A doctor’s perspective · English edition
Laser toning, pico, IPL: what do the names on Korean clinic menus mean?
A menu name tells you the kind of device. It does not tell you whether it suits your skin.
Dr. Seung Woo JangPhysician in Aesthetic Medicine6 min read · Sources includedReviewed by Dr. Kwang Yeon Kim and Dr. Seung Yeon Cha
The short answer
Laser toning, pico, IPL: what do the names on Korean clinic menus mean?
Laser toning usually means a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser used at low energy over many sessions, often around ten, spaced a week or two apart. Pico refers to picosecond lasers, whose pulses are shorter than a nanosecond. IPL is intense pulsed light, which is not a laser: each flash contains many wavelengths. None of these names tells you the settings, how many sessions you would need, or whether the treatment fits the concern you came with. Those answers come from the doctor who examines your skin, so ask for them before you pay.
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Laser toning: low energy, many sessions.
In published studies from Asia, laser toning describes a 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser used at low energy with a large spot, repeated weekly or every two weeks, usually for around ten sessions. A 2022 systematic review notes that it has been widely used in Asia for pigment concerns.
The same review describes side effects that matter to anyone planning several sessions: mottled lighter spots and rebound darkening have both been reported, and pigment returned after treatment in several of the studies it looked at. So the useful question is how many sessions the doctor expects for you, and what happens if you cannot come back for all of them.
Medicina (peer-reviewed journal)Pico: a description of pulse length.
Pico is short for picosecond. DermNet describes picosecond lasers as delivering pulses shorter than one nanosecond, compared with the nanosecond pulses of older Q-switched lasers. Their main use is tattoo removal, and they are also used for pigment concerns and, with other handpieces, for skin texture.
The word describes how the device works. It does not describe the energy used, the handpiece, or the number of sessions. DermNet lists redness, swelling, pinpoint bleeding, crusting, blistering, scarring and darker or lighter patches among possible side effects, so ask which of these the doctor expects to be likely for your skin.
DermNetIPL: light, not a laser.
Intense pulsed light sends many wavelengths in each flash, where a laser uses one. DermNet notes that a course of four to six sessions, three to six weeks apart, may be needed, that skin can feel like a mild sunburn for a few days, and that sun should be avoided in the days and weeks before and after.
Those intervals are longer than most trips. If IPL is suggested, ask whether one session on this visit makes sense on its own, or whether it only makes sense as the first of a course you will finish elsewhere.
DermNetWhat the menu name leaves out.
Pigment on the face is not one thing, and different concerns are handled differently. DermNet notes that IPL and lasers, including Q-switched Nd:YAG, carry a high risk of relapse for melasma, and that pigment may reappear after summer sun. That is why the examination comes before the choice of device, and why sun protection is part of every plan.
The American Academy of Dermatology advises walking away if someone promises a laser treatment before a medical consultation, and it also says to tell the dermatologist about the medicines and supplements you take, so bring that to the consultation itself rather than to the menu. NHS guidance says to ask about the procedure, the products and what could go wrong. A menu is a starting point for that conversation. The doctor should be able to explain why one option fits you, and why a smaller plan or no treatment might be the better choice.
DermNetAmerican Academy of DermatologyNHSBefore you choose from a menu
What travelers ask
The questions behind the search.
No. IPL sends many wavelengths in each flash, while a laser uses a single wavelength. Clinics often list the two together because both use light energy. DermNet adds that an IPL course of four to six sessions, three to six weeks apart, may be needed.
Official guidanceThe names describe how the devices work, not which one suits you. The doctor who examines your skin should explain why one option fits your concern, including its likely side effects.
Official guidancePublished descriptions of laser toning involve around ten low-fluence sessions a week or two apart. Ask how that number fits the days you have in Korea before buying a package.
Official guidanceThe 2022 systematic review of low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG for melasma reports recurrence after treatment in several of the studies it reviewed, alongside mottled lighter spots and rebound darkening. Ask the doctor what that means for the plan being proposed to you.
Official guidanceBring these with you
Questions to ask at your consultation
Pick the questions you want to raise, then save them or open them in text translation.
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Dr. Seung Woo Jang
Physician in Aesthetic Medicine
A doctor’s perspective on what to understand and ask before choosing care in Korea.
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Checked September 18, 2026. Official sources describe rules and services as published; confirm current details with the provider before you rely on them.
- Medicina (peer-reviewed journal)The Low-Fluence Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser Treatment for Melasma: A Systematic Review (Lee et al.) Published 2022 · Laser toning described as multiple sessions, usually around 10, of weekly or biweekly low-fluence 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG with a large spot size; widely used in Asia; reported adverse events include mottled lighter spots and rebound darkening; recurrence after treatment reported in several studies.
- DermNetPicosecond laser Published 2018-09 · Pulse durations of less than 1 nanosecond, compared with nanosecond Q-switched lasers; used mainly for tattoos and also for pigment concerns; listed side effects include redness, swelling, pinpoint bleeding, crusting, blistering, scarring and darker or lighter patches.
- DermNetIntense pulsed light therapy (IPL, flashlamp) Published 2005 · IPL delivers many wavelengths in each pulse instead of one; a course of 4 to 6 sessions every 3 to 6 weeks may be needed; a mild-sunburn sensation with redness, peeling or swelling for a few days; avoid sun in the days and weeks before and after.
- DermNetMelasma (facial pigmentation) Published 2025-12 · IPL and lasers including Q-switched Nd:YAG carry a high risk of relapse; pigmentation may reappear on exposure to summer sun; the need for lifelong sun protection should be explained to set realistic goals.
- American Academy of Dermatology10 things to know before having laser treatment for your scar Laser can make a scar less noticeable but cannot get rid of it; walk away if treatment is promised before a medical consultation; a tan or sunburn means the dermatologist cannot treat you; tell the dermatologist about medicines and supplements; results can take months; more than one treatment may be needed.
- NHSBefore you have a cosmetic procedure Published 2023-05-22 · Ask about the procedure, the products used and what could go wrong; a cooling-off period should be offered after a consultation; you can walk away if not completely comfortable; count follow-up and maintenance costs.