WHAT IS PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ LASER TREATMENT?

Having beautiful, refreshed skin without the typical discomfort and down time of older laser technology is now possible with PicoSure® Focus.

Brucker Plastic Surgery now offers an unmatched breakthrough in laser technology that can remove unwanted pigment as well as improve the appearance of fine lines and acne scars.

This laser delivers ultra-short pulses of energy to the skin in trillionths of a second also known as a “picosecond”, to gently target and eliminate pigment without harming surrounding skin. PicoSure’s advanced technology makes beautiful skin possible with little to no down time.

PicoSure Focus is unique in that it can produce results similar to ablative lasers, without pre-treatment and without a lengthy recovery. Immediately after treatment, patients have short-lived redness and minimal swelling, allowing for a quick return to work.

 

HOW DOES PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ REJUVENATION WORK?

PicoSure is a non-surgical, non-invasive (non-ablative) laser skin treatment that works on skin concerns such as age spots, freckles, sun damage, pigmented lesions, fine lines and wrinkles or acne scars. We can also treat areas on the body with sun damage and age spots including the chest or décolleté, arms, legs and hands.

Older laser technology relies on concentrated heat energy, which can cause much discomfort and significant skin redness, swelling and down time. There is also a higher risk of complications with heat-based laser treatments. PicoSure Focus is gentler and provides noticeable results with less discomfort and down time associated with heat-based lasers.

The PicoSure Focus tip magnifies the laser pulse which causes Laser-Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) . This means that microscopic damage occurs in the dermis while leaving the epidermis (outermost skin) intact and undamaged. This microscopic damage in the deeper skin layer spurs collagen remodeling and skin rejuvenation as it heals.

 

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ TREATMENT?

Since PicoSure Focus uses high pressured energy rather than heat to treat the skin, this laser can work on many different skin types. Treatable skin types including very light skin to a majority of darker skin tones.

 

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ TREATMENTS?

Typical side effects may include temporary redness and swelling where the treatment was performed. The treated area will feel similar to a sunburn immediately afterwards and will gradually resolve within an hour. A small percentage of patients may experience an acne-like breakout or rash that will resolve on its own.

 

WHAT DOES PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ TREATMENT FEEL LIKE?

Most patients find the procedure very tolerable with minimal discomfort. If you prefer, numbing cream can be applied ahead of time for increased comfort. PicoSure Focus delivers energy in ultra-short bursts with each burst being only a trillionth of one second (a picosecond), and patients often compare this feeling to a snap of a thin rubber band. After the procedure, the treatment area may be somewhat tender and flushed.

 

WHAT TYPE OF POST TREATMENT CARE IS NECESSARY FOR PICOSURE™ FOCUS™?

• Keep the area clean using a mild, gentle cleanser.
• Refrain from the use of facial make up immediately after treatment. We suggest not using foundation for 24-48 hours after treatment.
• Avoid the use of topical products that are abrasive or contain exfoliating ingredients such as retinol, alpha hydroxyl acid, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, kojic acid, and niacinamide or those with fragrance and perfumes for 3-5 days after procedure. You may resume as tolerated but discontinue if irritation occurs.
• Discomfort may be relieved by cool compresses and topical post care products such as Elta MD Laser Enzyme Gel, Avene Cicalfate, and Avene Thermal Water.
• Do not pick at dry skin or pigmentation that rises to the surface of the skin. This skin will shed naturally on its own.
• Keep the skin hydrated and use a bland moisturizer for the next few days.
We will provide additional after care instructions specific to your treatment to ensure a quick recovery.

 

WHAT CAUSES UNWANTED PIGMENT/HYPERPIGMENTATION?

A higher concentration of melanin or pigment causes age spots, sun spots and other pigmented lesions to be darker in color than the surrounding skin. Many times areas of undesired pigmentation are caused by sun damage or hormonal changes but it can also be congenital, as in the case of birthmarks or Café-au-lait spots.

 

HOW MANY PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?

While every patient’s treatment regimen will be different, most will typically require only a few treatments. Darker, larger pigmented lesions will involve additional treatments. During your initial consultation, we will discuss a customized treatment plan for you with the timing and number of treatments and the degree of improvement to expect to reach your desired skin goals.

 

DOES PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ TREATMENT WORK FOR WRINKLES?

By utilizing unique picosecond technology, Picosure Focus target all three layers of skin with sun damage: epidermal pigment, wrinkles in the mid dermis, and dermal laxity in the deep dermis. Once these targeted areas have been treated, the body’s natural healing process clears away older, damaged tissue and rebuilds it with fresh, new collagen and elastin, which are the building blocks for more youthful looking skin. Fine lines are often blurred with a series of treatments but this is not a treatment for deeper wrinkles which are better suited to ablative laser therapies.

 

HOW MANY TREATMENTS OF PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ WILL I NEED TO TREAT WRINKLES?

For most patients, a series of 3 to 6 treatments is recommended to reach your skin goals. Treatments can be done every 2 to 4 weeks or up to 8 weeks for those with darker skin. Each patient is unique and will be evaluated prior to treatment.

 

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ LASER TREATMENT?

Before getting any laser treatment, it’s important to consult with us to discuss your skin concerns and to evaluate your options. For patients in search of a refreshed, more youthful look with little to no down time, PicoSure laser treatment may be the right choice. Also, some patients may not be candidates for heat based laser due to their skin type so the PicoSure Focus laser may be a great alternative.

 

HOW DOES PICOSURE FOCUS WORK FOR ACNE SCARS?

PicoSure Focus Laser acne scar treatment is FDA-cleared for acne scars on any area of the body, including the face. Acne scars should begin to show improvement in as little as 3 treatments, but a series of several treatments is recommended for optimum aesthetic results.

Picosure Focus laser acne scar treatment uses ultra-short pulses of laser light to reach the skin’s deeper layers, treating the supporting structure. The body’s natural healing process steps in to clear out the older, damaged tissue and rebuilds fresh, new collagen and elastin which are essential for normal-looking, smoother skin.

PicoSure Focus for acne scars is a quick and simple treatment that is well tolerated with the application of numbing cream. Hyperpigmentation associated with acne scars will slightly frost (whiten) during treatment and then darken over the next few days, ultimately shedding away. Most patients are able to resume their normal activities shortly after their PicoSure Focus treatment.

It is important to understand that the textual component of acne scars are permanent scars but their appearance can be improved with time, diligence, and patience. The degree of improvement expected will be discussed during your initial consultation.

* Our Patient after one treatment. Individual Results May Vary