Laser & Energy-Based Devices
Pico Laser in Miami: Picosecond Precision for Pigment, Melasma and Tone
Picosecond laser — ultra-short pulses measured in trillionths of a second
Pico is what happens when a laser pulse gets so short it stops burning and starts shattering. Firing in picoseconds — trillionths of a second — the Pico laser hits pigment with a pressure wave rather than heat, fragmenting sun spots, post-acne marks and melasma into particles the body can clear, with far less heat left behind in the surrounding skin. That is why it is the pigment laser we trust on every skin tone, and why its fractional mode can refine pores, fine lines and acne scars with little or no downtime. Performed by licensed medical providers under medical director oversight. Individual results vary.
$50 deposit, applied to your treatment
★ Google 4.9 · Licensed medical providers · Medical director oversight · Consultation before every treatment
Pico Laser
Why people choose it
Chosen for your skin
Every skin tone
the 1064 nm picosecond setting is our workhorse for pigment in Fitzpatrick IV–VI, where IPL is off the table.
Melasma, handled carefully
low-energy "Pico toning" series paired with a topical plan is one of the few laser approaches with real evidence for melasma.
Pressure, not heat
photoacoustic fragmentation means less inflammation, which means less risk of the rebound darkening older lasers caused.
More than pigment
the fractional handpiece creates microscopic zones of renewal beneath an intact surface for pores, texture, fine lines and acne scars.
What it treats
The concerns we start with
Sun spots & age spots
face, chest, hands.
Freckles
lightens and evens.
Melasma
as part of a managed plan with topicals and strict SPF.
Post-inflammatory marks
the dark spots acne, waxing or injury leave behind, especially in deeper skin tones.
Uneven tone & dullness
overall brightening ("Pico toning").
Enlarged pores
fractional mode refines pore appearance.
Fine lines
fractional remodeling around the eyes and mouth.
Acne scars
shallow rolling and boxcar scars over a series.
Birthmarks & stubborn pigment
nevus of Ota and similar dermal pigment, assessed at consultation.
Tattoos
see Tattoo Laser Removal.
The technology
The right energy, precisely placed
Conventional pigment lasers fire in nanoseconds and rely on heat; a picosecond pulse is up to a hundred times shorter, so the energy arrives faster than the pigment can heat up and creates a photoacoustic shock that shatters it into fine fragments. Those fragments are cleared by the immune system over weeks. Different wavelengths reach different targets: 532 nm for superficial brown spots and red ink, 755 nm for melanin-rich pigment, 1064 nm for deeper pigment, melasma and all skin tones. With a fractional lens array the beam is focused into hundreds of micro-spots that create tiny pockets of controlled injury within the skin — "laser-induced optical breakdown" — while leaving the surface intact, triggering new collagen and elastin.
Picosecond lasers are FDA-cleared for tattoo removal, benign pigmented lesions and — with fractional handpieces — acne scars and wrinkles; melasma clearances vary by device and setting, and we treat melasma as a managed program rather than a one-time fix.
- Pulse
- Picosecond (trillionths of a second), photoacoustic
- Wavelengths
- 1064 nm and 532 nm; additional wavelengths depending on configuration
- Modes
- Full-beam for pigment · low-energy toning · fractional for texture
- Treatment time
- 10–20 minutes per face
- Skin tones
- All, with wavelength and energy chosen per skin type
- Face
- Neck
- Chest
- Hands
- Arms
- Shoulders
Who it's for
A good fit starts with an assessment
Good for
- Discrete sun spots and freckles in any skin tone.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and uneven tone in deeper skin tones.
- Melasma patients ready to commit to topicals, SPF and maintenance.
- Early texture, pores, fine lines and shallow acne scars with minimal downtime.
Not for
- Active tan or recent self-tanner (blistering risk) — wait 2–4 weeks.
- Pregnancy, isotretinoin within 6 months, active infection, keloid tendency, photosensitizing medications.
- Significant redness or vessels (Lumecca or Laser Genesis) or deep wrinkles and scars (CO2 or Morpheus8).
- Anyone expecting melasma to be "cured" — it is controlled, not cured.
Your treatment plan
A plan, not a one-size-fits-all session
- 01
Spots and freckles
1–3 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart.
- 02
Tone, pores, fine lines and scars (fractional)
3–5 sessions, about 4 weeks apart.
- 03
Melasma
a low-energy toning series every 2–4 weeks with a topical plan, then maintenance.
- 04
Comfort
10–20 minutes; topical numbing optional for fractional sessions.
What to expect
Before, during and after
before
- No sun or self-tanner for 2–4 weeks; stop retinoids and acids 5–7 days before; melasma patients start their topical plan 2–4 weeks ahead.
during
- Quick snaps like a rubber band; spots whiten ("frost") immediately. Fractional passes feel warm and prickly. 10–20 minutes.
after
- Spots darken and flake over 5–10 days. Fractional sessions leave mild redness for a few hours to a day, occasionally tiny pinpoint marks.
Downtime & healing
Your recovery, day by day
Day 0
Mild redness; treated spots look darker.
Day 2–5
Spots peppery and dry; gentle care, no picking.
Day 5–10
Flaking finishes; spots lighter.
Week 2–4
Brighter, more even tone.
Month 3–6
Collagen gains from fractional sessions settle in.
Aftercare
Care that carries the result
- Gentle cleanser, bland moisturizer, mineral SPF 30+ reapplied through the day.
- No retinoids, acids or exfoliation for a week; no heat, sweat or sun for 48–72 hours.
- Do not pick darkened spots; antihistamine for itch if needed.
- Melasma patients continue their brightening topicals once healed.
Results
Change, on your timeline
- Spots visibly lighter in 2–4 weeks; tone and texture improve across the series and continue for 3–6 months as collagen remodels.
- Pigment results last as long as sun and hormones allow — yearly maintenance is typical in Miami; melasma requires ongoing topical care and periodic toning.
- Individual results vary.
Risks & safety
An honest conversation first
- Expected: redness, darkening and flaking of treated spots, mild swelling.
- Possible: temporary hyper- or hypopigmentation (lower than heat-based lasers, still higher in deeper skin tones without correct settings), pinpoint bleeding or purpura after fractional passes, melasma flare if sun protection lapses.
- Uncommon: blistering, crusting, textural change — minimized by conservative energy and test spots.
Why No Filter
Over-qualified for this. On purpose.
Licensed medical providers only
Every laser and energy treatment here is performed by a licensed medical provider, trained and certified on the specific platform, never by an unsupervised technician.
Medical director oversight
Dr. Vania Fernandez oversees protocols, settings and candidacy for every device on this page.
Settings built for Miami skin
Sun exposure and a wide range of skin tones are the rule here, not the exception; we choose the wavelength and energy for your skin, and we will say no when a device is not right for you.
Consultation first, always
A face-to-face assessment, a written plan and clear pricing before any energy touches your skin.
Compare
Different devices. Different jobs.
| Device | Best for | Sessions | Downtime | Skin / comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pico Laser | Pigment, melasma, PIH, tone in all skin tones | 1–5 sessions | 0–3 days | I–VI |
| Lumecca IPL | Discrete spots + visible vessels | 1–3 sessions | 0 days | I–III |
| SpectraionX 1927 | Diffuse sun damage + texture | 1–3 sessions | 1–3 days | I–IV |
| CoolPeel | Surface resurfacing, fine lines, pores | 3–4 sessions | 1–3 days | I–IV |
Pricing
Clear pricing before treatment
Pricing confirmed at consultation
$50 deposit, applied to your treatment
FAQs
Your questions, answered
Yes — it is the pigment laser we choose for Fitzpatrick IV–VI. The 1064 nm picosecond setting barely heats the surrounding skin, which is what keeps post-inflammatory darkening risk low.
IPL (Lumecca) is ideal for discrete spots plus redness in lighter skin. Pico is better for deeper skin tones, melasma, post-inflammatory marks and stubborn pigment, and it adds texture benefits in fractional mode.
One to three for spots, three to five for tone, pores and scars, about a month apart; melasma is a toning series every two to four weeks plus maintenance.
Quick snaps like a rubber band for pigment; warm prickling for fractional passes. Most patients skip numbing; topical is available.
Yes — spots darken and look peppery for several days, then flake off and reveal lighter skin underneath.
Yes, as part of a managed plan: low-energy Pico toning plus brightening topicals and strict SPF. Melasma is controlled, not cured, and we will be honest about maintenance.
Sun and self-tanner for 2–4 weeks before, retinoids and acids for a week either side, heat and sweat for 48–72 hours after, and picking.
Treated spots do not return, but new sun damage can; most patients maintain yearly. Collagen gains from fractional sessions last months to years.