Helios 785 Pico
The Helios 785 Pico is a picosecond laser operating at 785nm, delivering ultra-short pulses of energy measured in trillionths of a second. This photoacoustic mechanism shatters pigment particles and stimulates collagen without generating excess heat, making it exceptionally effective for pigmentation, melasma, tattoo removal, and skin brightening. Suitable for all skin types, including darker tones, with minimal risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Helios 785 Pico is an advanced picosecond laser that targets pigmentation and stimulates skin renewal with precision, delivering clearer, brighter, and more even skin with minimal downtime.
How Helios 785 Pico works
Pressure, not heat.
Unlike conventional nanosecond lasers that rely primarily on heat to break down pigment, the Helios 785 Pico operates on a photoacoustic principle. Pulses lasting just trillionths of a second create a rapid pressure wave that physically shatters pigment particles into microscopic fragments, which the body then eliminates naturally through its immune system.
Because the pulse duration is so short, minimal heat is generated in the surrounding tissue. This means the skin is treated with exceptional precision while the risk of thermal damage, inflammation, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is kept extremely low. The 785nm wavelength is also highly effective at stimulating collagen remodelling in the dermis, progressively improving skin texture, pore size, and overall luminosity alongside pigment clearance.
- Technology
- Picosecond laser
- Wavelength
- 785nm
- Mechanism
- Photoacoustic, minimal thermal effect
- Skin types
- All Fitzpatrick types
- Typical course
- 3 to 5 sessions, 3 to 4 weeks apart
- Downtime
- Minimal; mild redness resolving within hours
Helios 785 Pico treatment benefits
What the device does for skin.
The photoacoustic mechanism targets excess melanin with precision, breaking down sun spots, age spots, freckles, and diffuse pigmentation caused by UV exposure, without the heat-induced inflammation that can worsen pigmentation in sensitive or darker skin types.
Melasma is notoriously difficult to treat with conventional lasers due to the risk of rebound hyperpigmentation. The Helios 785 Pico's low thermal profile makes it one of the safest laser options for melasma, delivering gradual, controlled lightening with minimal post-inflammatory risk across all skin tones.
Regular treatments improve overall skin luminosity and evenness by clearing subclinical pigmentation, stimulating collagen, and refining skin texture, leaving the complexion visibly clearer, more radiant, and more uniform in tone.
The picosecond pulse shatters tattoo ink particles far more completely than nanosecond devices, requiring fewer sessions to achieve significant fading. It is effective across a broad range of ink colours, including difficult-to-treat blues and greens.
The collagen-stimulating effect of the treatment gradually tightens pores and smooths uneven skin texture, with benefits building progressively over a course of sessions for a noticeably refined and smoother complexion.
For patients with residual PIH following acne, injury, or previous treatments, the Helios 785 Pico's minimal heat delivery makes it a safe and effective option, accelerating the natural fading process without triggering further inflammation or darkening.
Who is Helios 785 Pico for
Customised treatment plans.
At Dr Jinah Yoo Dermatology, we design personalised Helios 785 Pico treatment plans to suit your unique skin concerns. Whether you are looking to address melasma, clear sun damage, brighten uneven skin tone, or remove a tattoo, our team will create a bespoke approach tailored to your skin type, pigmentation depth, and individual goals.
- Clear sun spots, age spots and freckles
- Treat melasma with minimal rebound risk
- Fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Brighten and even out overall skin tone
- Refine pores and skin texture
- Remove a tattoo, including blues and greens
- Most patients see significant improvement in 3 to 5 sessions
- Sessions are usually spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart
- Tattoo removal needs more sessions depending on ink
- Melasma is usually an ongoing programme with maintenance
- Treated pigment may darken before shedding over 7 to 10 days
- Suitability is confirmed at consultation
Why choose Dr Jinah Yoo for Helios 785 Pico
Four things we insist on.
Our experienced dermatologists are skilled in delivering precise and effective picosecond laser treatments across a wide range of pigmentation concerns, with the clinical expertise to calibrate settings safely and effectively for every skin type and tone.
We use the Helios 785 Pico, one of the most advanced picosecond laser platforms available, ensuring state-of-the-art pigment treatment with clinically proven, consistent results and the lowest possible risk of adverse effects.
The Helios 785 Pico's photoacoustic mechanism preserves the surrounding skin tissue, resulting in minimal visible recovery. Most patients experience only brief, mild redness and return to their normal routine the same day or the day after treatment.
Because the Helios 785 Pico generates minimal heat, it is safe and effective for all Fitzpatrick skin types, including darker tones that are more vulnerable to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation with conventional photothermal lasers.
Your consultant
Led by Dr Jinah Yoo.
Dr Jinah Yoo
MBChB FRCP · Consultant Dermatologist · FounderDr Jinah Yoo is a Korean UK-trained consultant dermatologist who is the founder and medical director of Dr Jinah Yoo Dermatology. Dr Yoo has completed intensive dermatology training and developed special interest in cosmetic dermatology, hyperpigmentary disorders and skin lymphoma.
She attended numerous observerships at the World's leading pigment/cosmetic dermatology clinics in USA, Singapore and South Korea and established the first NHS-based hyperpigmentation service at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 2018.
- GMC-registered consultant dermatologist
- Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP)
- Distinction in MSc, University of Manchester
- MSc project work on facial hyperpigmentation
The clinic
45 Albemarle Street, Mayfair.
Frequently asked questions
Helios 785 Pico FAQs.
The Helios 785 Pico is a picosecond laser that delivers ultra-short pulses of energy at 785nm, measured in trillionths of a second. It uses a photoacoustic mechanism to shatter pigment particles and stimulate collagen without generating excess heat, making it highly effective for pigmentation, melasma, skin brightening, and tattoo removal with minimal downtime.
Standard Q-switched lasers deliver energy in nanosecond pulses and work primarily through heat to break down pigment. The Helios 785 Pico uses picosecond pulses, up to 100 times shorter, creating a mechanical pressure wave that shatters pigment far more completely, with significantly less thermal damage to the surrounding skin and a much lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Yes. The low thermal profile of picosecond technology makes it one of the safest laser options for all Fitzpatrick skin types, including darker tones that are more prone to pigmentation side effects with conventional photothermal lasers. Treatment parameters are always carefully adjusted by our clinical team for each individual.
The Helios 785 Pico effectively treats sun spots, age spots, freckles, melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, and poor skin texture. It is also used for tattoo removal across a broad range of ink colours.
For pigmentation and skin brightening, most patients see significant improvement in 3–5 sessions spaced 3–4 weeks apart. Tattoo removal typically requires more sessions depending on ink density, colour, and depth. Melasma treatment is usually an ongoing programme with maintenance sessions. Dr Yoo's team will advise at your consultation.
Downtime is minimal. Some patients experience mild redness and slight swelling that resolves within a few hours. Treated pigmented lesions may briefly darken before naturally shedding over 7–10 days. There is no open wound or significant social downtime associated with this treatment.
The Helios 785 Pico is suitable for individuals looking to address pigmentation, melasma, sun damage, uneven skin tone, or tattoo removal. It is appropriate for all skin types and tones. A consultation with Dr Yoo's team is recommended to confirm suitability and design a personalised treatment plan.
Next step
Book a consultation to discover a tailored skin treatment plan.
Your dermatologist will confirm how many Helios 785 Pico sessions your skin needs, and how the laser fits your pigmentation depth and skin type.
