Picosecond laser · pigmentation, scarring and tone
Pico delivers energy in trillionths of a second, shattering pigment mechanically rather than heating it. That distinction matters more than the brand name, because heat is exactly what drives pigmentation to come back worse.
Assessed before it is recommended. If it is not the right treatment for you, we will say so.
Older pigment lasers work by heating pigment until it breaks apart. That works, but surrounding tissue absorbs heat too — and in skin prone to melasma or post-inflammatory pigmentation, heat is the precise trigger that makes things worse a few weeks later.
A picosecond pulse is short enough that the energy becomes a mechanical shockwave instead. Pigment fragments, the body clears it, and far less heat is transferred. That is what opened pigment treatment up to skin types previously difficult to treat safely.
It is not a universal answer. Melasma is a condition to be managed rather than cleared, and anyone promising to remove it permanently is not being straight with you.
This is the assessment that decides everything. Treat the wrong one and you pay twice.
| Type | What it is | How it behaves | Realistic outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun damage | Accumulated UV exposure — discrete brown spots and freckling | Stable, responds predictably | Typically the most responsive. Returns only with further sun exposure. |
| Melasma | Hormonally driven, symmetrical patches across cheeks, forehead, upper lip | Fluctuates; provoked by heat and UV | Managed, not cured. Conservative settings only. Aggressive laser makes it worse. |
| Post-inflammatory | Marks left after a breakout or injury | Fades on its own, slowly | Often needs the underlying acne treated first. Sometimes needs no laser at all. |
Most people arrive convinced they have one of these and turn out to have another, or two at once. That is not unusual and it is the whole reason we assess before treating.
Pigmentation and melasma · Acne scarring · Dull and tired skin
Fees depend on the area treated and how many sessions are likely to be needed. Both are confirmed in writing at your assessment, before anything is booked. We would rather quote you accurately than advertise a number that turns out not to apply to you.
If you have active melasma and want it gone permanently, no laser will do that, and an aggressive approach usually makes it worse. We treat it conservatively alongside sun protection and topical management, or we recommend against treating it for now.
Recent sun exposure, a tan, certain medications and pregnancy are all reasons to postpone rather than proceed.
All medical procedures carry risk, and individual results vary. Suitability is determined at assessment, not on the phone.
Most people describe a hot prickling sensation rather than pain. Topical anaesthetic is used where the area warrants it.
Sun damage often responds in three to five sessions. Melasma is ongoing management rather than a course with an end point. You will be given a realistic number at assessment.
Usually none in the sense of needing time off. Treated spots often darken and flake for several days, which is visible but manageable.
Sun-related pigmentation returns if sun exposure continues. Melasma is hormonally driven and recurs by nature. Neither is the treatment failing.
Picosecond technology is generally better tolerated across skin types than older pigment lasers because it transfers far less heat. Suitability is still assessed individually.
Possible, but not ideal. Results hold better when treatment is followed by a period of genuine sun avoidance.
This is the assessment that determines whether laser is the right answer at all. A lot of people are treated for the wrong condition and pay for it twice.
240 Riley St, Surry Hills · (02) 8074 1559
