Picosecond Laser Treatment in Singapore
Doctor-led assessment for selected pigmentation, tattoos and skin-texture concerns. The correct wavelength, energy and endpoint depend on the diagnosis, skin type, pigment depth and treatment goal.
Picosecond lasers deliver ultra-short pulses that create strong photoacoustic effects. They can be useful for selected pigmented lesions, tattoo ink and fractional texture treatment, but they are not a universal solution for every form of pigmentation.
This page is the overview. Aquila operates more than one picosecond platform, and the choice between them is a clinical decision rather than a marketing one — you can read the wavelength-specific detail on our 755 nm alexandrite and 1064/532 nm pages.
Picosecond laser at a glance
A summary of what picosecond technology is and where it fits. Every figure below is indicative and confirmed only after examination.
| What it is | A class of laser that emits pulses measured in picoseconds — trillionths of a second — roughly a thousand times shorter than traditional Q-switched nanosecond lasers |
|---|---|
| Main effect | Predominantly photoacoustic: rapid energy deposition generates pressure waves that fragment pigment, with comparatively less heat spreading into surrounding tissue |
| Wavelengths at Aquila | 755 nm alexandrite, plus 1064 nm and 532 nm. Having more than one allows the wavelength to be matched to the target |
| Two modes of use | Full-beam or flat optic when pigment itself is the target; fractional or diffractive optic when controlled micro-injury and tissue remodelling are the aim |
| Commonly considered for | Freckles and solar lentigines, Hori's macules, nevus of Ota, selected post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, tattoo ink, atrophic acne scars and skin texture |
| Requires caution in | Unstable melasma, recently tanned skin, darker Fitzpatrick phototypes, undiagnosed pigmented lesions and cosmetic or permanent-makeup tattoos |
| Anaesthesia | Often none for small pigment work. Topical anaesthetic or cooling for tattoo removal and fractional treatment |
| Typical downtime | Hours to a few days. Treated spots commonly darken and crust before clearing |
| Sessions | Not fixed. A superficial lentigo, dermal pigment, a professional tattoo and a fractional scar course all follow different timelines |
| Where | Aquila Medical Center, 160 Robinson Road, #05-01 SBF Centre Medical Suites, Singapore 068914 |
Why diagnosis matters before pico laser
“Pigmentation” is not one diagnosis. Freckles, solar lentigines, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, Hori's macules, nevus of Ota and tattoo pigment behave differently. A treatment that is suitable for one may be ineffective or unnecessarily inflammatory for another.
Assessment should consider the pattern and likely depth of pigment, Fitzpatrick skin type, recent sun exposure, medications, previous laser history, active dermatitis or acne and the tendency to develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Suspicious or changing pigmented lesions should be medically assessed rather than cosmetically lasered.
Depth is the variable that changes everything. Epidermal pigment sits within reach of shorter wavelengths and generally clears faster. Dermal pigment needs energy to penetrate further and typically requires a longer course with a different endpoint. Mixed epidermal and dermal patterns — which melasma frequently is — behave least predictably, because clearing the superficial component can leave the deeper component untouched and the overall appearance only partly improved.
Singapore skin consideration: many patients have Fitzpatrick skin types III–V. Higher epidermal melanin can increase the risk of unwanted pigment change when shorter wavelengths or aggressive settings are used.
Discrete brown spots
Selected freckles and solar lentigines may respond to pigment-targeting wavelengths, although new lesions can develop with continued UV exposure.
Dermal pigmentation
Hori's macules and nevus of Ota may require deeper-penetrating wavelengths and usually need multiple sessions.
Melasma and PIH
Laser is not automatically first-line. Both conditions can worsen after inflammation or overly aggressive cumulative treatment.
Raised lesions
Seborrhoeic keratoses are thickened growths rather than flat pigment. They are among the commonest lesions mistaken for age spots and generally need a different approach.
Drug and product-related pigment
Certain medications, and long-term use of some skin-lightening products, can produce pigmentation that behaves quite differently under laser. A full history is part of the assessment.
Redness, not brown
Post-acne erythema and visible vessels are vascular rather than pigmentary. A pigment-selective laser is the wrong instrument; vascular laser or broadband light is the relevant discussion.
How picosecond lasers work
Picosecond devices deliver pulses measured in trillionths of a second. For suitable pigment and tattoo particles, rapid energy deposition produces a photoacoustic or photomechanical effect that fragments susceptible targets. The resulting particles are gradually processed by the body over time.
The underlying principle is selective photothermolysis, described by Anderson and Parrish in 1983: if a pulse of light is absorbed preferentially by a target and delivered faster than that target can shed heat, damage stays confined to it and surrounding tissue is comparatively spared. The relevant benchmark is thermal relaxation time — roughly how long a structure takes to lose half its heat. Melanosomes and ink particles are extremely small, so their thermal relaxation time is very short, which is why sub-microsecond pulses have always been the right tool for pigment.
What changes when moving from nanoseconds to picoseconds is the balance between mechanical and thermal effect. Shorter pulses concentrate more energy into pressure waves that shatter pigment, and less into heat that diffuses outward. In principle this should mean smaller fragments, more efficient clearance and less collateral thermal injury, which is the basis for the lower rates of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation reported in some Asian comparative studies. It is a real advantage, but a difference of degree rather than a different category of safety.
Fractional picosecond handpieces use concentrated microscopic treatment zones to create a controlled tissue response for selected acne-scar and texture concerns. Instead of delivering energy evenly across the spot, a diffractive optic produces focal areas of very high intensity that can create laser-induced optical breakdown and a wound-healing response, while the surrounding skin is comparatively unaffected. This is not the same treatment as targeting a discrete brown spot or tattoo.
Short pulse duration does not mean zero heat, zero discomfort or zero risk. Temporary redness, swelling, crusting, darkening, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation can occur; scarring is uncommon but possible.
755 nm, 532 nm and 1064 nm
755 nm Alexandrite
Strong melanin absorption makes 755 nm useful for selected epidermal and dermal pigmented lesions and some tattoo colours. In darker skin, parameters must be chosen carefully because epidermal melanin also absorbs this wavelength.
532 nm
A shorter wavelength used for selected superficial red, orange and brown tattoo pigments and superficial epidermal pigmentation. Conservative use is important in darker skin.
1064 nm Nd:YAG
Deeper penetration and lower melanin absorption than shorter wavelengths make 1064 nm important for black or dark tattoo ink and selected dermal pigmentation.
| Factor | 755 nm | 1064 nm | 532 nm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melanin absorption | High | Lowest of the three | Very high |
| Depth of penetration | Intermediate | Deepest | Most superficial |
| Typical pigment use | Lentigines, freckles, dermal melanocytosis | Dermal pigment where epidermal competition is a concern | Superficial epidermal pigment |
| Typical tattoo colours | Black, blue, green | Black and dark inks | Red, orange and warm tones |
| Darker phototypes | Usable with conservative settings; melanin competition is a real constraint | Generally the widest safety margin for suitable targets | Requires the most caution |
No single wavelength is best for every patient. Choice depends on pigment colour, depth, skin tone, indication and previous response. The practical advantage of a clinic holding more than one platform is not that any single machine is superior, but that the target does not have to be forced onto whichever device happens to be available.
Conditions that may be considered
| Concern | Possible role of pico laser | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Freckles / solar lentigines | Selected discrete lesions can respond to pigment-targeting treatment. | Sun protection remains essential and new lesions can form. |
| Hori's macules / nevus of Ota | Appropriate wavelengths can target deeper pigment over a course. | Multiple sessions and gradual change are typical. |
| Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation | Selected cases may be considered after the underlying inflammation is controlled. | Laser itself can provoke additional PIH. |
| Melasma | May be used selectively as part of a broader plan. | Melasma is recurrent and may worsen with excessive laser exposure. Topical therapy can outperform laser monotherapy. |
| Tattoos | Picosecond treatment can fragment selected ink colours. | Clearance varies by colour, depth, density and ink chemistry. |
| Atrophic acne scars / texture | Fractional pico may improve selected scars and texture. | Scar subtype may require subcision, RF microneedling, resurfacing or TCA CROSS. |
| Enlarged pores | Fractional treatment may improve their appearance as part of a broader plan. | Pores cannot be permanently closed, and sebum and laxity often matter more than collagen. |
| Undiagnosed or changing lesion | None until a diagnosis is established. | Treating an undiagnosed lesion removes pigment without addressing pathology and complicates later assessment. |
| Facial redness or vessels | Not an indication. | Vascular laser or broadband light targets haemoglobin and is the appropriate technology. |
Tattoo removal and cosmetic tattoo caution
Tattoo clearance is influenced by ink colour, depth, density, professional versus amateur placement, previous treatment and individual immune response. Black and dark blue inks usually behave differently from green, turquoise, yellow, red or white pigments, so multiple wavelengths may be required.
Laser fragments only part of the visible pigment at each session, and the body then clears some of those fragments over the following weeks. This is why tattoo removal is inherently a long course rather than a single procedure, and why intervals between sessions matter as much as the treatment itself.
Location influences clearance too. Tattoos on the trunk and upper limbs generally respond more readily than those on the lower legs, ankles and feet, where lymphatic clearance is slower. Amateur tattoos are often shallower and less densely packed than professional work, and layered cover-up tattoos contain more pigment at varying depths.
Cosmetic tattoos deserve extra caution. Some eyebrow, lip and skin-coloured pigments contain iron oxide or titanium compounds that may darken after laser exposure. A test spot may be appropriate when the composition is uncertain. Tell the doctor if what looks like a brown patch is in fact permanent makeup.
Complete clearance cannot be guaranteed. Resistant residual pigment, colour shift, textural change and pigmentary alteration are possible.
Picosecond treatment for acne scars and texture
Fractional picosecond treatment can be considered for selected atrophic acne scars and uneven texture. The aim is not simply to use higher energy. Fractional optics create microscopic treatment zones while leaving intervening skin relatively intact.
Acne scars are heterogeneous. Rolling scars may respond better to subcision; deep ice-pick scars may need TCA CROSS or focal procedures; broader textural irregularity may respond to fractional energy devices. Combination treatment is often more logical than relying on one device for every scar subtype.
Active acne should be controlled before scar work begins. Treating across inflamed lesions raises the pigmentary risk of every session and, more importantly, allows new scars to form while existing ones are being remodelled. Settling the acne first almost always produces a better twelve-month result than pressing ahead.
Collagen remodelling is also slow. Meaningful textural change emerges over weeks to months after a series rather than immediately, so assessing a fractional course after one session tends to produce a falsely pessimistic conclusion.
What to expect after treatment
During treatment
Sensation varies with wavelength, fluence, spot size and indication. Patients may feel snapping, heat or stinging. Cooling or topical anaesthesia may be used depending on the treatment.
Immediately afterwards
Redness and swelling are common. Treated pigmented spots may temporarily darken or crust. Tattoo sites can develop whitening or swelling depending on the endpoint.
Aftercare
Use gentle skincare, avoid picking or scrubbing and maintain strict sun protection. Contact the clinic if there is increasing pain, blistering, marked swelling, discharge or other concerning change.
| Period | What is typical | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| First few hours | Redness, mild swelling and warmth. Treated pigment may look temporarily grey or white. | Cool compresses and a bland emollient. Avoid heat and vigorous exercise. |
| Days 1–3 | Pigmented lesions typically darken. Tattoo sites may swell, weep slightly or blister. | Do not pick or scrub. Keep the area clean and protected. |
| Days 4–10 | Crusts lift on their own, revealing pink skin underneath. | Strict sun protection. Premature crust removal is the commonest avoidable cause of scarring. |
| Weeks 2–6 | Any post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation would typically appear in this window. | Report darkening early rather than waiting for the next appointment. |
| Weeks 6–12 | Fractional texture work continues to remodel; tattoo fragments continue to clear. | Assessment under matched lighting before deciding on the next session. |
The number of sessions cannot be predicted from one universal formula. It depends on the condition, wavelength, treatment endpoint, degree of improvement sought and previous response.
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is not optional in Singapore's year-round ultraviolet conditions. Unprotected exposure in the weeks after treatment is one of the more common avoidable causes of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and for melasma patients, tinted or iron-oxide-containing sunscreens are often preferred because visible light also contributes.
Frequently asked questions
Is pico laser safe for darker Asian skin?
Picosecond technology can be used in darker skin, but safety depends on wavelength, fluence, spot size, diagnosis and operator judgement. Darker skin can be more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, so conservative parameters are important.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no universal number. A discrete lentigo behaves differently from dermal pigmentation, melasma, a multicoloured tattoo or acne scarring. Treatment is adjusted according to response.
Can pico laser permanently remove pigmentation?
Some treated lesions may clear well, but recurrence or new pigmentation can occur because of sun exposure, hormones, inflammation or the underlying condition. Melasma is especially prone to recurrence.
Can cosmetic eyebrow tattoos be removed?
They can sometimes be treated, but pigment composition matters. Iron oxide or titanium-containing pigments may darken after laser exposure, so test spots and staged treatment may be appropriate.
What is the difference between picosecond and Q-switched lasers?
Pulse duration. Q-switched lasers emit in nanoseconds; picosecond lasers emit roughly a thousand times faster. Shorter pulses shift the balance from thermal to photoacoustic effect, which comparative studies have associated with efficient pigment fragmentation and, in some Asian cohorts, lower rates of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Does pico laser hurt?
Most patients describe a brief snapping sensation like an elastic band, with a sense of heat. Small pigment treatments are usually tolerated without anaesthesia, while tattoo removal and fractional treatment are more uncomfortable and may use topical anaesthetic or cooling.
Will the treated spot get darker before it clears?
Frequently, yes, and this is expected. Epidermal pigmented lesions commonly darken and form a fine crust in the days after treatment before lifting on their own. Picking at that crust is the main avoidable cause of scarring.
Which pico laser is best for me?
That depends on what is being treated, not on which device sounds most advanced. Pigment colour, depth, your skin type and previous response determine the wavelength. This is decided at examination rather than at booking.
Can pico laser treat melasma?
It may be used selectively as part of a broader plan, but it should never be presented as a cure. Randomised evidence and meta-analysis show established topical therapy can outperform laser monotherapy, so photoprotection, trigger control and topical treatment remain central.
How long should I wait between sessions?
Intervals are individualised. In pigment-prone skin longer intervals are often safer, because pushing sessions closer together increases inflammation without necessarily improving clearance.
Can I wear makeup afterwards?
Usually once any crusting has settled, with exact timing depending on the treatment and area. Mineral makeup over intact skin is generally reintroduced earlier than products applied over broken or crusted skin.
Can I have pico laser if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Elective cosmetic laser is usually deferred during pregnancy. Pigmentation is unstable in pregnancy and treating it then rarely produces a stable result. Breastfeeding is generally less restrictive but should be discussed.
Is a test spot necessary?
Not for everyone, but it is reasonable where the phototype is darker, the diagnosis carries uncertainty, the tattoo may contain cosmetic pigment, or there is a history of an adverse response to previous laser.
Does pico laser remove freckles permanently?
It can clear existing freckles in appropriately selected patients, but it does not change the underlying tendency to form them. New freckles develop with ongoing ultraviolet exposure, so sun protection determines how long the result lasts.
Can I combine pico laser with other treatments?
Often, yes. Pigment and texture plans commonly combine laser with topical therapy, and sometimes with other devices at separate visits. Sequencing and interval matter so that inflammation from one treatment does not compromise the next.
What should I avoid before treatment?
Deliberate tanning and unnecessary irritation of the area. Continue sunscreen, do not stop prescription medication on your own, and bring a full list of medications and supplements, since some affect photosensitivity or bleeding.
Are the results permanent for tattoos?
Ink that is successfully cleared does not return, but complete clearance cannot be guaranteed for every tattoo. Residual pigment, colour shift or textural change may remain even after a full course.
Why do pico laser prices vary so much between clinics?
Because the term covers very different devices, wavelengths, treated areas and session counts. Ask which specific platform and wavelength will be used, what area is included and what the full course is likely to cost.
Is pico laser claimable under MediSave or insurance in Singapore?
Treatment performed for cosmetic indications is generally not claimable under MediSave or most private insurance policies. Where a lesion is treated for a medical reason, check directly with your insurer.
Where is Aquila Medical Center?
Aquila Medical Center is at 160 Robinson Road, #05-01 SBF Centre Medical Suites, Singapore 068914, in the Singapore CBD, a short walk from Tanjong Pagar, Shenton Way and Telok Ayer MRT stations.
Scientific references & further reading
- Anderson RR, Parrish JA. Selective photothermolysis: precise microsurgery by selective absorption of pulsed radiation. Science. 1983;220:524–527. Science
- Wu DC, Goldman MP, Wat H, Chan HHL. A systematic review of picosecond laser in dermatology: evidence and recommendations. Lasers Surg Med. 2021. PubMed
- Torbeck RL, et al. Evolution of the picosecond laser: a review of literature. Dermatol Surg. 2019. PubMed
- Picosecond lasers in cosmetic dermatology: an overview of types and indications. 2024. PubMed
- Comparative appraisal with meta-analysis of picosecond versus nanosecond lasers for hyperpigmented disorders and tattoos. 2025. PubMed
- Saedi N, et al. Treatment of tattoos with a picosecond alexandrite laser: a prospective trial. Arch Dermatol. 2012. PubMed
- Reiter O, et al. Picosecond lasers for tattoo removal: a systematic review. PubMed
- McIlwee BE, Alster TS. Treatment of cosmetic tattoos: a review and case analysis. Dermatol Surg. 2018. PubMed
- Treatment of laser-responsive dermal pigmentary conditions in type III–IV Asian skin with a 755-nm picosecond laser: Singapore National Skin Centre review. PubMed
- Lee YJ, et al. Treatment of melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation by a picosecond 755-nm alexandrite laser in Asian patients. PubMed
- Manuskiatti W, et al. Prospective split-face randomized study of 755-nm picosecond laser with and without diffractive lens array for melasma in Asians. PubMed
- Assessing safety and efficacy of picosecond alexandrite lasers in melasma: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. 2026. PubMed
- Noninvasive atrophic acne scar treatment in Asians with a 755-nm picosecond laser using a diffractive optic lens. PubMed
- Fractional picosecond laser for atrophic acne scars: a meta-analysis. 2023. PubMed
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation: a systematic review of treatment outcomes. PubMed
- American Academy of Dermatology. Melasma: diagnosis and treatment. AAD
This page provides general educational information and does not replace an individual medical consultation. Laser suitability, parameters, expected results and risks depend on diagnosis, skin type, target depth and clinical assessment. Results vary between individuals and no outcome can be guaranteed. Content reviewed by the medical team at Aquila Medical Center, Singapore. Last reviewed: 25 August 2026.
Doctor-led pico laser assessment in Singapore
For pigmentation, tattoos and acne scars, the device is only one part of the decision. Diagnosis, skin type, wavelength selection and treatment endpoint determine whether laser is appropriate and how conservatively it should be used.
Aquila Medical Center is located at 160 Robinson Road, #05-01 SBF Centre Medical Suites, Singapore 068914, a short walk from Tanjong Pagar, Shenton Way and Telok Ayer MRT stations. Where laser is not the right answer for your diagnosis, we will tell you that.