Recommended pigmentation-removal lasers and treatment reviews
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.
Today’s post is about one-day freckle-removal laser treatment.
Freckles (heukja) appear as a result of aging.
When we divide the skin into epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous fat,
freckles remain in the upper layer, the epidermis.
This allows us to target the epidermis with lasers, forming scabs on the freckles that eventually fall off.
Many people who learned about this method often ask the same question:
“Can the freckles I have be treated all at once?”
I’ve prepared this post to answer that question.
First, here’s the answer, then we’ll look at the reasons:
Can the freckles I have be treated all at once?
Yes, it’s possible—but there are conditions:
- They must truly be freckles
Some people come thinking they have freckles, but it may turn out to be melasma, lentigines, or nevi.
In cases diagnosed as melasma, nevi, etc.,
the condition is different from freckles that remain only in the epidermis,
so freckle lasers cannot be used. - Freckles exist alone
If freckles are mixed with melasma or other types,
additional localized treatment will be necessary after freckle removal.
To make this easier to understand,
let’s look at a case with photos! It will make the explanation very clear.
Case 86: Female in her late 30s
(Isolated freckles)
A freckle on the left cheekbone that appeared during pregnancy.
She had two AcuLase sessions 2 months ago—
no effect.
Two months ago, he had two attempts but saw no improvement.
While searching for a freckle-removal laser clinic in Siheung,
he found our blog and came all the way from Siheung to Incheon.
2 weeks after the procedure
The freckles were completely and neatly removed.
The patient asked, “Why did I do AcuLase twice?”
It was worth the trip from afar, and I was happy too.
For simple, isolated freckles like this, removal works very well,
and there’s no need for multiple visits.
Case 87: Male in his early 50s
(Second treatment may be required)
He has high blood pressure and diabetes,
and while searching for a clinic that performs freckle-removal laser treatments,
he found none in his area in Ansan, so he came all the way to Incheon.
The freckles this time were slightly different from usual, showing a light purple or light gray tone.
I explained that this type is a bit different from regular freckles,
and that in addition to the 532nm one-day freckle removal,
additional localized treatment would be necessary for this type.
This guidance was provided because the patient travels an hour from Ansan and would need to come multiple times,
so it’s important to consider this before starting the procedure.
As expected,
2 weeks after the procedure
It’s definitely different from the 2-week result in Case 1, right?
Even with the same procedure, the response can vary depending on the type of freckle and the condition of the underlying skin.
As I mentioned before the procedure, there’s only a slight fading at first, with no significant difference.
Some cases cannot be treated in a single session—but after a second treatment, the pigmentation can fade further.
4 months after the second treatment
Before vs. After the procedure
Before the procedure vs. 2 weeks after vs. 4 months after the second treatment
Visual impression after completing the second treatment
Before the procedure: 2023.03.27 – After the procedure: 2023.08.12
This photo was posted with consent and is an original photo of the same person, taken in the same location without any editing.
The effects of each procedure may vary, so please have a thorough consultation beforehand regarding possible side effects (pigmentation, bruising, swelling, etc.).
Case 88 & 89: Female in her 30s–40s
(Melasma present – a second treatment is definitely required)
When freckles (heukja) and melasma appear together,
it’s not enough to just remove the freckles—consistent treatment of pigmentation and the dermal layer is also necessary.
Some people feel overwhelmed by melasma treatment and want to focus only on the more noticeable freckles,
but eventually, melasma treatment becomes necessary as well.
If you’re planning or considering freckle-removal laser treatment,
I hope you read this post carefully.
To summarize briefly:
Can the freckles I have be treated all at once?
Yes, it’s possible—but there are conditions:
- The spots are truly freckles.
- The freckles exist alone, without other types of pigmentation.
If freckles are located in areas with melasma or mixed with other types of pigmentation,
additional localized treatment will be needed after freckle removal.
As more patients travel from afar by plane, train, or bus,
I want to make sure no one makes a wasted trip.
Many people have learned about freckle removal through my blog and YouTube,
so I wrote this post with the hope that you’ll know these points before deciding on treatment.
Thank you.
