PicoSure Toning and Pico Toning: What’s the Difference?

Hello. I’m Dr. Jo Won-jin, and I’ve been treating skin conditions in Hongdae for 10 years.

Is PicoSure toning more effective than pico toning?

I heard you don’t have a PicoSure device.

Would it still be okay to get treated with something else?

I get asked a lot about the difference between PicoSure toning and pico toning.

Pico toning is a method of treatment, while PicoSure is one of the devices in that category.

Pico toning is good for overall brightening and improving mild spots,

while PicoSure toning is more effective for removing deeper, darker pigmentation such as melasma, lentigines, and even tattoos.

Today, I’ll organize the differences between PicoSure toning and pico toning,

and help you figure out which one is better suited to your skin concerns.

Pictured above is the PicoSure device.

1. How does pico toning work?

Pico toning uses a pico laser that delivers energy in extremely short bursts measured in picoseconds,

and it is applied evenly across the face at low output. (The wavelength is 1064 nm.)

Rather than penetrating deeply and strongly like hair removal,

it is a method of broadly applying low energy to finely shake apart and break up only surface pigment particles.

That’s why it is effective for overall facial brightening and removing light spots.

The important thing here is that pico toning does not refer to a specific device name, but to the treatment method itself.

The brown lentigines in the photo above have been removed.

2. What’s different about PicoSure toning?

As the name suggests, PicoSure toning is a toning treatment performed with the PicoSure device.

There are many brands of pico laser devices,

and among them, PicoSure is a device that uses the 755 nm Alexandrite wavelength.

That explanation is a little difficult, isn’t it?

Simply put, it does a better job of removing darker, deeper brown or black pigmentation.

So it can be effective for cases involving lentigines, tattoos, deeper melasma, and pigmentation.

Do you want to address some darker spots in between while also improving overall tone?

Then the treatment can combine PicoSure toning’s zoom-pass function with toning mode.

In pigmentation treatment, diagnosis is more important than anything else.

If the diagnosis is wrong from the start, no matter how much you increase the output,

the energy is wasted in the wrong layer, and the improvement effect will be reduced.

3. How do you choose between PicoSure toning and pico toning?

To summarize the characteristics of the two treatments:

Category	Pico toning	PicoSure toning
Meaning	A low-output toning treatment method	Toning performed with the PicoSure device
Representative wavelength	Mainly 1064 nm	755 nm
Concerns it suits well	Spots, tone improvement, pores	Melasma, freckles, lentigines, tattoos, and other dark pigmentation
Pain	Almost none	In the zoom-pass function, which focuses on pigment removal, it may sting a bit more
Downtime	Almost none	Mild redness for half a day; depending on the type of pigmentation, scabbing may occur

In fact, even for the same melasma, some people respond better to pico toning,

while others respond better to the PicoSure device.

However, for an accurate judgment, it would be best to look at similar cases with the doctor in the clinic and decide there.

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can pigmentation become darker after treatment?

Sometimes the pigment particles broken up by the laser move up to the skin surface and may briefly look darker.

In most cases, they naturally come off and fade within a few days, so there is no need to worry too much.

Q2. How many sessions are needed to see results?

It varies depending on the type of pigmentation and skin condition, but in general, you need consistent treatment over about 5 to 10 sessions to notice a difference.

This also depends on the pigmentation, so a proper diagnosis is necessary.

If the treatment is too strong in one session, pigmentation can sometimes become darker as a rebound effect, so the energy must be adjusted carefully.

Q3. What is important after treatment?

Moisturizing and sun protection are the most important.

If you do not block sunlight properly, pigmentation can return, so for a few weeks after the procedure, you should be diligent about using sunscreen.

It needs to be reapplied several times a day.

5. Key Takeaways

• Pico toning is the name for a treatment method that uses a pico laser at low output.

• PicoSure toning refers to toning performed with the PicoSure device.

• The right wavelength differs depending on the depth and type of pigmentation you have.

If you keep repeating a method that does not suit you, the cost will add up and you may not feel much of a result.

If you have been troubled by melasma or spots for a long time, getting an accurate diagnosis first is the fastest way.

Thank you. This was Jo Won-jin.