If you’re considering adding (or upgrading to) a picosecond platform, you’re probably weighing up three things:
- Are patients actively asking for it?
- Are results predictable enough to build a premium service around?
- Can you explain the “why” with confidence in consultation?
This article breaks down what a May 2025 paper in Lasers in Medical Science suggests about the mechanism behind pico rejuvenation. You can then position treatments more credibly and make a more informed decision about implementing PicoStar® into your clinic.
The “How it Works” in plain English: LIOB and Fractional Pico Energy
Picosecond lasers deliver energy in ultra-short pulses and ultra-high peak output. When delivered fractionally (using diffractive optics), energy is condensed into tiny micro-beams.
This can trigger LIOB (laser-induced optical breakdown) – a very localised optical/physical event in the epidermis that creates microscopic vacuoles (think of them as controlled micro-injuries) while keeping the surrounding tissue intact.
Melanin plays a role in the LIOB threshold, which is one reason skin type, parameters and technique matter. The study authors built a melanocyte-containing model specifically because pigment content influences how readily LIOB forms.
What the May 2025 Study Actually Investigated
This was an in vitro (laboratory) study, not a clinical trial on patients. The researchers used a standardised, full-thickness 3D human skin model containing melanocytes, designed to reflect real epidermal melanin behaviour better.
They then treated this skin model using a fractional 1064 nm picosecond Nd: YAG laser (using a diffractive optic to split the beam into a small grid). The paper reports the settings used (0.2 J/cm² over a 7 × 7 mm area, with one pass/pulse per area).
The researchers investigated the events in two primary ways: they examined the tissue under a microscope (histology) and analysed changes in gene activity to identify which repair signals were activated (next-generation sequencing).
The Headline Findings (and Why They Matter)
Histology revealed intraepidermal vacuoles (tiny, fluid- or air-filled “micro-bubbles” within the epidermis) immediately after treatment and remained visible at 24 hours. This is consistent with the idea that LIOB creates controlled micro-disruptions rather than broad thermal injury.
More importantly for “rejuvenation logic”, gene expression analysis showed upregulation patterns associated with healing and tissue remodelling, including:
- Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors
- Multiple collagens
- Heat shock proteins
- Early-phase cytokines and chemokines
- Antimicrobial peptides
In other words, the micro-injury signature wasn’t just observable under the microscope; it was also detected at a molecular signalling level, consistent with a coordinated wound-healing/remodelling response.
Post-Care isn’t an Afterthought: The Dexpanthenol Signal
The study also tested a practical clinic variable: topical post-treatment support with a dexpanthenol-containing ointment. With dexpanthenol, vacuoles were no longer visible after 24 hours, indicating accelerated repair in this model.
Interestingly, dexpanthenol appeared to reduce expression of some inflammatory/stress-related markers without compromising the regenerative signalling linked to LIOB. It’s a useful reminder that aftercare can influence the recovery environment without “switching off” the treatment effect.
What this Means for Treatment Positioning in your Clinic
For clinic owners, mechanism research is valuable since it improves how you explain results without overpromising. This particular paper advocates for a consultation narrative centred on controlled micro-stimulation and regulated repair, rather than vague “collagen claims”.
A sensible way to translate this into patient-friendly terminology is to keep it grounded:
- The laser can produce tiny, controlled micro-effects in the upper skin layers (LIOB).
- The skin responds by activating repair and remodelling pathways.
- Supportive post-care may help patients move through recovery more smoothly.
And always be clear: individual results vary, and clinical results depend on patient factors, settings, technique and treatment plans.
Where PicoStar® Fits into Evidence-Led Pico Rejuvenation
PicoStar® is designed to be adaptable, allowing you to adjust treatments to diverse indications and patient demands. It is a dual-wavelength Nd: YAG system (1064/532 nm), with optional handpieces including FLAT-TOP 1064, FLAT-TOP 532, and MicroSpot PICO.
For fractional rejuvenation specifically, MicroSpot PICO splits the beam into a 7 × 7 mm grid of 64 even micro-spots using an integrated diffractive optic (DOE). This means consistent, fractional energy delivery, matching the same kind of fractional approach stated in the research.
Bottom Line for Clinic Owners
This 2025 study can give clinic owners a stronger, science-based foundation for pico rejuvenation conversations:
- Fractional 1064 nm picosecond irradiation can create LIOB-associated micro-effects supporting repair/remodelling signalling in a melanocyte-containing 3D skin model.
- Post-treatment support (dexpanthenol in this model) may speed up visible repair signals without negating the stimulation response.
- Evidence-led positioning helps differentiate your rejuvenation offering, especially in a market where patients increasingly ask “why this technology?”
If you want to learn more about the PicoStar®, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
