Green Toning – Pigment Removal

What is Green Toning?

Green toning is a new method of non-ablative skin rejuvenation, often used for the treatment of melasma and other pigmentation conditions. This treatment utilises two different wavelengths of Q-Switch Laser; Q-Switch Nd:YAG1064nm and KTP 532nm. Q-Switch laser works on the pigment in a similar way to tattoo removal – using a nanosecond pulse to shatter the underlying pigment in the skin. This creates a photo-acoustic response in the skin, shattering the pigment into particles small enough to be removed by the body’s inflammatory response. 

Why have green toning laser treatment:

Green toning laser treatment is effective at reducing the appearance of both dermal and epidermal pigmentation as well as aiding in reducing the appearance of persistent redness. By shattering the pigmentation in to small particles, the pigment is able to be removed via the body’s immune cells and lymphatic system resulting in a clearer, more even complexion, improvement in skin tone and texture, a reduction in pore size and fine lines.

Green toning treatments have minimal downtime, depending on the strength of the treatment. Immediately post treatment, you can expect to experience mild pinkness for the first few hours. This redness dissipates very quickly, usually without any flaking or peeling. 

What areas can be treated with green toning?

Green toning can be used to treat pigmentation anywhere on the body. It is most commonly used to target pigmentation and sun damage on the face, décolletage, back and hands. 

Before having green toning treatments, we ask that you have a skin check with your doctor to ensure there are no lesions to be concerned about. Without having your skin checked prior, there is no way to monitor any potential changes to any sun spots as we are removing the pigment. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect during treatment?

For these treatments, anaesthesia is not required.

Q-Switch Nd:YAGresembles a pins and needles sensation, while KTP can feel very warm and prickly on the skin, however, at Skinologie we always use a cooling device which delivers refrigerated air onto the area we are treating, making the treatment very comfortable.

Green toning is much more comfortable than IPL therapies and there will be minimal discomfort post treatment. You will experience an after-sun sensation for approximately 30 minutes post treatment and mild pinkness which generally subsides in 1-2 hours.

How many treatments will I need?

It really depends on the severity and strength of your pigmentation. We usually begin with a course of 4-6 sessions spaced every 4 weeks. From there we reassess your response to treatment and either cut back to maintenance sessions or begin another course for more severe cases of pigmentation. It is particularly difficult to predict how pigment will respond to treatment and it can be different in every case.

Are there any possible side effects?

Adverse outcomes with laser treatments are undesired outcomes that occur in a small percentage of patients treated.

Before beginning any treatment, one of our clinicians will perform a thorough consultation and assessment to ensure this is the right treatment for you and to eliminate any potential risks.  While it is very rare to have any adverse outcome when treating with Green Toning, sometimes an unexpected outcome may occur. It is important that you understand the possible side effects before commencing treatment.

Adverse outcomes can include:

• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation – a brown mark left on the skin after treatment that usually takes some months to fade with the assistance of lightening agents.
• Hypopigmentation – loss of pigmentation in the treated area that can be permanent. This is very rare.
• Prolonged redness – sometimes the redness of the skin can take a longer time to fade than expected.
• Bacterial or viral infection – laser treatments can sometimes trigger herpes simplex outbreaks. Any viral or bacterial infection in a wound created by a laser has the potential for scarring. It is important to let your clinician know if you are prone to cold sores or any other viral condition.
• Scarring – a very rare possibility, usually associated with darker skin types, over-zealous energy settings and bacterial or viral infection. For darker skin types, you may be required to have a test patch prior to your treatment.

If you are unsure if your response to treatment is normal, we recommend calling Skinologie on 03 9699 2999 to discuss and we can assess the outcome.