Picosecond Laser (Discovery PICO)

A picosecond pulse is measured in trillionths of a second — orders of magnitude shorter than the nanosecond pulses used by older pigment lasers. At that speed the energy acts largely as a photomechanical shock, shattering pigment particles into fragments small enough for the body to clear.

Because far less of the energy turns into heat, the surrounding skin absorbs less thermal load than with longer pulses. That thermal load is one of the things your doctor weighs against your skin type at assessment.

We use the laser for three things: pigment that sits as defined marks, tone that reads unevenly across the whole face, and texture. The first two are treated with the standard pigment setting. Texture is where the fractional handpiece comes in — it concentrates the same energy into an array of tiny high-energy points and works the skin as a surface rather than targeting one mark.

The two settings are not interchangeable and they do not carry the same recovery: the fractional setting is the more intensive of the two, and redness of around five to seven days is normal after it. Which one your plan uses is decided at assessment, and we tell you before the day rather than on it.

• Doctor's assessment — Sun spots, melasma and post-acne inflammation marks look alike but behave differently — treating the wrong one the wrong way is how pigmentation gets worse.
• Visia skin analysis — Different light modes and filters to identify the different pigments underneath your skin.
• Treatment — Performed by the doctor. Numbing cream will be applied prior to treatment.
• Aftercare — Spots often look darker for several days before they clear. Sunscreen and UV protection are crucial following treatment.

• The fractional setting has real downtime. Redness of roughly five to seven days is normal, not a complication — plan around events.
• Pigment often looks darker before it clears. Spots can appear more obvious for several days as the fragments work their way out.
• Strict sun protection afterwards is not optional. Sun exposure on treated skin is the most common reason pigmentation returns.
• Melasma behaves differently from sun spots and can worsen with aggressive treatment. If you have it, we plan conservatively and treat it as something to manage over time rather than something to clear.
• One session is not the treatment. Pigment is worked through across a course, and skin that has had years of sun exposure does not reverse in a single visit.

Courses are commonly planned in fives, around three weeks apart. Where the pigment is the kind that needs extended management rather than a short clearing course — melasma usually falls into that group — further courses are planned as we go rather than a single fixed run.

That is a starting structure, not a promise. How your skin responds changes the plan, and we would rather revise it with you than hold you to a number set on the first day.

Most people describe a rapid flicking or snapping sensation. The standard pigment setting is generally well tolerated; the fractional setting is stronger and topical numbing is usually used.

The doctor. This treatment is not delegated here — the person who assesses your pigment is the person who sets the parameters and holds the handpiece.

Some treatments may be delegated to trained therapists working under the doctor's direction; others are doctor-performed. We tell you which applies to your plan before you book.

Your consultation will determine this. Skin type, medical history, medications and the changes you would like to see all affect which treatment is appropriate, and whether any treatment is suitable at all.

If a treatment isn't suitable for you, you'll be informed.

Your first visit includes a consultation where the doctor examines your skin and determines if this treatment is suitable for you before proceeding with any procedures. You don’t need to book the consultation separately.

If you prefer to come in solely for an assessment, our consultation charge is $80. However, if you decide to proceed with treatment on the same day, this fee will be waived.

The doctor will examine your skin, take your medical history and give you a detailed account of your skin condition, which may differ from your initial expectations.

You leave with a written plan and the associated costs. If a treatment isn’t suitable for you, you’ll be informed of that instead.

There’s no same-day price or deadline attached to the plan. Prices don’t change based on when you decide.

The plan is yours to keep. If you’d like more time to consider or make comparisons, that’s perfectly fine. We respect every customer’s decisions.