Pico Laser in Singapore

A picosecond laser fires pulses measured in trillionths of a second. At that speed, pigment particles are shattered mainly by a pressure wave rather than by heat, so less heat spreads into the surrounding skin. At IN Eternity Clinic, pico laser in Singapore is performed by Dr Sin Yong using the T2 Frax Radiance protocol on the DEKA TORO laser platform, which combines a 785 nm picosecond wavelength with 532 nm and 1064 nm nanosecond (Q-switched) outputs.

T2 stands for two steps. The first, Tone, uses the picosecond pulses to break up pigment such as sun-related spots, post-acne marks and patchy tone. The second, Tighten, uses a longer thermal pulse to warm the dermis for skin texture. Not every visit needs both steps, and tattoo removal follows its own settings. Dr Sin Yong decides which wavelengths and steps to use after examining the pigment and your skin type.

How it works

The mechanism,
in plain English

Pigment granules and tattoo ink particles are tiny, and they heat and cool very quickly. A pulse shorter than the time a particle takes to lose its heat concentrates the energy in that particle and fractures it. Picosecond pulses are short enough to create a photoacoustic effect: the pigment cracks into much smaller fragments, which macrophages, the skin's clean-up cells, carry away over the following weeks. Smaller fragments are cleared more easily, which is the reason picosecond lasers were first developed for tattoos.

Wavelength decides what is targeted and how deep the light goes. The 785 nm picosecond output is absorbed by melanin and by blue and green inks; 532 nm suits superficial brown pigment and red ink; 1064 nm passes deeper with less absorption by the skin surface, which is safer for darker skin and black ink. Because the main action is mechanical rather than thermal, the risk of post-inflammatory darkening is thought to be lower than with heat-based pigment lasers, though it is not zero.

“A picosecond laser is precise, not magic: the result depends on correctly identifying what the pigment is and how deep it lies.”

— Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic

Energy / device

DEKA TORO platform: 785 nm picosecond, plus 532 nm and 1064 nm nanosecond (Q-switched)

Target layer

Melanin and tattoo ink in the epidermis and dermis; dermal collagen for the Tighten step

Typical session

Usually under an hour, depending on the area; tattoos vary with size

Downtime

Redness for a few hours; treated spots may crust or flake for a few days

Performed by

Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic

Is it right for you

Who it suits,
and who it does not

Pico laser in Singapore is most often used for sun spots and freckles, uneven or dull tone, brown marks left after acne or eczema, darkened underarms, and dark circles where the cause is pigment. It is also used for tattoo removal, including cosmetic tattoos on the brows in selected cases, and for some deeper pigment conditions that a doctor has diagnosed. People with medium to darker skin often prefer it because the pulse is so brief, though settings still need care.

It is not suitable over a mole or spot that is changing or irregular, which must be examined first. Dark circles caused by hollowing or visible blood vessels will not lighten with a pigment laser. Melasma can improve, but it tends to return and needs a medical plan with sun protection and prescription creams, not laser alone. Treatment is deferred during a tan, in pregnancy, and with light-sensitising medicines. Some tattoo colours, especially white and some flesh tones, can darken when lasered, so a test area is usually done first.

What to expect

Consultation, session
and aftercare

At consultation, Dr Sin Yong examines the pigment, often under magnification, to identify what it is and how deep it lies, and checks your skin type and sun habits. For tattoos he looks at colours, ink density, age and location. He then explains which wavelengths and steps will be used, what is realistic, and what other approaches exist. A course is usually planned at consultation, as most pigment and nearly all tattoos need repeat sessions spaced weeks apart.

During the session you wear eye protection and feel a series of sharp snaps; numbing cream is used for tattoos and sensitive areas, and cooling is used throughout. Afterwards, expect redness and warmth for a few hours. Pigment spots may darken and flake over a few days, while tattoos may whiten briefly, swell or blister. Keep the area clean, moisturise, do not pick, and use sunscreen and shade strictly between sessions.

Enquiries to SkinRev Lab about medical treatments are passed to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong performs them.

Clinic page: Pico Laser (T2 Frax Radiance) at IN Eternity Clinic ↗

What the research says

The evidence,
with sources

A systematic review of picosecond lasers in dermatology graded the evidence by condition: level I evidence for tattoo removal, level II for skin rejuvenation and melasma, level II to III for scar revision, and level I to IV for benign pigmented lesions, concluding that picosecond lasers are safe and effective across a growing range of uses. For tattoos specifically, one systematic review found sparse evidence that picosecond lasers outperform nanosecond lasers for black and blue ink, while a later review in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found picosecond lasers performed better for blue, green and yellow pigments, with both types effective for black ink.

For melasma, a meta-analysis of randomised studies found that 1064 nm picosecond laser reduced melasma severity without significant side effects, whereas 755 nm picosecond laser was not better than lightening creams and caused post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in some people. These findings support wavelength choice by pigment type and skin tone, and explain why melasma is approached cautiously. Evidence for each wavelength is still evolving, and individual results vary.

References

1. Wu DC, Goldman MP, Wat H, et al. A systematic review of picosecond laser in dermatology: evidence and recommendations. Lasers Surg Med. 2021;53(1):9-49.
2. Reiter O, Atzmony L, Akerman L, et al. Picosecond lasers for tattoo removal: a systematic review. Lasers Med Sci. 2016;31(7):1397-1405.
3. Gurnani P, Williams N, Al-Hetheli G, et al. Comparing the efficacy and safety of laser treatments in tattoo removal: a systematic review. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;87(1):103-109.
4. Feng J, Shen S, Song X, et al. Efficacy and safety of picosecond laser for the treatment of melasma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lasers Med Sci. 2023;38(1):84.

Common questions

Your questions,
answered

Related

Concerns it treats & related treatments