Pico Toning Seoul: Why the Plan Matters More Than the Laser

Pico toning Seoul: what I told Daily Hankook in December 2020

Hello, I'm Dr. Won Sin Lee, a board-certified dermatologist and Chief Director at WELLS Clinic in Apgujeong, Seoul. I trained and was board-certified in dermatology at Asan Medical Center, where I am now an adjunct professor of dermatology. Patients who search for pico toning Seoul options usually ask me the same thing first: is the laser itself the answer, or is there more to it?

My short answer is that the laser matters, but the plan matters more. In December 2020 I spoke to Daily Hankook (데일리한국) for an article about melasma and pico toning, and the headline carried the point I wanted readers to take away: look for a clinic that can tailor the treatment to your pigment.

That interview was written for Korean readers in the middle of a quiet pandemic winter, when many people had taken up running and other outdoor hobbies. The advice still holds for anyone planning a pico toning Seoul visit today, so in this post I rewrite it for international readers: why pigment keeps forming, what pico toning does, and how we decide the plan at WELLS.

Why does sun exposure still cause pigment in winter?

The article opened with a reminder that people tend to forget sunscreen once summer ends. Ultraviolet light does not disappear in the colder months, so pigment keeps being stimulated all year round.

Ultraviolet light that reaches us is mainly UVA and UVB. UVB is the burning part of sunlight, the one behind redness and sunburn after a long day outside. UVA has a longer wavelength and reaches deeper into the skin, where it is generally linked with collagen breakdown, skin ageing and a weaker barrier.

When skin is exposed to UVA, it produces melanin as a defence. That defensive melanin is where melasma and similar pigment problems often begin. This is why I told the reporter that the best prevention is consistent sun protection, every season: sunscreen for melasma is a daily habit, not a summer one.

• Indoors most of the day: a light everyday sunscreen is usually enough.
• Errands and short trips outside: a daily sunscreen with moderate SPF and PA protection.
• Long outdoor exercise such as running or hiking: a high SPF and high PA product, reapplied.

Sunscreen prevents new pigment, but it does not remove pigment that is already there. That is the point at which a dermatologist can help.

What is pico toning, and what does it treat?

Pico toning is a laser treatment that delivers very strong energy in an extremely short pulse. At WELLS we use picosecond toning at 1064 nm and 755 nm, with pulses 1,000 times shorter than conventional laser toning. The short pulse breaks abnormal pigment into finer particles while sending less heat into the surrounding skin.

In the interview I explained that, because energy is concentrated on the pigment, pico toning can shorten the course compared with older toning and spare more of the normal skin. I also said that the pale or dark patches sometimes seen after older pigment treatments appear far less often. That is still how I would put it today: fewer of those problems, not none.

Pico toning at WELLS treats melasma, age spots (lentigo), nevus of Ota and ABNOM. Freckles and sun spots are also part of the pigment work we do, and for those we sometimes choose BBL for freckles and sun spots instead. The full description of the laser is on our melasma and pico toning page.

Why does pico toning in Seoul need a tailored plan?

This was the core of my comment to Daily Hankook. Melasma, freckles, age spots and nevus of Ota can all respond to pico toning, but the number of sessions and the interval differ with each person's condition. Two people can both say they have spots and need very different plans.

Depth matters, because pigment can sit in the upper skin or deeper in the dermis. Type matters, because melasma behaves differently from a freckle or a lentigo. And your skin's reaction matters, because the interval between sessions should follow how your skin settles after each one.

That is why I advised readers to choose a clinic with a deep understanding of pigment disorders. A clinic that offers one fixed package for every spot is choosing for convenience, not for your skin.

How do we plan pico toning at WELLS in Seoul?

Every plan starts with a board-certified dermatologist examining your skin. We have treated pigment in Apgujeong since 2008, and we use both picosecond wavelengths under one roof, so the plan is not limited to a single laser.

WELLS has used PicoSure since introducing it in 2015 and has performed about 30,000 PicoSure procedures. PicoSure Pro, our 755 nm picosecond laser, is FDA and KFDA approved and is combined with 1064 nm and 532 nm when pigment sits at different depths.

• Diagnosis first: which pigment, how deep, and whether more than one type is present.
• Wavelength choice: 1064 nm, 755 nm, or both.
• Energy and interval: adjusted to how red your skin becomes and how quickly it settles.
• Review at each visit: the plan changes if your skin responds differently than expected.

For melasma that keeps returning after toning, we have our own protocol, MELA Triple Toning. It combines pico or Clarity toning, microneedle RF for the deeper skin environment, and a skin-brightening enzyme developed at WELLS. It is listed at ₩770,000 (VAT excluded) per session. The price for pico toning on its own is confirmed at consultation.

What should you ask any clinic before pico toning in Seoul?

Whether you come to us or not, a few questions will tell you whether a clinic is planning for your skin or simply selling sessions. These follow directly from the advice in the article.

• Who diagnoses my pigment, and is it a dermatologist?
• Which picosecond wavelengths do you have, and which one would you use for me?
• How will you decide the interval between sessions?
• What will you change if my pigment responds slowly, or comes back?
• What sun protection do you want me to use between sessions?

Clear answers to these are a better guide than any price list. If a clinic cannot tell you why it chose a particular wavelength, that is worth noticing.

How does a pico toning trip to Seoul work from abroad?

Pigment is usually managed over a series of sessions rather than cleared in one trip, so think of a pico toning Seoul plan as a course. If you visit Seoul regularly, it helps to stay with one clinic so the same team can follow your response from visit to visit.

Start on WhatsApp with a photo and your dates. At the clinic, a dermatologist examines your skin, confirms the plan and the price, and treats you the same day where it is appropriate. WELLS is on the 8th floor of the Apgujeong Building, 842 Nonhyeon-ro, about five minutes on foot from Apgujeong Station (Line 3), Exit 3. You can read more in our clinic and directions page and in my colleague's longer guide to pico toning.

Results and recovery vary by individual. Every treatment carries possible side effects, which are explained at the consultation. Prices are in Korean won, excluding 10% VAT, and confirmed at your consultation. This article is general information from the clinic, not a diagnosis.

Written by

Dr. Won Sin Lee

Medical Director · WELLS Clinic, Apgujeong

• Board-certified dermatologist in Korea; trained at Asan Medical Center in Seoul
• Dermatology residency, Asan Medical Center; board certification in dermatology in Korea
• Adjunct professor, Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center
• Former director, Bokji Dermatology Clinic, Korean Leprosy Welfare Association
• Commendation for Outstanding Service as a Public Health Physician

Full profile