By Tom Seelbach, Laser Specialist at Laser by Tom, Bondi Junction
If you’ve ever typed “laser treatment Sydney” into Google, you already know the problem. The results are overwhelming — dozens of clinics, a hundred different treatment names, and almost no clear explanation of what any of it actually means for your skin.
I get it. Before clients book with me, most of them have already spent hours reading about IPL versus laser, pico versus nano, ablative versus non-ablative — and they arrive at their consultation more confused than when they started.
So I want to do something that’s surprisingly rare in the aesthetics industry: give you a genuinely honest, plain-language breakdown of the three main laser technologies used for skin treatment in Australia, what they’re actually good at, and — just as importantly — where each one falls short.
No upselling. No vague promises. Just the information you need to make a smart decision about your skin.
First, Why Does It Matter Which Laser You Use?
This is the part most clinics gloss over. Lasers are not interchangeable. Each one works by delivering a specific wavelength of light energy into the skin, and different wavelengths interact with different targets — pigment, water content, haemoglobin (the red in blood vessels), collagen and so on.
Using the wrong laser for your concern isn’t just ineffective — it can make things worse. I’ve seen clients come in with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation caused by aggressive treatments that weren’t appropriate for their skin type. I’ve seen rosacea patients who were treated with IPL when a proper vascular laser was what they needed, and their results were disappointing.
So the laser matters enormously. Here’s how the three main types break down.
1. Pico Laser (Picosecond Laser)
What it is
Pico laser is named for the speed at which it fires — picoseconds, which are one-trillionth of a second. This ultra-fast pulse duration means the laser delivers its energy so quickly that it creates a photoacoustic (shockwave) effect in the skin rather than a purely thermal (heat) effect. The practical result is that pigment particles are shattered into much finer fragments without the surrounding tissue being heated as aggressively.
What it’s genuinely good at
Pico laser is the go-to treatment for:
- Sun damage and age spots — the shattered pigment is cleared through the lymphatic system over the weeks following treatment
- Post-acne marks — the flat, dark marks left behind after a pimple heals (these are not scars; they’re pigmentation changes called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation)
- Uneven skin tone — generalised dullness, freckling, and blotchiness
- Carbon laser facials — a specialised technique where a carbon mask is applied to the skin and the pico laser vaporises it, unclogging pores, reducing oiliness, and improving overall texture. A popular treatment with essentially zero downtime
- Skin rejuvenation — stimulating collagen through controlled injury to the dermis
Where it has limits
Pico laser is not a vascular laser. It does not effectively treat redness, rosacea, or visible blood vessels. If your primary concern is facial flushing, broken capillaries, or a persistently red complexion, a pico laser is the wrong tool — a VBeam is what you need (more on that below).
Pico laser also isn’t the right choice for significant textural concerns like deep acne scarring, where you need the more intensive remodelling of a fractional CO₂ treatment.
What to expect
Most pigmentation concerns need between 2 and 5 sessions, spaced 4–6 weeks apart. Immediately after treatment, pigmented spots often look darker before they fade — this is called “darkening to lighten” and it’s completely normal. There’s typically no significant downtime; some mild redness for a few hours, and then most people go straight back to their day.
2. Fractional CO₂ Laser
What it is
CO₂ (carbon dioxide) laser operates at a 10,600nm wavelength, which is absorbed specifically by water in the skin’s cells. When the laser fires, it vaporises the water within targeted columns of skin tissue, creating thousands of microscopic treatment zones across the surface. The body’s healing response kicks in to repair these zones, producing new collagen and elastin in the process.
“Fractional” means the laser treats only a fraction of the skin in each pass — leaving surrounding tissue intact to accelerate healing. This makes it more manageable than fully ablative CO₂ treatments from decades past, which required weeks of recovery.
What it’s genuinely good at
Fractional CO₂ is the benchmark treatment for:
- Acne scarring — particularly rolling scars, boxcar scars, and ice pick scars. The controlled injury and subsequent collagen remodelling can significantly improve the skin’s surface architecture over a series of treatments
- Deep wrinkles and skin laxity — particularly around the mouth, eyes, and neck
- Skin texture — enlarged pores, rough or uneven surface texture, sun-damaged skin that has lost its quality
- Full skin resurfacing — for clients wanting a significant, comprehensive improvement in overall skin quality
Where it has limits
CO₂ laser is the most intensive of the three treatments I’m describing. It has real downtime — typically 5–10 days of redness, peeling, and sensitivity depending on the depth of treatment. It requires careful sun avoidance before and after. It’s not suitable for active acne or skin that isn’t in a stable condition.
It also doesn’t treat pigmentation in the same targeted way a pico laser does, and it has no effect on redness or vascular concerns.
For anyone wanting improvement with little to no downtime, CO₂ is probably not the right starting point.
What to expect
CO₂ is often described as the most impactful single-treatment investment in the laser world. Many clients see meaningful improvement in their acne scarring after just one session — though most benefit from 2–3 treatments spaced several months apart for optimal results. The recovery is real, but so are the outcomes.
3. Candela VBeam (Pulsed Dye Laser)
What it is
The VBeam is a pulsed dye laser operating at a 595nm wavelength — a wavelength specifically absorbed by oxyhaemoglobin, the compound that makes blood red. This makes it uniquely selective for vascular (blood vessel) targets in the skin. When the laser energy hits a dilated or damaged blood vessel, it heats and collapses the vessel wall, and the body reabsorbs it over the following weeks.
The Candela VBeam is widely considered the gold-standard device for vascular skin conditions.
What it’s genuinely good at
VBeam is the treatment of choice for:
- Rosacea — all subtypes, including erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (the kind marked by persistent redness and flushing), papulopustular rosacea, and phymatous rosacea
- Facial redness — diffuse redness across the cheeks, nose, and chin that isn’t technically rosacea but causes similar frustration
- Broken capillaries — the tiny red spider veins that commonly appear on the nose, cheeks, and around the eyes
- Nose veins — red or purple vessels visible on and around the nose
- Leg veins — smaller superficial leg veins and spider veins
Where it has limits
VBeam treats vascular targets, not pigmentation. If your concern is brown spots, sun damage, or dark post-acne marks, VBeam isn’t the tool — pico laser is. The two technologies treat different chromophores (targets) entirely.
VBeam also doesn’t resurface the skin or improve texture and scarring — that’s CO₂ territory.
What to expect
Rosacea is a chronic condition, which means VBeam treats and manages it rather than permanently curing it. Most clients with rosacea need an initial course of 3–4 treatments to achieve significant clearance, then maintenance sessions (typically once or twice a year) to stay on top of it. The good news: results from VBeam for rosacea are often dramatic — clients who have lived with persistent facial redness for years frequently describe their first treatment as life-changing.
Broken capillaries and vein treatments often resolve with fewer sessions, sometimes just one or two.
Can You Combine Treatments?
Yes — and this is where things get interesting.
Many clients have more than one concern. Someone dealing with rosacea often also has some sun damage from years of trying to “even out” their complexion with makeup. Someone with acne scarring might also have active post-acne pigmentation. In these cases, combining treatments is both possible and often more effective.
The key is sequencing. At my clinic, we always start with a thorough consultation to understand the full picture — skin type, concerns, lifestyle, and realistic goals. A treatment plan that addresses redness first, then tackles pigmentation once the vascular baseline is calm, will produce better results than treating both simultaneously without a clear strategy.
It’s also worth noting that combining technologies doesn’t necessarily mean multiple treatments in one session. Sometimes it means alternating between modalities across a course of treatment.
A Word on Skin Type
One thing I want to flag: skin type matters, and not all lasers are equally safe across all skin tones.
The Fitzpatrick scale (a classification of skin types from very fair to very dark) is relevant because darker skin tones contain more melanin, which can absorb laser energy that’s intended for other targets. This is particularly important with pigmentation treatments — using the wrong settings on darker skin tones can cause burns or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the very thing you’re trying to treat).
A qualified laser technician will always perform a full skin assessment before treatment, adjust settings appropriately for your skin type, and patch test where necessary. If a clinic ever skips this step, that’s a significant red flag.
How to Choose the Right Clinic
I’ll be honest — the laser clinic market in Sydney is a mixed bag. There are excellent practitioners doing genuinely skilled work, and there are operators using entry-level devices with inadequately trained staff. Here’s what I’d recommend looking for:
The device matters. Ask specifically what laser device they use. A Candela VBeam, for example, is a medical-grade device with decades of clinical evidence behind it. Generic or unbranded devices may not deliver the same outcomes.
The practitioner’s experience matters more. A skilled operator with good equipment will nearly always outperform an unskilled operator with the best equipment. Ask how long the practitioner has been working with that specific device and what their training background is.
Consultation quality tells you a lot. A good clinic will spend real time understanding your skin before recommending anything. If you feel rushed, or if every client seems to be recommended the same package regardless of their concerns, trust your instincts.
Results are the ultimate measure. Ask to see before and after photos — ideally of clients with a similar skin type and concern to yours. Reputable clinics are proud of their results and will show them.
The Bottom Line
- Brown spots, sun damage, post-acne marks, uneven skin tone? → Pico laser
- Rosacea, facial redness, broken capillaries, visible veins? → VBeam (pulsed dye laser)
- Acne scarring, deep wrinkles, significant skin texture issues? → Fractional CO₂
And if you’re not sure which category your concern falls into — that’s exactly what a consultation is for. A good laser specialist will tell you honestly whether they can help you, which technology is right for your specific situation, and what realistic results look like.
No laser is a miracle. But the right laser, used well, can make a genuinely significant difference.
Tom Seelbach is a qualified laser technician and the owner of Laser by Tom, a private laser skin clinic in Bondi Junction, Sydney. The clinic specialises in Pico laser, Candela VBeam, and fractional CO₂ laser treatments. Consultations are free and available by appointment.
