driven by multiple factors: hormones, genetics, stress, and skin bacteria all play a role. If those underlying triggers remain strong enough, some degree of recurrence is possible over time.
Dermatologists have reported strong results in women with persistent hormonal acne along the jawline and chin, including patients whose acne returned after completing a course of isotretinoin (Accutane). That’s a population where long-term control has traditionally been difficult, so sustained improvement in these patients is a promising signal for durability.
How It Compares to Accutane
Isotretinoin (Accutane) has been the gold standard for severe acne for decades. A single course often clears skin for years, though relapse is recognized and some patients need a second round. AviClear and isotretinoin work in a similar direction, both reducing oil production, but through completely different mechanisms. Isotretinoin is a systemic medication taken daily for several months that shrinks oil glands from the inside. AviClear does it externally with laser energy, without pills or the systemic side effects isotretinoin is known for (dry skin, liver monitoring, mandatory pregnancy prevention programs).
The 97% lesion reduction at two years puts AviClear in a comparable range to isotretinoin for many patients, though head-to-head trials haven’t been published. For people who can’t or don’t want to take isotretinoin, or who’ve already completed a course and are dealing with recurrence, AviClear offers a meaningfully different path to the same goal.
Side Effects and Recovery
Most side effects are short-lived. During and immediately after treatment, you can expect redness, swelling, and discomfort at the treatment site. Some patients experience temporary acne flare-ups in the weeks following a session, which can be frustrating but typically resolves as the glands begin to shrink.
Other possible side effects include temporary skin dryness, blistering, crusting, and changes in skin pigmentation (either darkening or lightening). Scarring and infection are listed as potential risks but are uncommon. There are no documented long-term adverse effects on skin texture or oil production beyond the intended reduction, though again, the treatment is still relatively new.
Most people return to normal activities the same day. The 30-minute sessions don’t require downtime the way more aggressive laser procedures do, though your skin may look flushed for a day or two afterward.