What is the best treatment for pigmentation removal?

The best treatment depends on the type and depth of pigment. PicoSure is often used for concentrated sun spots, freckles and post-acne marks. Fotona and laser resurfacing can be useful when pigmentation sits at multiple depths or appears alongside textural damage. A skin assessment is the quickest way to choose between them.

How many pigmentation removal sessions will I need?

A short series is common, but there is no single session count for every type of pigmentation. Isolated sun spots may respond sooner than melasma or long-standing post-inflammatory pigmentation. Your plan will depend on pigment depth, treatment area, skin response and the technology selected during consultation.

Can laser treatment help melasma?

Laser can form part of a melasma treatment plan, but melasma behaves differently from an isolated sun spot. Heat, hormones and UV exposure can all influence recurrence, so treatment is usually conservative and paired with strict sun protection and suitable home care. Your practitioner will first assess whether laser is appropriate for your pattern of melasma.

Is pigmentation removal permanent?

Treated pigment can clear, but new pigmentation can develop. Sun exposure, hormones, inflammation and ageing may trigger fresh melanin production after treatment. Daily broad-spectrum SPF and a maintenance plan are important if you want to keep the skin looking even over time.

Is laser pigmentation removal suitable for darker skin?

Darker skin can be treated, but technology and settings need to be selected carefully because the surrounding skin also contains more melanin. A consultation allows the practitioner to assess your Fitzpatrick skin type, pigment depth and history of post-inflammatory pigmentation before recommending a treatment approach.

How much downtime is there after pigmentation treatment?

Downtime ranges from mild temporary redness after lower-intensity PicoSure or Fotona treatments to several days of dryness, flaking or sensitivity after resurfacing. The treatment section of your plan should account for both the result you want and the recovery time you can manage.

How much does pigmentation removal cost in Sydney?

Cost depends on the size of the area, the type and depth of pigmentation, and whether your plan uses one technology or a combination. Your initial consultation at our Sydney CBD clinic is complimentary, with no deposit required. We provide treatment pricing after assessing your skin and recommended approach.

When should a dark spot be checked before cosmetic treatment?

A new, changing, irregular, itchy or bleeding pigmented spot should be assessed by a GP or dermatologist before cosmetic treatment. Laser pigmentation removal is intended for suitable cosmetic pigmentation, not for diagnosing or treating suspicious skin lesions.

Sydney CBD Skin Clinic

Pigmentation Removal
Sydney

Treatment plans for sun spots, melasma, freckles, age spots and post-acne pigmentation, matched to the type and depth of pigment in your skin.

Suite 1304, 99 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Book Your Consultation Call 0452 008 115

Complimentary consultation. No deposit required.

PicoSure laser treatment · Sydney CBD

Start With the Cause

What is skin pigmentation?

Skin pigmentation is colour produced by melanin. When melanin becomes concentrated in certain areas, it can appear as sun spots, freckles, melasma or dark marks after acne and inflammation. Pigmentation removal works best when treatment is matched to the cause and depth of that excess pigment.

Two marks that look similar at first glance may behave very differently. A surface sun spot can respond quickly to a pigment-targeting laser, while melasma often needs a slower plan that accounts for hormones, heat and ongoing UV exposure. This is why the consultation starts with identification, not a preselected machine.

Treatment paths

CBD

Sydney location

1:1

Skin assessment

Woman with visible facial pigmentation and uneven skin tone

Types of Pigmentation

Similar colour.
Different behaviour.

Pigmentation removal is not one treatment. The pattern, trigger and depth determine which approach makes sense.

Sun spots

Sun spot removal

Flat brown marks that develop after repeated UV exposure, often across the face, hands, chest and shoulders.

Melasma

Melasma treatment

Symmetrical brown or grey-brown patches commonly seen on the cheeks, forehead and upper lip. Heat, hormones and sun exposure can all influence it.

Post-inflammatory pigmentation

Post-acne marks

Dark marks left after acne, irritation or injury. The colour can sit at different depths and may linger after the original inflammation has settled.

Freckles

Freckle removal

Small, concentrated areas of pigment that become more visible with sun exposure and commonly respond to pigment-targeting treatments.

Age spots

Age spot treatment

Well-defined brown spots linked to cumulative sun exposure. They are also known as solar lentigines and often appear from midlife onward.

Uneven skin tone

Skin brightening

Diffuse discolouration can combine surface pigment, post-acne marks and sun damage rather than presenting as one isolated spot.

Diagram showing melanin production from the lower epidermis to the skin surface

How Pigment Works

Depth determines the treatment.

Melanin is produced near the base of the epidermis and moves upward as skin cells renew. Some pigment remains close to the surface. Other pigment extends deeper or appears across several layers.

Surface pigment

Epidermis

Freckles and many sun spots sit close to the skin surface. PicoSure or controlled resurfacing may be considered after assessment.

Mixed pigment

Epidermis + dermis

Melasma and long-standing pigmentation can span more than one layer, so treatment is usually gradual and carefully matched to the skin.

Deeper pigment

Dermis

Some post-inflammatory and mixed pigment sits deeper. Wavelength, energy and treatment spacing matter more than simply choosing the strongest setting.

Treatment Options

Pigmentation treatments at 99 Medispa

The strongest treatment is not automatically the best one. We compare pigment depth, skin tone, downtime and your broader skin goals before recommending a technology.

Picosecond laser

PicoSure

Ultra-short 755nm pulses target concentrated pigment with limited heat spread. Often considered for sun spots, freckles, post-acne marks and overall tone.

Best considered for: Targeted pigment and low-downtime plans

Explore treatment →

Dual-wavelength laser

Fotona

Nd:YAG and Er:YAG modes allow practitioners to work at different skin depths, from non-ablative heating to controlled surface renewal.

Best considered for: Mixed concerns involving pigment and texture

Explore treatment →

Sun spots and uneven pigmentation on facial skin

Controlled skin renewal

Laser Resurfacing

Resurfacing removes or renews selected layers of damaged skin. It can suit visible surface pigment when a client can accommodate more recovery time.

Best considered for: Surface pigment with textural change

Explore treatment →

Hydro-dermabrasion

Hydrofacial

A gentle exfoliation and hydration treatment used to support surface clarity between more targeted pigmentation treatments.

Best considered for: Maintenance, hydration and surface brightness

Explore treatment →

Your Treatment Plan

How pigmentation removal works

A useful plan is specific enough to target the pigment, but measured enough to respect how your skin responds.

Identify the pigment

Your practitioner looks at the pattern, colour, depth, skin type, recent sun exposure and treatment history.

Match the technology

We choose the device and settings for the pigment in front of us rather than applying one protocol to every dark spot.

Treat in stages

Laser sessions are measured and spaced so the skin has time to settle and fragmented pigment can gradually clear.

Protect the result

Daily SPF, considered skincare and maintenance treatments help reduce fresh UV-triggered pigment and support a more even tone.

Treatment Results

Pigmentation before and after

Pigment can continue to clear in the weeks after treatment. Individual outcomes and the number of sessions required vary.

Before and after PicoSure pigmentation treatment result

Laser pigmentation removal before and after result

PicoSure treatment result for uneven pigmentation

Common Questions

Pigmentation removal FAQs

These answers cover the questions we hear most often about laser pigmentation treatment in Sydney.

Clinical Research

Pigmentation laser studies

Clinical research helps explain where pigment lasers may fit, but outcomes vary by diagnosis, wavelength, protocol and skin type. These selected human studies cover freckles, photopigmentation and melasma, including both positive results and important limitations.

Research summaries are educational and do not predict an individual treatment result.

Freckles · Randomised controlled trial

Comparison of 730 nm and 755 nm picosecond lasers for freckles in Asian patients

Zhang M, et al. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2023;55(7):636–641.

A two-centre, split-face trial of 86 participants compared one treatment with a 730 nm picosecond laser against a 755 nm picosecond alexandrite laser. Blinded assessment found comparable freckle clearance between the two wavelengths.

DOI: 10.1002/lsm.23679View on PubMed ↗

Photopigmentation · Randomised study

755 nm picosecond alexandrite laser versus fractional thulium laser for facial photopigmentation

Serra M, Bohnert K, Sadick N. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. 2018;20(6):335–340.

Twenty participants were randomised to picosecond alexandrite or fractional thulium treatment. Both groups improved at follow-up, with the 755 nm group receiving four sessions and showing stronger investigator-rated improvement and patient satisfaction in this small study.

DOI: 10.1080/14764172.2018.1493513View on PubMed ↗

Melasma · Systematic review and meta-analysis

Picosecond laser treatment for melasma

Feng J, Shen S, Song X, Xiang W. Lasers in Medical Science. 2023;38(1):84.

This review included six randomised trials across several picosecond wavelengths. Results varied by wavelength and study, with substantial heterogeneity. The authors found that 755 nm picosecond treatment was not superior to topical depigmenting agents in the included trials.

DOI: 10.1007/s10103-023-03744-yView on PubMed ↗

Melasma · Two-year randomised follow-up

755 nm picosecond alexandrite versus 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG for melasma

Zhou Y, Li Y, Hamblin MR, Wen X. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2024;56(3):263–269.

A split-face study enrolled 20 participants for three monthly treatments and followed them for two years. Neither laser produced a clear long-term advantage, and 58.82% of completing participants reported recurrence or worsening at two years, reinforcing that melasma often needs ongoing management.

DOI: 10.1002/lsm.23763View on PubMed ↗

Treatment guide

PicoSure vs other pigmentation lasers

Compare picosecond, nanosecond and IPL approaches before choosing a laser treatment.

Read guide →

Related concern

Sun damage and age spots

Learn how cumulative UV exposure affects tone, texture and visible brown spots.

Read guide →

Related concern

Acne and post-acne marks

Explore treatment paths for active breakouts, textural scars and lingering discolouration.

Read guide →

Sydney CBD Consultation

Start with the right diagnosis of your pigment.

Your practitioner will assess the pigment pattern, skin type and treatment history, then explain which option fits your goals and available downtime.

Complimentary consultation. No deposit required.

Book Your Consultation Call 0452 008 115

Suite 1304, Level 13, 99 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000

What is skin pigmentation?

Similar colour.Different behaviour.

Sun spots

Melasma

Post-inflammatory pigmentation

Freckles

Age spots

Uneven skin tone

Depth determines the treatment.

Epidermis

Epidermis + dermis

Dermis

Pigmentation treatments at 99 Medispa

PicoSure

Fotona

Laser Resurfacing

Hydrofacial

How pigmentation removal works

Identify the pigment

Match the technology

Treat in stages

Protect the result

Pigmentation before and after

Pigmentation removal FAQs

What is the best treatment for pigmentation removal?

How many pigmentation removal sessions will I need?

Can laser treatment help melasma?

Is pigmentation removal permanent?

Is laser pigmentation removal suitable for darker skin?

How much downtime is there after pigmentation treatment?

How much does pigmentation removal cost in Sydney?

When should a dark spot be checked before cosmetic treatment?

Pigmentation laser studies

Comparison of 730 nm and 755 nm picosecond lasers for freckles in Asian patients

755 nm picosecond alexandrite laser versus fractional thulium laser for facial photopigmentation

Picosecond laser treatment for melasma

755 nm picosecond alexandrite versus 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG for melasma

Compare your next step

PicoSure vs other pigmentation lasers

Sun damage and age spots

Acne and post-acne marks

Start with the right diagnosis of your pigment.

Flexible Payment Options

Similar colour.
Different behaviour.