Why Did Pico Toning Not Work on my Melasma, Age Spots, and Blemishes? Korean Dermatologist Answers
Hello,
Welcome to Hev Dermatology Clinic.
This post was written in accordance with the Medical Service Act and was created by a medical institution operated by a board-certified dermatologist at Hev Clinic, with the consent of the patient who received treatment.
It is not intended to emphasize treatment effects or personal treatment experiences, but rather to provide general information about dermatology and aesthetic procedures.
The photos used in this post meet the following conditions:
- The same individual appears in both the before and after photos.
- The dates when the photos were taken before and after treatment are specified.
- The photos were taken under the same conditions.
This post provides various medical information, including possible side effects that may occur from the procedure. In accordance with Article 56, Paragraph 2, Subparagraph 7 of the Medical Service Act, diagnoses and treatment results may vary depending on the individual, and both effects and side effects may differ from person to person.
※ This article was written directly by the director of Hev Clinic for the purpose of providing information about dermatologic and aesthetic procedures.
Before: September 8, 2023 | After: September 14, 2024
These photos are shared with the patient’s consent. They are original images of the same person, taken in the same location, with no retouching or edits.
Results vary by individual. Before any procedure, we recommend a thorough consultation to review your skin condition and potential side effects (including pigmentation changes, bruising, or swelling).
As summer fades and autumn begins, we see more people start looking into pigmentation treatments.
If you found your way to this post, you’re probably searching for options for freckles, melasma, or dark spots—those stubborn areas that make your complexion look uneven.
As we age, different kinds of pigmentation can appear on the face.
Many spots look similar at first glance, but the diagnosis can be completely different. And once the diagnosis changes, the treatment plan—including the right device, energy level, and number of sessions—changes too.
When pigmentation becomes more noticeable, makeup often can’t fully cover it. Skin can look dull, uneven, and sometimes even older than you feel.
You’ve probably experienced that frustrating moment in the mirror, right?
We actually do very little marketing specifically for pigmentation treatments, but many patients visit us through word of mouth and blog before-and-after photos.
Here is one example of before vs. after.
Today’s patient developed a mix of melasma, freckles, and dark spots after childbirth and had been concerned about worsening her pigmentation with the wrong treatment.
Because she wanted to avoid “trial-and-error” at multiple clinics, she researched carefully before choosing to visit us.
Why didn’t Pico Toning work?
We often meet patients who have already tried 10–20 sessions elsewhere without seeing meaningful improvement.
Pigmentation treatment can be tricky. Diagnosis is not always straightforward, and even with the right diagnosis, each person’s skin responds differently—so the settings and approach need to be carefully customized.
About Pico Toning
We do use Pico Toning at our clinic, and it can be a helpful option. However, Pico Toning is designed as a low-energy treatment applied gently over the entire face.
Within that low-energy range, certain pigmentation may gradually brighten over time. But in many cases, melasma, freckles, and distinct dark spots won’t fully clear with Pico Toning alone.
That’s why, especially early on, it’s often important to combine Pico Toning with customized pigmentation treatment, adjusting the energy level and technique depending on each lesion.
If pigment removal were that simple, specialized options—such as melasma-focused lasers, targeted dark spot lasers, or Re: Pol lasers—wouldn’t be widely used.
We’ve helped many patients who saw little change after repeated treatments elsewhere, and then finally achieved visible improvement with a properly tailored plan.
Thank you for reading.
