M22 in Apgujeong, Gangnam, SeoulLumenis M22 · IPL and 1565 nm ResurFX platform
M22 is a light-treatment platform from Lumenis, the original developer of IPL. Interchangeable filters treat melasma, freckles, dark spots, redness, visible vessels, acne and acne marks. Its 1565 nm ResurFX mode also improves firmness. Numbing cream is applied first, and you can cleanse and wear makeup from that evening.
If dark spots, redness and acne marks are all concerns, different filters let us address them in the same visit.
Dr. Soyoun Koo Full Member, Korean Laser Society- Results
- Gradual improvement
- Duration
- Lasts around 6 months
- Comfort
- Mild discomfort
- Recovery
- No downtime
- Recommended sessions
- 3 sessions for acne or redness
- Treatment areas
- Face and legs
Clearer skin over successive sessions
Numbing cream before treatment
Cleansing and makeup from that evening
Adjusted by your doctor for your concerns
Vascular treatment on the legs
Pigment, redness and acne
Different wavelengths selected for your skin
in one IPL treatment
M22 is an intense pulsed light (IPL) platform from Lumenis, the company that first developed IPL. It is named after M22, a bright, round globular star cluster in Sagittarius, as a nod to brighter skin.
Unlike a laser that emits one wavelength, IPL produces a range of wavelengths. M22 filters select those absorbed by epidermal pigment, facial blood vessels and acne. The same platform's 1565 nm ResurFX laser treats texture and firmness. When pigment, vascular and acne concerns overlap, all three can improve together.
Melasma, redness, acne marks: what M22 can treat
Melasma, dark spots and freckles
Fades scattered dark spots, freckles and melasma. Filtered light is absorbed by epidermal melanin to selectively heat pigment. Because irritation can worsen melasma, your doctor uses lower energy over multiple sessions.
Redness and visible blood vessels
Reduces facial redness and prominent capillaries. Light passed through a vascular filter is absorbed within enlarged vessels and heats them.
Acne and acne marks
Fades red acne lesions and marks together. Shorter wavelengths from the acne filter target acne bacteria, while longer wavelengths reach deeper sebaceous glands to reduce oil production.
Skin firmness
Firms rough, loose-looking skin. ResurFX delivers energy to the dermis to improve firmness.
Tone and texture
Improves dull tone and rough texture. ResurFX delivers closely spaced microbeams to stimulate renewal within the skin without removing the surface.
Leg veins
Also treats fine visible vessels on the legs. Longer-wavelength filters deliver light deeper into these vessels.
Clearer skin with M22, planned by your doctor
Care from doctors experienced in pigmentation treatment
M22 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.
Treatment planned by Dr. Soyoun Koo
Melasma, dark spots, redness and acne absorb different wavelengths. Dr. Soyoun Koo draws on extensive pigmentation-treatment experience to select the filter and energy after examining your skin.
Your doctor handles both consultation and treatment
We take time with every patient. Your consultation and treatment are handled personally by a doctor.
Planning around a short visit
Because it causes little disruption to daily life, M22 is popular with people who cannot show visible signs of treatment at work and with students on short visits to Korea from abroad. Your doctor plans sessions and intervals around the time available.
Dark spots and redness: could M22 help you?
Your doctor will assess whether it is right for you
- You want to treat melasma, freckles or dark spots
- Visible facial capillaries and redness bother you
- Acne and red acne marks are both concerns
- You want to restore firmness lost with age
- You want to address pigment, blood vessels and firmness together
- You are concerned about pigmentation after laser treatment
- Your work requires minimal visible treatment signs, or you are a student visiting Korea briefly
M22:
Different filters for different concerns
Your doctor changes filters and modes according to your skin concerns. The 515 nm filter can be particularly useful when applied selectively to pigmented areas.
| Filter or mode | Main concerns treated |
|---|---|
| 515·560nm | Pigmentation including melasma, dark spots and freckles |
| 590nm | Pigmentation and facial vessels |
| 615nm | Facial vessels and redness |
| 640·695nm | Leg veins |
| Acne filter | Acne and red acne marks: 400–600 nm targets bacteria; 800–1200 nm reduces oil production |
| 1565nm ResurFX | Firmness, texture and tone |
How M22 light clears pigment and redness
Your doctor explains how it works
How does light selectively treat pigment and vessels? It works in four stages. A doctor experienced with M22 selects the filter and energy for each concern.
Selecting the filter
A filter selects wavelengths for pigmentation, blood vessels or acne.
Even energy delivery
OPT delivers consistent energy with each pulse to limit epidermal damage.
Targeted absorption
Pigment and vessels absorb the light, converting it to heat that selectively destroys the target.
Natural clearance
The body absorbs and clears fragmented pigment, leaving clearer skin.
Treating face and leg concerns with M22
A plan for each treatment area
Face
ForeheadCheekbonesCheeksLegs
ThighsCalvesTreatments for spots and redness similar to M22
Results, comfort and recovery at a glance
Compare pigmentation and scar treatments side by side. The right choice varies from person to person, so your doctor will help you decide at your consultation.
| Treatment | Results | Duration | Comfort | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M22 | Gradual improvement | Lasts around 6 months | Mild discomfort | No downtime |
| BBL | Gradual improvement | Lasts around 6 months | Minimal | No downtime |
| Reepot | Visible right away | Lasts 12 months or more | Mild discomfort | 14 days of downtime |
| Pico Laser | Gradual improvement | Lasts 6 months or more | Mild discomfort | No downtime |
| HALO | Gradual improvement | Lasts around 6 months | Mild discomfort | Usually settled by the next day |
M22 results reported in research
Patients satisfied with treatment
92 patients treated with Lumenis M22 for lentigines and superficial vascular lesions
Ullmann et al., Laser Ther 2011 ↗Patients who received 1–2 sessions
Treatment frequency in the same study
Ullmann et al., Laser Ther 2011 ↗Patients reporting improved acne
10 patients, assessed 4 weeks after 5 acne-filter sessions
Knight, J Drugs Dermatol 2019 ↗Clearer skin with M22 before an important date
Treatment timed around your plans
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 skin and schedule.
If your event is tomorrow
You can cleanse and apply makeup from the evening of M22 treatment, but results develop gradually and redness may last a day. 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 around M22. For students visiting Korea briefly, sessions and intervals are fitted to the available time.
Your M22 treatment day at Dong-An Joongsim Clinic
Your doctor oversees anesthesia and treatment
Your doctor handles both your consultation and treatment. A patient coordinator can help with pricing.
Doctor consultation
Your doctor examines the area you want to treat and discusses the changes you hope to see.
Skin assessment
Your doctor assesses pigmentation, blood vessels and acne to select the filter.
Cleansing
Makeup and surface oil are thoroughly removed.
Numbing cream
Numbing cream helps reduce stinging.
M22 treatment
Light is delivered through the selected filter, with ResurFX added if needed.
Recovery care
After soothing care for redness, you can go home.
M22: preparation and aftercare
Aftercare
- With minimal epidermal damage, cleansing and makeup are possible from the evening of treatment.
- Mild redness may last from an hour to a day.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking for the recommended period.
- Avoid prolonged sauna or steam-room use.
- Avoid outdoor exercise with prolonged sun exposure.
- Be especially careful with sunscreen for the first 48 hours. Outdoors, use SPF 50 or higher and reapply every 2–3 hours.
- Taking a multivitamin that includes vitamin C during treatment can support skin renewal.
- Skin may become dry, so moisturize regularly.
- Let any scabs fall off naturally. Picking them can cause scarring.
When treatment may not be suitable Consultation required
- A lesion suspected of being skin cancer
- Use of isotretinoin for acne within the past 6–12 months
- A history of abnormal reactions to sunlight, or use of medication that causes photosensitivity
- Recently tanned skin
- Pregnancy
Spots and redness before M22: insights from our doctors
Our doctors explain pigmentation, redness and other concerns relevant to M22 in clear, practical terms.
Facial Redness and Flushing: Causes and Treatment
Facial redness often involves both dilated blood vessels and sensitive skin. Care depends on the underlying cause and pattern.
The doctors at Dong-An Joongsim Clinic
Freckles vs. Melasma: How They Differ and How They Are Treated
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 Clinic
Sun Spots and Seborrheic Keratoses: Can They Return After Laser Treatment?
Lentigines and age spots often respond well to laser treatment. Ongoing care to prevent new spots matters more than focusing only on the spots already treated.
The doctors at Dong-An Joongsim ClinicM22 for spots and redness: results, sessions and pricing
Answers from our doctors
How do I choose an M22 clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul?
M22 results depend on how treatment is planned and performed. Check whether a doctor handles consultation and treatment, whether genuine equipment is used, and whether other treatments can be combined for your skin. We take time with every patient, with a doctor leading your consultation and performing treatment personally.
Which concerns can M22 treat?
M22 treats pigmentation such as melasma, dark spots, freckles and age spots; redness and visible vessels; and acne and acne marks. If these concerns overlap, they can improve together, with additional benefits for skin firmness.
How does M22 differ from BBL?
Both are light treatments that select wavelengths from a broad spectrum using filters. Lumenis M22 uses 515–695 nm filters and a dedicated acne filter, with a 1565 nm ResurFX laser on the same platform for texture and firmness. BBL Forever is made by Sciton. We offer both, allowing your doctor to choose according to your skin.
Does M22 hurt, and will I need numbing cream?
Numbing cream is applied before treatment to reduce stinging. In a study of M22's acne filter, average patient pain scores per session were 3.77 or lower out of 10.
Can I return to my usual routine right away?
Yes. With minimal epidermal damage, cleansing and makeup are possible from that evening. Mild redness usually settles within an hour to a day. Take particular care with sunscreen for the first 48 hours.
How many M22 sessions will I need?
It depends on the concern. Acne and redness are commonly planned as a 3-session course. In a study of pigment and vascular lesions, 95% of patients had 1–2 sessions; an acne study used 5 sessions, 1–2 weeks apart. Your doctor selects the number and spacing for your skin.
Can I have treatment during a short visit to Korea?
Yes. M22 causes little disruption to daily life and is popular with students visiting from abroad and people who need minimal visible treatment signs for work. Your doctor plans the sessions and intervals around your visit.
What should I look for in M22 reviews?
M22 treats pigmentation, redness and acne gradually over a series of sessions. Check how many treatments a reviewer had and which concern they were treating. Changes usually become clearer over successive sessions rather than immediately afterward.
How is M22 priced?
The price depends on the treatment area, selected filters and modes, and number of sessions. We discuss the cost after your doctor assesses pigmentation, vessels and acne.
Our Lumenis M22 equipment
| Manufacturer | LumenisLumenis, the original developer of IPL |
|---|---|
| IPL | Universal IPL 400–1200nmOPT pulses with interchangeable-filter handpiece |
| Filters | 515·560·590·615·640·695nmAcne filter: 400–600 and 800–1200 nm |
| Laser | ResurFX 1565nmNonablative fractional laser with CoolScan scanner |
| Cooling | Continuous contact coolingFor both IPL and ResurFX |
| Certifications | FDA · CEOver 30 skin-condition indications, according to the manufacturer |
Clearer, more even skin with M22, planned by your doctor
We take time with every patient. Your doctor leads the consultation and performs the treatment, with a plan based on your face.