Pico Laser in Davie, FL
Who is pico laser best for?
“Pico is my go-to for pigment. Sun spots, freckles, blotchy tone, and melasma when it’s treated gently and backed by the right home care. The energy is delivered in trillionths of a second, so it breaks up pigment with far less heat than older lasers, and that’s why I can use it on deeper skin tones where IPL isn’t safe. It’s also excellent for tattoo removal. What it won’t do is resurface deep wrinkles or scars. For that I use erbium or CO2.”
— Deborah Lenchus, MSN, APRN
Picosecond Laser Treatment
Pico laser treatment is now available at LuXe Concierge Aesthetics in Davie on our new nuCORE laser platform. A picosecond laser fires pulses so short they’re measured in trillionths of a second. That burst of energy shatters pigment and tattoo ink into tiny particles your body clears on its own, while very little heat reaches the skin around it. You get less downtime, and the treatment is safe for more skin tones.
Pico laser is ideal for:
- Sun spots, age spots & freckles
- Melasma & post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark marks left after acne or irritation), using a gentle, maintenance-minded plan
- Dull, uneven tone and a rough surface (low-energy “laser toning”)
- Mild acne scarring & fine texture, as part of a combined plan
- Unwanted tattoos. Black and dark inks respond best
The 1064 nm wavelength is suitable for all skin types (Fitzpatrick I–VI) when the settings are matched to your skin. Every treatment is planned and performed by nurse practitioner Deborah Lenchus, never a technician.
At a Glance- Treatment time15–30 minutes for the face; tattoos vary by size
- ComfortQuick, warm snaps; numbing cream for tattoos
- DowntimeLittle to none for toning; 5–7 days of flaking for dark spots; 1–2 weeks of healing for tattoos
- SessionsPigment and tone: usually 3–6, spaced 4–8 weeks apart. Tattoos: often 6–10 or more, 6–8 weeks apart
- Skin typesI–VI with 1064 nm; the 532 nm wavelength is reserved for lighter skin
- ResultsGradual, building over the weeks after each session
Now available on our new nuCORE laser platform.
Medically reviewed by Deborah Lenchus, MSN, APRN · Last reviewed September 2026
What a Pico Laser Actually Does
Most pigment lasers work by heat. A pico laser works mostly by pressure. Its pulses are so fast that the pigment doesn’t have time to warm up; it fractures instead, a photoacoustic effect. The fragments are much smaller than older lasers leave behind, so your immune system can sweep them away more easily. Less heat also means less irritation to the surrounding skin, which lowers the chance of the rebound darkening that makes pigment treatment tricky on olive and deeper skin tones.
What Pico Laser Treats
Sun damage and brown spots. South Florida sun leaves its mark on faces, chests, arms and hands. Pico breaks up those spots so they fade over the following weeks.
Melasma and dark marks after acne. Low-energy pico toning can lighten stubborn pigment gradually without the heat that tends to aggravate it (more on melasma below).
Tone, glow and texture. Gentle pico passes brighten dull skin and smooth fine texture with essentially no downtime. It works well before an event.
Tattoo removal. Pico is one of the most effective technologies available for fading and clearing tattoo ink, particularly black and dark blue.
Pico, IPL or Q-Switch: Which Is Right for You?
We offer all three, so the recommendation comes down to your skin, not to which machine is in the room. IPL is great for scattered brown and red on lighter skin, but it isn’t safe for deeper skin tones or melasma. Pico handles pigment across every skin type and goes after stubborn ink. Our Q-switched laser uses nanosecond pulses. Pico’s picosecond pulses are about a thousand times shorter, which breaks ink into finer particles and often means fewer sessions.
Pico Laser for Melasma: The Honest Version
Melasma is a chronic condition driven by sun, heat and hormones. No laser cures it. What pico can do, used at low energy over a series, is lighten it with far less risk of flaring than hotter lasers. It works best alongside daily mineral sunscreen, a pigment-suppressing home routine and, for some patients, a Cosmelan or Dermamelan program. Expect to need maintenance, and expect a flare after a sunny vacation. Aggressive treatment makes melasma worse, which is exactly why settings matter so much.
Skin Type and Safety
This is where pico earns its place. The 1064 nm wavelength passes through the skin’s surface pigment with little absorption, so it’s the pigment and tattoo laser we can use safely on Fitzpatrick IV–VI skin. The shorter 532 nm wavelength treats superficial spots and red ink, but it’s kept for lighter skin. On deeper skin tones we start conservatively and may test-spot first. The biggest safety factor for every skin type is simple: come untanned.
Who Should Wait or Skip It
Pico treatment is postponed during pregnancy; with an active infection, open wound or cold sore in the area; on recently tanned or sunburned skin; and after recent isotretinoin (Accutane) use. We also avoid it with light-sensitivity disorders or photosensitizing medications, and with a history of oral gold therapy. If you tend to form keloids, we talk that through first. Your health history and medications are reviewed at your consultation.
What to Expect During Treatment
Your skin is cleansed, eyes are protected, and numbing cream is applied for tattoos. The laser feels like quick, warm snaps and you’ll hear a light popping sound. That’s normal. Pigment spots may look a little darker right away. Tattoos briefly turn white (called “frosting”), which fades within minutes. A full-face session takes about 15–30 minutes.
Downtime and Healing
Laser toning: mild pinkness for a few hours, and you can usually go right back to your day. Brown spots: treated spots darken and look like coffee grounds, then flake off over 5–7 days. Tattoos: expect redness, swelling and sometimes pinpoint bleeding or small blisters, with light crusting that heals over one to two weeks.
How Many Sessions You’ll Need
For pigment, tone and melasma, most people need three to six sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart, plus occasional maintenance. Some isolated sun spots clear in one or two. Tattoos take longer, often six to ten sessions or more, six to eight weeks apart. The number depends on ink colors, density, age and where the tattoo sits on the body. We give you a realistic estimate at your consultation.
What Pico Pairs Well With
Pico handles color. For texture, pores and scarring, we pair it with Erbium Glass resurfacing. For melasma, it complements medical-grade peels and home care. We space everything safely so tone and texture improve together.
With Lasers, the Provider Is Everything
Choosing the wavelength, energy and spacing for your skin is a medical decision, and so is knowing when not to treat. Every pico treatment at LuXe Concierge Aesthetics is performed by nurse practitioner Deborah Lenchus, who brings more than twenty years in aesthetics and teaches advanced techniques to nurse practitioners, PAs and physicians through LuXe Concierge Aesthetics and Elevate Aesthetics Academy.
Ready to fade the spots, the tattoo, or the melasma that won’t quit? Book a consultation or call (754) 715-5667.
What is a pico laser?
A pico laser is a picosecond laser. It delivers pulses lasting trillionths of a second that shatter pigment and tattoo ink into tiny particles your body clears naturally. Because it relies on pressure rather than heat, it’s gentler on the surrounding skin than older pigment lasers.
Does pico laser hurt?
Most people describe it as quick, warm rubber-band snaps. Facial pigment and toning treatments are very tolerable. Tattoo removal is more intense, so we use numbing cream and cooling for comfort.
How many pico laser sessions will I need?
For sun spots, uneven tone and melasma, most people need three to six sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart, then occasional maintenance. Tattoos usually need six to ten sessions or more, spaced six to eight weeks apart.
What is the downtime after pico laser?
Very little. Laser toning leaves you mildly pink for a few hours. Dark spots darken and flake off over about five to seven days. Tattoo treatments need one to two weeks for redness, swelling and light crusting to heal.
Is pico laser safe for dark skin?
Yes. The 1064 nm wavelength is suitable for all skin types, including Fitzpatrick IV–VI, when the settings are matched to your skin. We start conservatively on deeper skin tones, and coming in untanned is essential.
Can pico laser treat melasma?
It can lighten melasma when used at low energy over a series, together with daily sunscreen and a pigment-suppressing home routine. Melasma is chronic, though. No laser cures it, and maintenance is expected.
Is pico better than Q-switch for tattoo removal?
Pico pulses are roughly a thousand times shorter than Q-switched pulses, so they break ink into finer particles. That often means fewer sessions and less heat to the skin. We offer both and recommend based on your tattoo and skin type.
Which tattoo colors respond best?
Black and dark blue respond best. Red and some warm colors respond to the 532 nm wavelength on lighter skin. Green, light blue and yellow are harder to clear and may only fade.
When will I see pico laser results?
Brown spots usually fade within one to two weeks of each session. Tone and melasma improve gradually over a series. Tattoos lighten over the six to eight weeks between visits as your body clears the ink.
How much does pico laser cost?
Cost depends on the area treated, or the size and colors of a tattoo, and whether you choose a single session or a series. You receive a clear quote at your consultation.
Pre-Treatment Guidelines
Before your pico treatment:
- Avoid sun exposure, tanning and self-tanner for four weeks.
- Stop retinoids, exfoliating acids and scrubs one week before.
- Tell us about any medications, recent isotretinoin (Accutane) use, or a history of cold sores. If we’re treating near the mouth, you may need an antiviral beforehand.
- Arrive with clean skin, free of makeup and lotion. Shave the area if a tattoo sits under hair.
Post-Treatment Care
After your pico treatment:
- Apply mineral SPF 30+ every day and avoid direct sun.
- Skip heat, heavy sweating, saunas and hot tubs for 24–48 hours.
- Avoid retinoids, acids and scrubs for about five to seven days.
- Cleanse gently and moisturize. Let darkened spots flake off on their own and don’t pick.
- For tattoos: keep the area clean with a thin layer of healing ointment, don’t pop blisters or pick scabs, and don’t swim or soak until healed.
- Contact us if you notice blistering on the face or any signs of infection.
Looking for texture and pore refinement instead of pigment correction? See our Erbium Glass 1540 laser.
Related Treatments at LuXe Concierge Aesthetics
IPL Photofacial, Erbium Glass Laser, Q-Switch Tattoo Removal, Melasma & Pigmentation
Patients travel from Weston, Plantation, Cooper City, Pembroke Pines, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise, and Fort Lauderdale for pico laser treatment at LuXe Concierge Aesthetics in Davie, FL.