ATTN: If you thought laser treatment was *just* a method for hair removal, then you thought wrong. To break it down, PICO, also known as picosecond, is a laser treatment that is non-surgical, and non-invasive. Although you may be used to facials where your skin is deep-cleaned and hydrated, this specific laser facial is ~perfect~ for the brown girls with stubborn dark spots that won’t budge. That’s where I come in.
For years I’ve had an imbalance of melanin in my skin thanks to genetics, sun damage, and the lack of using sunscreen as I was growing up. I know, I’m disappointed in myself as well. So, every time I would break out (and pop a pimple,) the acne scars would stay and my skin tone was usually uneven AF.
Plenty of serums and moisturisers that I’ve tried have come and gone, but nothing has improved my skin tone more than *this* facial laser treatment.
I headed to Aesthetics International in Al Wasl to get my skincare fix, and with their renowned doctors, I was ~excited~ much more than apprehensive. In case you didn’t know, Aesthetics International has just been featured on the viral Netflix show Dubai Bling, and founder Dr. Jaffer Khan is a specialist Plastic & Reconstructive surgeon.
My skin before the PICO laser treatment.
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Rehab Yahia, the head beauty therapist & trainer at the clinic was taking care of my facial and assured me that I’d feel no pain through the process. The first step was explaining my combo skin type and troubles to her. As it turns out, I had the perfect skin type to try PICO on. The process took less than an hour, and numbing cream was applied 30 minutes beforehand so I’d have a smooth treatment.
Rehab placed the safety goggles on me and began zapping away at my stubborn dark spots and acne scars. In terms of rating the pain, the procedure felt like a 5 out of 10. If you’ve done laser hair removal before then you’ve already built that pain tolerance.
My skin post-PICO.
The best part about this laser facial? The downtime only takes a day. Your skin may be red and sensitive afterward, but give it a couple of hours and you’ll feel normal again.
FYI, it takes 2-3 weeks for the results to show, and you’ll begin to notice that your dark spots have faded. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen every day (!!)
My skin post-PICO.
In my case, I let my skin rest for a couple of days without makeup or skincare on, but in a week’s time, I saw the difference. And in three weeks’ time, I felt *confident* without wearing ~any~ makeup.
3 weeks after my PICO laser facial.
Here’s what you need to know about the PICO laser treatment…
If you’re wondering how safe this procedure is for your skin, worry not, “the laser is designed to maximise results while minimizing discomfort and eliminating long-term skin damage. Patients will also experience light edema and Erythema, but it will subside within 1/2 hours after the procedure,” according to skin therapist Rehab.
“PICO is safe for all skin tones and types, literally anyone will be a good candidate for it. Using a collagen-stimulating handpiece, PICO Laser is a great preventative approach for anti-aging. I would say the treatment is perfect for those struggling with acne, acne scarring, skin discolouration, tattoo removal, wrinkles, and pigmentation. This laser can be applied to almost any part of the body such as the arms, chest, legs, and face.”
I found that this treatment was beyond effective for my hyperpigmentation, and I’d definitely do it again. If you’d like to book a session yourself or learn more about Aesthetics International, then click here.