At Art of Dermatology at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, Dr. Jessica Krant offers the innovative PicoSure laser technology, which provides effective solutions for skin concerns such as brown spots and tattoos, as well as fractional skin rejuvenation through PicoSure: FOCUS™.
What is PicoSure?
PicoSure is an FDA-cleared laser treatment system known for its versatility and effectiveness. It employs ultra-short laser pulses at 755nm wavelength to target pigmented cells in the skin, making it particularly effective for both tattoo removal and the treatment of brown spots. Additionally, the PicoSure: FOCUS™ treatment is designed for fractional skin rejuvenation, often referred to as a “laser facial.”
How Does PicoSure Work?
The PicoSure system operates by emitting ultra-short bursts of energy that penetrate the skin and target specific pigmented areas. This process effectively breaks down the pigment into smaller particles that can be naturally eliminated by the body.
For tattoo removal, this means that various colors can be treated across different skin tones with fewer sessions and reduced side effects compared to traditional methods.
Benefits of PicoSure
PicoSure offers several advantages for those seeking skin rejuvenation:
- Safe and effective for all skin types
- Quick procedure with minimal downtime
- Less discomfort compared to other resurfacing treatments
- Shorter duration of redness post-treatment
- Dramatically reduces fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and skin discoloration
- This treatment improves overall skin texture while being gentler than other fractional lasers like Fraxel.
Who is a Good Candidate for PicoSure?
Both men and women who are relatively healthy and looking to address issues such as pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, or uneven skin texture are excellent candidates for PicoSure treatments.
The PicoSure Treatment Procedure
On the day of your treatment, a topical anesthetic cream may be applied, or local anesthesia may be injected to ensure your comfort and protective eyewear will be provided. After allowing the numbing agent to take effect for about 30 minutes if it is needed at all, Dr. Krant will use the PicoSure handpiece to treat the targeted areas. The duration of the treatment typically ranges from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated.
Recovery & Results
After treatment, you may experience mild redness, swelling, or discomfort. These effects usually subside within a few days. It is essential to avoid excessive sun exposure and strenuous activities during your recovery period. Results may begin to appear after about a week, with more significant improvements becoming noticeable over one to three months as collagen builds up in the treated areas or as the targeted spots are broken down and absorbed or shed. For optimal results, multiple sessions spaced one to two months apart are recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions about PicoSure
Does PicoSure Get Rid Of Red Ink?
Unfortunately, just like many laser generations before it, despite what you may read in the marketing materials, the PicoSure is not reliable for red ink tattoos. Thats not to say it cant clear SOME of them. It may. But others it really does not budge. It depends truly on exactly which red pigments were used in your ink, and how deep the ink was placed. There is also no way to know ahead of time, other than to try it, and there is no guarantee of your result.
Can PicoSure Laser be used for quicker Tattoo Removal?
Depending on the color of your tattoo, the Picosure can remove it in 1 or more treatments. 3 treatments may be accurate for certain tattoos. Whatever the case, it is doing it in 1/4 to 1/3 of the number of treatments people get trying to remove other tattoos, some of which never really fully disappear. Picosure also helps clean up the remnants of tattoos other lasers were not able to clear fully.
What is PicoSure Focus?
The PicoSure laser is a 755 nanometer laser with an alexandrite crystal. This means it has a longer wavelength than the 694 nm ruby crystal laser. They both target brown pigment, but the longer wavelength 755 nm alexandrite laser is safer for more skin types. The “pico” in the name PicoSure means that the pulse speed of the laser is measured in picoseconds, rather than the longer nanoseconds, which makes it more useful for certain purposes. PicoSure laser in general is used for sun spots, tattoo removal, and other uses. When a special “FOCUS” handpiece is used with this beam, the FOCUS laser fractionates the 755nm single beam into an even grid of small dots. This makes the laser work like a fractionated rejuvenating laser such as the popular brand Fraxel lasers, but working at a different wavelength for different skin targets.
How does PicoSure differ from traditional laser treatments?
The PicoSure laser itself is a regular true laser. There is no such thing as “traditional” laser treatments. Every laser device is different because they all use different wavelengths (so different skin targets), beam shapes, pulse lengths, and other variables. The length of time the energy comes out in the PicoSure laser is measured in picoseconds rather than nanoseconds, which makes it different from many older lasers, but this alone does not make it “better” in any way. Different pulse lengths are appropriate for different issues.
Is PicoSure safe for all skin types?
No laser is guaranteed safe for anyone. Lasers can be dangerous and should only be operated by fully trained, experienced, licensed professionals, and ideally by board-certified physicians (MDs or DOs) trained in the specific field for which they will be used (dermatologist MD or DO for skin laser, ophthalmologist MD or DO for eye laser, etc). That said, the wavelength (beam color) of the PicoSure laser can be less risky for darker skin types than other lasers often used for brown pigment spots on skin. So speak to your board-certified dermatologist about which laser is right for your skin type.
How many sessions will I need?
The number of treatment sessions that will be needed in any laser treatment is never predictable. Anyone trying to offer a prediction is just guessing, and anyone guaranteeing a number is not being honest. That said, only your board-certified dermatologist looking directly at your own skin and your own specific issue can offer a range of possibilities for your situation. There is no set number.
What areas of the body can be treated with PicoSure or PicoSure Focus?
PicoSure laser and PicoSure FOCUS can be used on any skin area depending on the situation and evaluation by your board-certified dermatologist.
How long does each session take?
This varies depending on whether the PicoSure laser handpiece is being used for a single brown spot or a large tattoo….. Or whether the PicoSure FOCUS handpiece is being used for a fractionated laser rejuvenation of the face. The treatment sessions can range from a few seconds (single spot) to a few minutes (FOCUS), to 20 to 30 minutes (large tattoo).
Does PicoSure remove brown spots?
PicoSure may remove or at least improve brown spots. But no one can guarantee permanent removal of sun-related brown spots as they do tend to recur. For the most realistic answer to this, your own board-certified dermatologist should see you personally in the office to evaluate you since underlying skin tone and exact type of brown spots affect the true answer here.
Can PicoSure remove wrinkles?
No. But the PicoSure FOCUS handpiece (the fractionated rejuvenation handpiece) can improve overall facial skin quality and gently trigger the formation of new collagen, which may over time and over several treatments improve skin texture.
Schedule A Consultation
If you’re interested in reducing brown spots or tattoos or seeking rejuvenation through PicoSure, schedule a consultation with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Krant. She will listen to your concerns and develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your needs.
