PicoLO Premium by Laseroptek: Picosecond Laser for Pigmentation, Scars, and Skin Rejuvenation in NYC
The Second Generation of an Award-Winning Korean Picosecond Platform
PicoLO Premium is the second-generation evolution of Laseroptek’s acclaimed PicoLO picosecond laser, a platform that earned the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award at the 2019 Korea Technology Awards and recognition from both the Korean Institute of Design Promotion and the Asia Design Prize. Built by Laseroptek, a South Korean medical laser company that has been developing and exporting advanced laser technology since 2000, the PicoLO Premium advances on its predecessor in output stability, handpiece versatility, and clinical depth, making it one of the more precisely engineered picosecond platforms currently available in the aesthetic laser market.
The PicoLO Premium operates at dual wavelengths of 1064nm and 532nm, delivering highly stable picosecond pulses at 450 picoseconds and 350 picoseconds respectively. It is designed to address a broad range of indications including pigmented lesions, acne scarring, skin rejuvenation, and tattoo removal, with a suite of proprietary handpiece technologies that enable treatments to be precisely targeted to different skin layers and clinical objectives.
How PicoLO Premium Works
The core mechanism of picosecond laser treatment is the photoacoustic, or photomechanical, effect. Unlike older nanosecond Q-switched lasers that rely primarily on heat to destroy pigment, picosecond lasers fire energy in pulses approximately 100 times shorter, generating intense pressure waves that shatter pigment particles and trigger cellular repair processes with minimal thermal diffusion to the surrounding tissue. This results in more effective fragmentation of pigment, a lower risk of heat-related side effects, and faster patient recovery compared to nanosecond predecessors.
What distinguishes the PicoLO Premium within the picosecond category is the stability of its pulse output. The device maintains a pulse duration standard deviation of less than 2% at both wavelengths and an energy output standard deviation below 5% at 1064nm and below 2% at 532nm. This level of consistency is clinically significant because the effectiveness of picosecond laser treatments depends heavily on the reliability of each pulse. Inconsistent output can reduce treatment efficacy or increase the risk of uneven results. The PicoLO Premium’s stable peak power also allows it to reliably induce Laser-Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) even at lower fluence levels, which expands the range of patients and indications it can safely treat.
The Dia FX Handpiece and Three-Depth Treatment
One of the most clinically notable features of the PicoLO Premium is its Dia FX 1064nm fractional handpiece, which incorporates Laseroptek’s proprietary DOE (Diffractive Optical Element) technology and offers three levels of depth adjustment for targeted treatments. This three-depth capability allows practitioners to direct energy to the superficial dermis, mid dermis, or deep dermis depending on the concern being addressed, enabling a level of customization that single-depth fractional handpieces cannot replicate.
The DOE technology generates a uniform fractional grid pattern across the entire treatment area, ensuring that every microbeam in the array delivers equal fluence and penetration depth. This uniform distribution reduces the risk of hot spots, uneven ablation, or inconsistent collagen stimulation that can occur with fractional systems using conventional lens arrays. The result is a more predictable treatment with consistent outcomes across the full surface being addressed.
The LIOB mechanism triggered by the Dia FX handpiece creates microscopic cavitation vacuoles within the dermis that activate the skin’s healing response, stimulating the production of new collagen and elastin. Clinical studies using the PicoLO’s fractional 1064nm handpiece have demonstrated measurable improvements in atrophic acne scarring, with histopathologic findings confirming dermal remodeling at the treatment site.
What PicoLO Premium Can Treat
PicoLO Premium is a versatile platform that can address a range of both pigmentary and structural skin concerns.
For pigmentation, it effectively targets sunspots, age spots, freckles, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and other benign pigmented lesions. The picosecond pulse duration allows for thorough fragmentation of melanin particles at both epidermal and dermal depths, making it effective for superficial and deeper pigment concerns that may not fully respond to less powerful nanosecond technologies.
For acne scarring and skin texture, the Dia FX fractional handpiece drives collagen remodeling at adjustable depths within the dermis, improving the appearance of atrophic acne scars, enlarged pores, and uneven skin texture without ablating the surface of the skin. The three-depth adjustment allows treatment to be precisely calibrated to the depth of the scar being addressed.
For skin rejuvenation, low-energy PicoLO Premium treatments stimulate the skin’s natural repair response at the dermal level, progressively improving skin tone, luminosity, firmness, and texture over a series of sessions. This type of non-ablative pico toning protocol has become a standard of care in Korean aesthetic medicine for both corrective and maintenance skin quality treatments.
For tattoo removal, the dual-wavelength system addresses a broad range of ink colors. The 1064nm wavelength effectively targets black, blue, and dark green inks, while the 532nm wavelength is suited for red and orange pigments. The picosecond pulse shatters ink particles into smaller fragments than nanosecond systems, supporting faster clearance and fewer sessions.
Benefits of PicoLO Premium
- Class-leading pulse duration and energy output stability, with less than 2% standard deviation at both wavelengths
- Proprietary DOE fractional technology for uniform energy distribution and consistent treatment outcomes
- Dia FX three-depth handpiece for precise targeting across superficial, mid, and deep dermis
- Reliably induces LIOB at lower fluences, broadening the range of treatable skin types and concerns
- Clinically studied for acne scar improvement with published histopathologic findings
- Effective across a broad range of pigmentation concerns including melasma and PIH
- Minimal downtime for most treatment protocols
- Award-winning platform with a strong international clinical and design track record
Ideal Candidates for PicoLO Premium
PicoLO Premium is well suited for patients with pigmentation concerns such as sunspots, melasma, or post-acne marks that have been resistant to topical treatments. It is also a strong option for patients seeking improvement in atrophic acne scarring, enlarged pores, or overall skin texture through a non-ablative approach. Patients with medium to darker skin tones who need a low-thermal treatment option to minimize the risk of PIH are particularly well served by this platform’s stable, high-peak-power picosecond delivery.
A consultation with a board-certified dermatologist is important before any picosecond laser treatment to assess skin type and concerns, determine appropriate settings, and establish realistic expectations for outcomes. Melasma in particular requires careful clinical evaluation, as it can be sensitive to certain treatment parameters and responds best when managed by a dermatologist with expertise in treating pigmentation across diverse skin tones.
What to Expect During Treatment
Most PicoLO Premium sessions are well tolerated. Topical numbing cream is typically applied before treatment, particularly for scar revision or higher-energy pigmentation protocols. Patients generally describe a mild snapping or warm sensation during energy delivery.
Treatment time varies depending on the area and indication, typically ranging from 15 to 45 minutes. For pigmentation concerns, a series of sessions spaced three to four weeks apart is generally recommended. For rejuvenation and maintenance protocols, more frequent lower-energy sessions may be used. Tattoo removal typically requires more sessions spaced six to eight weeks apart to allow adequate clearance between visits.
Results and Recovery
For brightening and low-energy toning protocols, there is generally no downtime. Mild redness may appear immediately after treatment and typically resolves within a few hours.
For pigmentation treatments, some temporary darkening of treated spots or mild redness may occur and generally resolves within a few days to one week. For scar and rejuvenation treatments using the Dia FX fractional handpiece, mild redness and swelling can persist for one to two days before settling.
Pigmentation results often become visible within one to two weeks as treated areas gradually fade. Collagen remodeling from LIOB-based treatments develops progressively over weeks to months, with continued improvement seen across a full treatment series. Diligent sun protection following any pico laser treatment is essential to protect results and minimize the risk of pigmentation recurrence.
PicoLO Premium Within the Laseroptek Family
Laseroptek offers both the Lotus III Er:YAG fractional laser and the PicoLO Premium picosecond platform, making the company one of the few Korean manufacturers with deep expertise across both ablative and picosecond laser modalities. Patients and clinicians who are evaluating Korean laser technology will find that the two platforms address fundamentally different mechanisms of skin improvement and are often complementary when used in a comprehensive treatment plan.
Learn More About Picosecond Laser Treatment for Pigmentation and Skin Rejuvenation
To explore whether a picosecond laser treatment may be the right approach for your skin concerns, schedule a consultation with Dr. Yoo.