Living Luxe: What exactly is the Picosure Laser? What does it do?
Dr. Philip Solomon: Picosure Laser technology is a non-invasive laser treatment that is used to break down pigment in the skin. We use this technology at my Facial Plastic Surgery Centre in Toronto. The Picosure Laser can treat skin imperfections such as sun dam-age, age spots and freckles, and it also acts as a rejuvenation treatment improving the texture and tone of the skin. Picosure Laser technology uses picosecond pulses, which are extremely fast pulses with a very short duration. These short bursts of energy break up pigment without damaging the skin.
LL: What is the difference between the Picosure Laser and other lasers that you use at your clinic?
Dr. Philip Solomon: Different technologies treat different concerns and offer different results. Pico Laser addresses brown spots — brown freckles, brown age spots and brown spots caused by sun damage. IPL is another technology we offer that addresses reds. Red spots can often be the result of broken capillaries beneath the surface of the skin and can present on the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. For anti-aging and facial rejuvenation, we have the CO2 Laser and Sciton’s Erbium Laser, which we often use together to address deeper lines and wrinkles. The CO2 Ultrapulse Laser is one of our most aggressive lasers and it helps eliminate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while offering a complete resurfacing of the skin. We then have a series of technologies that combine radio frequency with microneedling that can also address fine lines and skin-tightening for facial rejuvenation.
LL: Is the Picosure Laser often done with other procedures?
Dr. Philip Solomon: The Picosure Laser addresses pigment, so it can really be done with any technology we offer, however we prefer performing Picosure Laser on its own, and we recommend not doing any treatments two weeks prior or two weeks following your laser treatment. When addressing pigment, ideally patients are on a good skincare regimen. Using retinol, which causes cellular turnover, can help enhance Picosure Laser results, as it brightens and refreshes the top layer of skin.
LL: What results can patients expect to see?
Dr. Philip Solomon: Patients can expect pigment to fade over time. Brown spots, age spots and freckles can become lighter and disappear with multiple treatments.
LL: Is there anything else patients should know about the Picosure Laser?
Dr. Philip Solomon: The Picosure Laser is a great procedure for all skin types. It’s truly a game-changer for patients of Asian, Latino and African backgrounds whose skin types were historically not candidates for laser treatment. What’s nice about this particular laser treatment is that patients can come in on their lunch hour or on the weekend and don’t need to worry about any downtime or recovery period, and they can see results as early as a few weeks.
IMAGE BY ADOBE STOCK