Energy and light / TREATMENT GUIDE
Pigment and pico lasers
Ultra-short pulse lasers that shatter pigment into fragments small enough for the body to clear. For sun spots, some birthmarks and melasma maintenance.
- Appointment
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Typical social recovery
- Around a day
- When results may appear
- 2 to 4 weeks per session
- How long they may last
- Years for sun spots; melasma needs maintenance
- Typical course
- 2 to 6
- Relative cost
- $ · Moderate relative cost
Ranges vary by person, product, area and technique. Cost symbols are editorial comparisons—not quotes. Ask for the full course and follow-up cost.
How it works
Pulses lasting trillionths of a second break pigment with less reliance on heat than some older laser approaches. Wavelength, device, settings, skin characteristics and clinician expertise still determine risk.
Four illustrative steps. Select a step to highlight it; the optional anatomy view explains the same mechanism.
Recovery, in practical terms
Mild redness or a brief white frosting; spots darken, then flake.
What it can feel like: Mild.
What people discuss
Sun spots, freckles, some birthmarks, melasma maintenance across skin tones.
Reasons to pause
Any spot that has not been checked by a doctor.
This list is not exhaustive. A clinician must assess your health, medications, skin and goals.
Risks worth understanding
- Temporary darkening
- Rebound in melasma
- Rare lighter patches
Ask your clinician
- Has this spot been checked to rule out skin cancer?
- What settings for my skin tone?
Sources, approval context & editorial limits
Authorization is specific to the device and intended use.
Sources support regulatory and safety context; not every efficacy claim or range has been independently verified.
Educational information, not medical advice or a personal recommendation. Independent clinical review is pending. A qualified clinician must assess individual suitability. Timings, relative costs and visuals are illustrative, not guarantees.
Read the editorial policyCompare different approaches
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