Cosmetic Laser at DR. SUPRANEE CLINIC Thonglor
The devices in this category all work on the same principle — selective photothermolysis. Light is delivered at a wavelength absorbed only by its intended target, whether that is melanin, tattoo ink, haemoglobin in a vessel, or a hair follicle. The absorbed light converts to heat and destroys that target while the surrounding tissue is left intact.
The clinic runs three devices here, all from Candela, USA. Each has a distinct strength, and in many cases the doctor will use them together rather than choose between them.
Comparing the Devices
| Device | Technology | Best suited to | Afterwards |
|---|---|---|---|
| PicoWay | Picosecond laser, 350/450 ps at 1064 / 532 nm | Melasma, freckles, Hori's nevus, birthmarks, dark marks, tattoo removal · Resolve mode for pores, acne scars, scarring and stretch marks | Redness 2-5 days, swelling 1-2 days · numbing cream needed 30-60 minutes beforehand |
| GentleMax Pro | Two wavelengths in one platform — 1064 nm Nd:YAG and 755 nm Alexandrite — with DCD cooling spray | Freckles, seborrhoeic keratoses, sun spots, melasma · fine lines and pores · skin firmness · hair removal · visible vessels | The TriO programme has no downtime and make-up can go on immediately · pigment mode can be set to crust or not |
| Nordlys | Selective Waveband Technology IPL, with VL 555 and PR 530 applicators | Dark spots and sun damage · thread veins, redness and rosacea · inflammatory acne | Mild redness and swelling for 2-3 days · pigmented spots darken first, then flake away within a week |
Recovery varies between individuals and depends on the treatment intensity the doctor selects.
How They Differ
PicoWay — the shortest pulse, and the strongest on pigment
What separates PicoWay is pulse duration. Earlier lasers operated in nanoseconds; a picosecond is a thousand times shorter again. The result is that pigment and tattoo ink shatter into finer particles, which the body clears more easily, so pigment and tattoo work generally takes fewer sessions than with the older technology.
Its second mode, Resolve, delivers light as 100 microscopic points within a 6x6 mm area, creating small cavities in the dermis that prompt new collagen. It is used for uneven texture, acne scars and stretch marks.
PicoWay is the only device in this category requiring numbing cream, and it has the most noticeable downtime.
GentleMax Pro — the broadest range
With two wavelengths in one platform, GentleMax Pro covers five modes: pigment, skin rejuvenation, tightening, hair removal and vessels. It is the most versatile device in this category.
The most frequently used programme is TriO, three laser steps in sequence over about 45 minutes — tightening, refining texture and pores, then brightening. It needs no numbing cream and no gel, make-up can be applied immediately, and there is no downtime, which suits anyone who cannot take recovery time at all.
GentleMax Pro is the device at the clinic offering hair removal.
Nordlys — the only one that treats inflammatory acne
Nordlys is technically an IPL rather than a laser, since it emits a band of wavelengths rather than a single one, but it works on the same principle and belongs in this category.
What Nordlys does that the other two cannot is treat inflammatory acne, by reducing the blood supply to the sebaceous gland and slowing sebum production. It is also the primary choice for persistent facial redness and rosacea.
The clinic runs two applicators, VL 555 and PR 530.
Which One Is Right
| Concern | Usual starting point |
|---|---|
| Deeper melasma, Hori's nevus, birthmarks, tattoos | PicoWay |
| Superficial freckles, sun spots, dull skin | Nordlys or GentleMax Pro |
| Acne scars, stretch marks, uneven texture | PicoWay Resolve mode |
| Thread veins, redness, rosacea | Nordlys |
| Inflammatory acne | Nordlys |
| Hair removal | GentleMax Pro |
| Ongoing skin maintenance with no downtime | GentleMax Pro TriO programme |
This is a guide only. Some pigment conditions look very similar but respond quite differently — melasma in particular varies considerably between individuals. The doctor will assess and may begin with a test area.
Worth Knowing Before Laser Treatment
- Tanned or recently sun-exposed skin cannot be treated. Raised melanin across the whole skin competes for the energy, increasing the risk of burns and patchy pigmentation. Allow at least 2-4 weeks.
- Areas with tattoos or permanent make-up cannot be treated over, unless tattoo removal is the goal.
- Sunscreen matters more than people expect. Consistent use before and after meaningfully lowers the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, the most common side effect in Asian skin.
- Spots darkening before they fade is normal. Pigmented spots become darker over the first 2-3 days, then flake away. Do not pick or scratch them.
Used Alongside Other Devices
LLLT is a low-level laser that destroys nothing. It is used after laser treatment to reduce swelling, redness and stinging, and to help the skin recover faster — during the first 2-3 days after PicoWay it can be done daily. See the Facial Treatment category.
EXION includes a Clear RF programme that also addresses dull skin and pigmentation, but it resurfaces the epidermis with radiofrequency rather than targeting pigment with light — an option for anyone unsuited to laser. It sits under Lifting & Tightening.
Titanium Lifting also uses a diode laser at three wavelengths, but its purpose is lifting, so it is listed under Lifting & Tightening.
Other Categories
- Lifting & Tightening — Ultherapy Prime · Sofwave · Thermage FLX and six more
- Body Contouring — Emsculpt NEO · CoolSculpting Elite · ONDA Pro Slim
- Facial Treatment — LDM-MED · LLLT
Consult Dr. Supranee to assess which programme suits your skin concerns.
Dr. Supranee consults every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 13.00-18.00
For more information
Call 098-829-0922 or