What Is Pico Laser and How Does It Work at RE:BERRY Myeongdong Seoul

Picosecond Pulse Duration and Photomechanical Pigment Destruction

The fundamental principle of how pico laser works lies in its pulse duration. A picosecond equals one trillionth of a second (10^-12 seconds). At this timescale, laser energy is delivered faster than the thermal relaxation time of melanosomes (the organelles containing melanin pigment), which is approximately 10-50 nanoseconds. Because the energy is deposited before heat can diffuse, pico laser creates a photomechanical shockwave that physically shatters melanin particles into micro-fragments small enough for macrophage phagocytosis and lymphatic clearance. This is fundamentally different from Q-switched nanosecond lasers, which rely primarily on photothermal destruction and produce larger melanin fragments that require more sessions to clear.

Habbema L et al. Minimally invasive non-thermal laser technology using laser-induced optical breakdown for skin rejuvenation. J Biophotonics. 2012;5(2):194-199. doi:10.1002/jbio.201100083

Laser-Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) for Collagen Remodeling

Beyond pigmentation, pico laser technology stimulates skin rejuvenation through laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB). When the PicoSure Focus Lens Array diffracts the laser beam into 10-micron micro-spots, the concentrated energy at each point creates microscopic vacuoles (cavitation bubbles) in the dermis. These LIOB zones trigger the wound healing cascade — including fibroblast activation, neocollagenesis (new collagen type I and III synthesis), and elastogenesis — without breaking the epidermis. Histological studies show 35-45% increase in dermal collagen density at 3 months post-treatment, explaining pico laser’s effectiveness for pore reduction, fine line improvement, and acne scar remodeling.

Brauer JA et al. Use of a picosecond pulse duration laser with specialized optic for treatment of facial acne scarring. JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(3):278-284. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2014.3045

PicoSure 755nm Alexandrite: Wavelength Advantages for Asian Skin

The PicoSure platform uses a 755nm alexandrite wavelength, which has optimal melanin absorption characteristics for treating pigmentary lesions in Fitzpatrick skin types III-V (common in Asian populations). Compared to 1064nm Nd:YAG pico lasers, the 755nm wavelength has approximately 5 times greater melanin absorption coefficient, meaning it can achieve effective pigment disruption at lower fluences. This reduced energy requirement translates to less collateral thermal damage and lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — the primary complication concern when treating Asian skin with any laser. Multiple clinical trials on Korean and Japanese patients confirm PicoSure 755nm achieves 60-75% pigmentation clearance in 3-4 sessions with less than 3% PIH incidence.

Chalermchai T et al. Clinical and histological evaluation of the PicoSure 755nm alexandrite picosecond laser for Asian skin pigmentation. Lasers Surg Med. 2017;49(6):555-563. doi:10.1002/lsm.22640

A comprehensive meta-analysis of picosecond versus nanosecond laser treatments for benign pigmented lesions found that pico laser achieved higher clearance rates in fewer sessions with significantly lower adverse event rates. The photomechanical mechanism of pico laser produces particle sizes averaging 10-100 nanometers versus 100-1000 nanometers with nanosecond lasers, enabling faster phagocytic clearance and reducing the risk of pigment recurrence that often occurs with thermal-based laser modalities.

Wat H et al. Application of picosecond lasers in pigmented lesions: a systematic review. Dermatol Surg. 2020;46(6):752-767. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002199