Discovery PICO fades melasma, freckles and dark spots by shattering pigment with picosecond pulses. Its 532 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths treat superficial and deeper pigmentation separately. Numbing cream is applied before treatment, and you can return to your routine afterward.
Melasma and freckles sit at different depths. We choose a wavelength for each type of pigment.
Dr. Soyoun Koo Discovery PICO medical commentary for the pressNumbing cream
Return to your routine immediately
Also treats acne scars and enlarged pores
Break down pigment
in picoseconds with targeted
laser pulses
Discovery PICO is a picosecond pigment laser from Quanta System in Italy. It delivers pulses a thousand times shorter than a nanosecond, creating a brief mechanical impact on pigment particles. This breaks them into smaller fragments while limiting heat damage to surrounding tissue.
It uses two wavelengths. The 532 nm wavelength targets superficial freckles and dark spots; 1064 nm targets deeper pigment and, at low energy, melasma. When the same device focuses energy within the dermis, it stimulates new collagen, so it can also treat acne scars and enlarged pores.
Gradually fades widespread melasma over multiple sessions. Repeated low-energy 1064 nm pulses reduce pigment while limiting heat irritation.
Fades freckles on the nose and cheeks and scattered facial dark spots. The 532 nm wavelength targets pigment near the skin's surface.
Brightens dull skin. Adding the 532 nm wavelength allows treatment of a wider range of pigmentation than toning with 1064 nm alone.
Treats deep pigmentation around the eyes and cheekbones associated with nevus of Ota. The 1064 nm wavelength reaches pigment within the dermis.
Fades brown marks left after acne has settled. Delivering energy with less irritation to the epidermis helps reduce the risk of new pigmentation after treatment.
Focusing energy within the dermis stimulates new collagen to soften indented scars and reduce the appearance of enlarged pores. The treatment is also used for scars from injuries, surgery and burns.
Pico Laser results depend on how treatment is planned and performed. We take time with every patient. A doctor handles your consultation and performs your treatment personally.
Quanta System, the Italian developer of Discovery PICO, has consistently chosen our doctors as its first partners in Korea. Dong-An Joongsim Clinic was the first Korean clinic to introduce Discovery PICO.
Dr. Chang-Hwan Cho and Dr. Soyoun Koo were invited as Korean key doctors to Quanta System's 30th anniversary celebration.
Dr. Chang-Hwan Cho has taught doctors about Quanta's Quattro Beam pigment laser at conferences. At a Quattro Beam seminar hosted by our clinic, he received a Best Speaker plaque from Quanta's Zoran Latinovic and Luca Cemi.
Dr. Soyoun Koo provided commentary to the Geumgang Ilbo on using Discovery PICO toning to treat dark spots, age spots and tattoos.
Quanta's head of Asia visited our clinic to discuss clinical experience with Discovery PICO and fractional picosecond lasers. Dr. Chang-Hwan Cho also serves as an advisor to Quanta & DEKA Korea.
Your doctor first distinguishes melasma, freckles and lentigines. Each type is assessed separately to decide whether pico toning, Reepot, HALO or BBL Forever is the better choice.
My makeup goes on a little more evenly
Marks on my cheeks still bothered me after my acne had cleared, so I tried a pico laser. After the numbing cream, it felt like a small rubber band snapping against my skin. I had redness and swelling afterward. The difference in photos was small, but my makeup went on a little more evenly.
My scars look less deep
I tried pico laser treatment for indented acne scars and noticeable pores. My face was red afterward, and I received soothing aftercare. As my skin healed, some scars looked less deep than before. I'm keeping an eye on those small changes in texture.
My skin feels a little smoother
I chose a pico laser to treat acne marks on my cheeks. I was nervous because it was my first time, but after they explained the process and applied numbing cream, the sensation was more manageable than I'd expected. There wasn't a dramatic visible change, but my skin did feel a little smoother.
I'm wearing a little less makeup
I'd tried changing skincare products for my pores without much success, so I had pico laser treatment. There was redness afterward, and once it settled, my pores looked less noticeable than before. What I liked most was being able to wear a little less makeup instead of covering up with a thick layer.
The two methods differ in pulse duration and the wavelengths available.
| Method | Pulse duration | Wavelength | How pigment is broken down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laser toning | Nanoseconds: one billionth of a second | Usually 1064 nm | Gradual breakdown through mild heat and mechanical impact |
| Discovery PICO | Picoseconds: one trillionth of a second | 532nm · 1064nm | Brief mechanical impact creates finer fragments |
How does a pico laser break down pigment? Treatment works in four stages. Your doctor, experienced in hosting Quanta laser seminars, selects wavelengths and energy according to the pigment's type and depth.
532 nm for superficial pigment; 1064 nm for deeper pigment and melasma.
Energy is delivered in an extremely brief pulse before heat can spread to surrounding tissue.
The brief mechanical impact breaks pigment particles into smaller fragments.
The fragmented pigment gradually fades, leaving a clearer skin tone.
Compare treatments for melasma, freckles and dark spots side by side. Light-based options include M22. The right choice varies from person to person, so your doctor will help you decide at your consultation.
| Treatment | Results | Duration | Comfort | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pico Laser | Gradual improvement | Lasts 6 months or more | Mild discomfort | No downtime |
| Reepot | Visible right away | Lasts 12 months or more | Mild discomfort | 14 days of downtime |
| BBL | Gradual improvement | Lasts around 6 months | Minimal | No downtime |
| HALO | Gradual improvement | Lasts around 6 months | Mild discomfort | Usually settled by the next day |
Patients whose lentigines showed moderate or greater improvement
20 Asian patients; a different 532 nm pico device targeted individual lentigines, rather than toning; assessed 12 weeks after up to 3 sessions
Chan et al., Lasers Surg Med 2019 ↗Improvement in the melanin index of lentigines
Same study, measured 12 weeks after the final session
Chan et al., Lasers Surg Med 2019 ↗Risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
Acne scar treatment, compared with other fractional lasers
Li et al., J Cosmet Dermatol 2023 ↗From actors preparing for filming to patients planning a wedding or presentation, many people visit us ahead of an important date. Your doctor plans the timing and combination of treatments around your facial features and schedule.
If your event is tomorrow
Pico toning has no downtime and can be performed close to an event, but results develop gradually. If your event is tomorrow, your doctor may combine it with a treatment that gives more immediate results.
If your event is a month away
We work backward from your event date to plan a course of pico laser sessions. Our broad range of devices lets us choose a combination that suits your face.
Your doctor handles both your consultation and treatment. A patient coordinator can help with pricing.
Your doctor examines the type and depth of pigmentation.
After cleansing, numbing cream helps reduce stinging.
Picosecond pulses are delivered at the wavelength selected for the pigment's depth.
Aftercare soothes the treated skin and supports recovery.
After sunscreen is applied, you can return to your usual routine.
Manufacturer visits, seminars and medical commentary for the press.
Well-defined lentigines and age spots are treated first with Reepot. One month after the DuoDERM dressing is removed, pico toning can address remaining dark spots and uneven tone.
Explore Reepot →If indented acne scars are also present, Core Pulling scar injections can complement pico laser scar treatment.
Our doctors explain pigmentation concerns in clear, practical terms.
Pico toning and conventional laser toning differ in pulse duration. Neither is always the better choice.
The doctors at Dong-An Joongsim Clinic
Melasma involves UV exposure, hormones, overactive pigment cells and changes in blood vessels and the dermis. That is why a single treatment rarely addresses every aspect.
The doctors at Dong-An Joongsim Clinic
Freckles are well-defined pigment spots near the skin's surface. They respond well to laser and light treatments, but sun exposure can make them darker again.
The doctors at Dong-An Joongsim ClinicPico laser results depend on how treatment is planned and performed. Check whether a doctor handles both consultation and treatment, whether genuine equipment and consumables are used, and whether treatments can be combined to suit your face. Dong-An Joongsim Clinic was the first clinic in Korea to introduce Discovery PICO. Dr. Chang-Hwan Cho and Dr. Soyoun Koo were invited as Korean key doctors to Quanta's 30th anniversary. We take time with every patient, and a doctor leads your consultation and performs your treatment personally.
Discovery PICO is mainly used for common facial pigmentation (melasma, freckles and dark spots) and dull tone. The 532 nm wavelength targets superficial pigment, while 1064 nm targets deeper pigment such as nevus of Ota and treats melasma at low energy. Well-defined, dark lentigines and age spots often need fewer sessions with a lesion-focused laser such as Reepot. Your doctor will diagnose the pigment and compare the options.
Conventional laser toning delivers energy in nanoseconds, or billionths of a second. Pico toning uses picoseconds, or trillionths of a second, which is a thousand times shorter. Shorter pulses break pigment into fine particles through a sudden mechanical impact rather than mainly through heat. Conventional toning usually uses 1064 nm, while Discovery PICO also offers 532 nm. For melasma, however, energy settings and the spacing of treatments matter more than the device name. Your doctor plans treatment around the pigmentation itself.
Repeated low-energy sessions gradually fade melasma pigment. Melasma involves UV exposure, hormones and blood vessels within the skin, so it rarely clears in one session and may darken again. Your doctor adjusts energy according to the skin's response and may incorporate HALO or BBL Forever. Sun protection and maintenance are part of treatment.
Toning is a course of treatment rather than a single session. The number and spacing depend on pigment depth and skin response, and vary considerably. Repeated high-energy sessions at short intervals can cause pigment loss or increased darkening, so your doctor checks your skin at every visit.
Numbing cream helps reduce stinging. In a split-face study comparing 1064 nm picosecond and nanosecond lasers for melasma, both sides showed a clear reduction in melasma scores, with less pain on the picosecond side. Another study using a 755 nm picosecond laser found the opposite. Discomfort depends on the device and energy settings.
Treatment takes around 30 minutes and does not require a hospital stay. Numbing cream is applied first, and you can return to your routine afterward. Let any scabs fall off naturally. Pigment fragments fade gradually, so it is more useful to assess changes over a course of treatment than after one session.
Temporary redness or pigmentation can occur, so careful sun protection and moisturizing are important. Reapply SPF 50 or higher sunscreen every 2–3 hours. The laser's output can be adjusted for the size and depth of each lesion to reduce the risk of burns and scarring. Pregnancy, recent tanning and photosensitizing medication may make it safer to postpone treatment; your doctor checks these at the consultation.
A pico laser can fade brown marks left after acne. If indented scars or enlarged pores are also present, focusing energy within the dermis can stimulate new collagen. This approach renews the dermis while preserving the epidermis, so recovery can be relatively short, around 2–3 hours. It is also used for scars from injuries, surgery and burns.
Pigmentation fades gradually over several sessions. When reading pico laser or pico toning reviews, check the type of pigmentation, the number of sessions and how much time has passed. Melasma, freckles and lentigines can require different lasers and give different results.
The cost of pico laser treatment or pico toning depends on the type and extent of pigmentation and the sessions needed. Your doctor examines the pigment, then discusses the treatment plan and cost.
Discovery PICO is also used for tattoo removal. The wavelength is matched to the ink color, such as 1064 nm for black and blue and 532 nm for red. The number of sessions depends on ink color and depth.
| Manufacturer | Quanta SystemItaly |
|---|---|
| Method | Picosecond Nd:YAG laserPhotoacoustic energy breaks pigment into fine fragments |
| Wavelength | 532nm · 1064nm532 nm for superficial pigment; 1064 nm for deeper pigment |
| Pulse width | 370ps · 450psIn 532 nm and 1064 nm picosecond modes |
| Pulse modes | PICO · Q-Switch · Opti-Pulse · Photo-ThermalSelected according to the pigmentation |
| Handpieces | Optibeam IICircular, square and fractional spots |
| Certifications | FDA · CE · KFDA |
We take time with every patient. Your doctor leads the consultation and performs the treatment, with a plan based on your facial features.
