In recent years, we’ve heard much about laser treatments—PicoSure to be precise—in addressing various skin concerns or how it rejuvenates the skin. The technology piqued my interest, especially how it became a part of many beauty enthusiasts’ regimen.
Upon arriving at the new M∙A∙C∙ Clinic branch in The Starhill, I consulted with founder and medical director Dr. Hew Yin Keat and was told that PicoSure would fit the mould as an all-in-one innovation. While getting rid of freckles and acne scars has long been a problem I grappled with, the long list of concerns such as the pain or the downtime gave me cold feet. The good news is that the post-treatment redness and mild swelling will vanish in less than a day—in fact, mine took less than half a day.
What is PicoSure?
A little background research shows that while picosecond advancement has been around for decades, adapting it for aesthetic purposes was rather new. The first picosecond laser was launched in 2012—namely, the PicoSure by Cynosure. The non-ablative approach is recognised and quickly gained popularity for having greater efficacy than its predecessors in targeting skin complexities. PicoSure is now commonly used in treating pigmented lesions, wrinkles, acne scars, and even tattoo removal.
A breakthrough in medical aesthetic advancement, the PicoSure targets melanin with a 755nm wavelength. Dr. Hew explained that this process stimulates the production of new collagen to rejuvenate the skin. The ultra-short pulses (1 trillionth of a second) too, break down pigmentation gently without imparting excessive heat that will harm the surrounding skin, hence the minimal discomfort. That said, it also delivers progressive and effective results in fewer sessions—three to six treatments, depending on your skin condition.
The Laser Treatment
It’s music to the ears for those who are tremendously prone to pain, as the treatment is aided with numbing cream to minimise any potential discomfort. But let’s be honest—applying the cream itself is not entirely painless with the noticeable stinging sensation crawling all over my face. While the experience may differ due to several contributing factors like age or skin type, the process is not unpleasant, and manageable even for a first-timer like myself. It takes about 20 minutes for the numbing effect to kick in before the in-house aesthetician performs a facial massage with icy-cold rollers to soothe the tingles.
The actual laser treatment took half an hour at most, with two different sets of settings. The first went by within 10 minutes, accompanied by (bearable) crackling snaps that break down the melanin. A brief five-minute break was given for both my nerves and my comparably redder face to catch a breather, which Dr. Hew assured is completely normal. Our skin registers and responds to the stimulation while activating collagen production, leading to a spike in blood circulation. That said, the occurrence of redness varies depending on your skin’s sensitivity. The next session followed with snappier and faster bolts. In Dr. Hew’s words, this step is meant for cavitation. Big word. To put it in simpler terms, it’s where your skin and pores get tightened.
The second phase took another 10 minutes before the aesthetician proceeded to treat my lightly swollen skin with a generous amount of moisturiser and sunscreen. On that note, I was also advised to skip active acids and focus on sunscreen application in my daily skincare regime for the time being. This is to avoid injuring the skin that is now more prone to burning. To be frank, no downtime is an exaggeration but the visible signs of inflammation (that resembles a light sunburn) wear off within hours. Again, it varies for each individual but for reference, mine varnished in a few hours, which I’m more than satisfied with.
The Results
The result too is rather promising as I noticed positive outcomes the next morning—previously enlarged pores are visibly smaller and discernible dark spots like freckles gradually diminished over the week too. The overall experience and results are gratifying, especially for those who struggle with fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and hyperpigmentation. As for those who are blessed with no skin concerns as such, the treatment is also a nice-to-have that will revive or improve your skin texture.
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