Combining the safety and efficacy of a nanosecond device with the improved performance and results from a picosecond platform, the Lutronic PicoPlus provides you with more options than ever before.
Developed by Lutronic and distributed by Advanced Cosmeceuticals, PicoPlus provides the treatment versatility, precise fluence and pulse control needed to achieve maximum clearance for pigment and other conditions.
Dr Glen Calderhead, PhD, Vice President of Scientific Affairs at Lutronic, says that developing a picosecond domain laser was a natural step to improve on the results achieved with the nanosecond-domain Q-switched lasers, especially the Nd:YAG.
“The ability to shorten the pulse width by an order of magnitude or more means a corresponding increase in the peak power for the same energy output. This enables even more precise targeting of pigments, such as tattoo and melanin particles, with less heat spreading to the surrounding tissue and more of a photomechanical effect. Side effects are decreased and safety is increased. The very good results are bearing out the theory in clinical practice,” he says.
Dual pulse duration
The innovative platform offers both pico- and nanosecond technology with the performance of four wavelengths (1064, 532, 595 and 660nm).
“We provided the nanosecond pulse width for those expert laser practitioners who might see an indication where nanosecond (ns) is more favourable clinically than the picosecond (ps) approach, but really the key pulse width is the ps-domain, namely due to better selectivity with less photothermal damage, and faster results,” says Dr Calderhead.
“Most ps-lasers offer 1064nm as the main wavelength, with 532nm (visible green) derived from that. Others offer a third wavelength, but the PicoPlus offers another two wavelengths, giving the total of four: visible yellow at 595nm and visible red at 660nm. These offer treatment of tattoo pigments which are recalcitrant to the 1064nm wavelength because the ps-laser is not yet 100% colour blind.”
“The 595nm wavelength is also excellent for vascular-related conditions like flushing, rosacea and post-acne redness with what we call picosecond “gold toning plus”. The 660nm wavelength, our “RuVY (ruby-like versatile YAG) Touch Plus” offers a safer and more gentle treatment of discrete epidermal lesions, such as freckles, than the usual 532nm wavelength with less damage, less downtime and better clearance.”
In addition to a sufficient and stable high and low energy output and three treatment modes to provide optimised treatment options, PicoPlus has a wide range of precisely controllable fluence options.
“It is important with ps-domain 1064nm, and very much so with the 532nm wavelength, that precise control over the fluence can be easily and quickly managed. The PicoPlus has currently the largest range of fluences available amongst competitor systems. The higher fluences are important for effective tattoo and pigment removal, and the lower fluences are essential for the safety and efficacy of the 532nm treatment. Swift and precise settings are achieved in PicoPlus with a “jog and shuttle” control on the touch screen panel so that the user can swiftly advance from the lowest to the highest settings, but still have the ability to move accurately between settings with 0.01 J/cm2 intervals.”
PicoPlus handpieces
PicoPlus has five unique handpieces for an all-encompassing approach, including Pico Toning Collimated, Zoom, Gold Toning, RuVY and Focused Dots.
“The two main handpieces for the 1064nm and 532nm ps-domain treatments are the Collimated Zoom handpiece and the Focused Zoom handpiece,” says Dr Calderhead. “The Collimated handpiece is mostly used with the 1064nm wavelength for the gentle treatment of troublesome epidermal and some dermal lesions like melasma, nevus of Ota and post-inflammatory pigmentation, using low-fluence pico toning. The distance between the handpiece and the tissue is not critical as the emitted beam is collimated, ie parallel, so the spot size doesn’t change when the distance between the handpiece and the target tissue is altered.”
“The Focused Zoom handpiece is used at a specific distance from dermal pigmented lesions, so that the spot size is matched to the size of lesions as much as possible to avoid too much overlap onto normal pigmented tissue.
“Another PicoPlus handpiece used with the 1064nm wavelength is the Focused Dots handpiece, which gives excellent results in skin rejuvenation with no downtime and no pain. We are now perfecting a 532nm version for gentle eradication of epidermal lesions.”
For ultimate patient comfort and safety, PicoPlus also features the advanced P-PTP Mode (Pico Pulse-to-Pulse Mode) whereby two consecutively picosecond pulses are delivered but with sufficient interval time between pulses for tissue to cool. “This is excellent for treating patients with thinner, more delicate or sensitive skin. There is very little increase in the treatment time because the Q-P2P picopulses occur so swiftly, but there is increased safety for thinner or more sensitive skin,” he says.
With PicoPlus, treatment time is shorter per session and fewer sessions are generally required. Practitioners are also able to treat difficult lesions recalcitrant to the ns-domain Q-switched laser, with increased safety. “Patients appreciate having treatments completed more quickly, and with less pain and side effects such as erythema. They are also very happy with the end result.”
“PicoPlus offers an excellent range of fluences to meet the individual demands of a huge range of target lesions; four wavelengths with safe top hat and homogeneous beam modes, particularly for the 532nm wavelength; a range of different handpieces to tackle different target entities; the availability of the focused dots handpiece to expand treatments away from pigment to skin rejuvenation and mild scar remodelling; and of course the reliability of the system,” Dr Calderhead concludes. AMP
For more information call 1800 242 011, email admin advancedcosmeceuticals.com.au or visit www.advancedcosmeceuticals.com.au
