Pico vs Q-switch laser for pigmentation
Picosecond lasers versus Q-switched toning for pigment, and why one session is rarely the plan.
Pico laser and Q-switched laser toning are the two light treatments tagged to melasma. Pico is priced in the index per session. Toning is usually sold as a long course of gentler visits, especially in Seoul.
What the words mean
Pico refers to the pulse duration of a group of devices, not one brand. Q-switch is the older technology behind a lot of laser toning. Clinics still use both. A toning package of ten sessions and a single pico session are not the same spend, even when the per-visit price makes toning look cheaper.
Pigment can darken
Heat and aggressive settings can make melasma worse. That is why a low session price is not the thing to optimise. Ask what the clinic does if the area darkens, and read the melasma roadmap before you book a package in a humid city.
This is general information, not a medical recommendation. A registered doctor should decide whether a treatment is suitable for you.