Pigment Removal

Pigmentation is caused by an excessive amount of melanin found in certain cells on the body’s surface. These cells usually carry a higher level of “melanocytes”, which produce the melanin that causes individual areas to become pigmented.

There are numerous factors that can cause this, such as Hormones, Ageing, Hereditary Factors, Excessive exposure to the sun, Pregnancy, and the contraceptive pill.

Pigmentation is a skin discolouration, that appear as brownish or pinkish marks on the face and body. These can develop more in fair skinned or elderly individuals. Almost everyone has some form of pigmentation, whether that be freckles, sun spots, birth marks, or moles.

The Medical Grade Lasers at SILK Laser Clinics operate by using an intense burst of light to target the pigmented lesions causing the selective healing of the upper dermis. The benefits of using a Medical Grade Laser is that the pigment can be precisely targeted without causing any damage to surrounding tissue or overlying dermis.
After each Laser treatment, a gentle wound healing response leads to new collagen formation and a clinical improvement to the treated area over time.
The pigmentation/sun spot will gradually lighten and fade, slowly disappearing. Initially the treated area may seem darker and flaking is common.

Superficial pigment that is treated is unlikely to re appear if the area is protected at all times from UV exposure. Dermal pigment can arise at any time due to hormone changes, medications, medical conditions etc. Provided that the client follows an aftercare plan results should be significant and long lasting.

At SILK Laser Clinics, we recommend anywhere from 4 to 6 treatments to and should be done in 4 week intervals. This will also depend on the type and size of the pigmented lesion you have. We recommend on starting with a course of 4 treatments and evaluating the effectiveness from there.
We also recommend to undergo medical microdermabrasions inbetween each treatment in order to keep the treated area in the best possible condition. This will help in achieving the most effective results, which is our main aim at SILK Laser Clinics.

It can depend on the type and size of the area being treated; however, normally a treatment will be approximately 15 – 30 minutes in length.

The heat from the laser is concentrated at a superficial level so it is likely that the client will experience some discomfort with this treatment. Ice can be used directly before and after to help to reduce sensitivity. Topical numbing creams such as Emla or Xylocain are available from a pharmacy and can be used for a more comfortable treatment. The treated area can feel like sunburn for up to 48 hours afterwards, cold packs and ASAP aloe should be used to reduce inflammation.

Following the treatment, the pigmentation will appear darker and can take up to 2 weeks to flake off. Swelling and redness of the treated area is common and can take up to 48 hours to settle.

Most clients report a 70% or greater improvement over the duration of their course of treatments.

The area will need to be assessed before any quote is given so invite the client in for a free consultation. Single session prices can be given as a rough estimate as to what it would cost if the client was to pay per visit. We generally recommend that microdermabrasion is done in conjunction with this treatment and there are varying courses that could be recommended depending on the degree of pigmentation.
For a full price list, please contact on of our friendly staff on (08) 8272 7828 or go to our pricelist section.

All treatments will be performed by our highly trained and qualified SILK Laser Pigmentation Removal Therapists.

The most commonly treated areas are: all parts of the face, the neck, decolletage, shoulders, and hands.

The medical grade lasers cannot cause permanent scarring as it doesn’t cause damage to the Dermis layer of the skin. Any pigmentation or burns caused during treatment are superficial and will disappear with time, if looked after appropriately.

It is extremely important not to affect the skins pigmentation in anyway prior to and post the laser treatments. Such exposure can cause hypo and hyper pigmentation, deterring the effects of the laser treatment.

Please avoid the sun or solariums 2 – 4 weeks prior to treatment and at least 1 -2 months after treatment. Be sure to also apply sunscreen hourly while you are exposed. Do also not use any form of tanning throughout your treatment, including tanning sprays or lotions. It is due to this, the majority of our patients undergo pigmentation removal during the Autumn and Winter months, when UV burning is at its lowest.

ENVIRON Clarifying Lotion is a great product to assist with pigmentation reduction (both superficial and dermal) and it is highly advisable that it be used at least 2 weeks prior to treatment. There are also Vitamin A, C, E and SPF products that should be used whilst undergoing laser treatment.

Superficial pigment (i.e. sun spots freckles etc.) are the easiest to treat. A satisfactory result is usually seen within 2- 4 treatments. Pigment that is deep or dermal can take up to 6 treatments or more and a strict skin care regime must be followed.

This is an area that is crucial to maintaining and preventing pigmentation from returning to the area. An appropriate skincare regime will be discussed with you that best suits your skintype. A standard pre and post skincare regime is in our “Pre Treatment” and “Post Treatment” Guidelines.

Please also refer to our skincare for a list of products that may be suitable for your specific needs. Our highly trained therapists will guide you through an appropriate skincare regime that will best suit you.

There are only a few medications that could possibly affect the treatments of laser pigment removal. These medications include Roaccutane and Retin-A as both of these medications can alter the pigmentation in the individual’s skin. It is recommended that Roaccutane be ceased up to 6 months prior to treatment and Retin-A at least 2 – 4 weeks prior to treatment.