Aesthetic Treatments
Pigmentation & Brightening
미백/색소Laser and light-based treatments with BBL HEROic and RevLite SI for pigmentation, redness, acne-related discoloration and uneven skin tone — selected according to what is actually causing the colour in your skin.
Brown, red or both?
Not every uneven complexion is the same.
Brown pigmentation may come from freckles, sun spots, post-inflammatory pigmentation or melasma. Redness may come from visible vessels, rosacea or inflammation. Acne can leave both red and brown marks behind.
This distinction matters because different colours respond to different forms of energy.
At SNU Plastic Surgery Clinic, we use two complementary technologies:
BBL HEROic
BroadBand Light that can target both melanin and vascular redness, and can also be used for active inflammatory acne.
RevLite SI
A multi-wavelength Q-switched laser used when more selective pigment treatment is needed, including the gradual management of melasma.
The aim is not simply to make the skin lighter. It is to make colour more even while avoiding unnecessary inflammation.
BBL HEROic: more than a pigmentation treatment
BBL HEROic by Sciton is an advanced BroadBand Light system.
Unlike a laser, which uses a specific wavelength, BBL produces a broad spectrum of light and uses different filters to select the wavelengths appropriate for the problem being treated.
This makes it particularly versatile.
Brown pigment can be targeted through melanin.
Redness and small vessels can be targeted through haemoglobin.
Selected wavelengths can also be used for inflammatory acne and the redness that often accompanies it.
For patients who have a mixture of freckles, sun damage, redness and uneven complexion, BBL can therefore address several components of the skin within the same treatment plan.
What BBL HEROic treats
- 01
Brown spots and sun damage
Freckles, solar lentigines and other superficial pigmentation can be selectively treated to produce a clearer, more even complexion.
- 02
Redness and visible vessels
Diffuse facial redness, rosacea and small visible vessels can be treated by directing light toward haemoglobin within the vessels.
- 03
Active acne
Selected BBL wavelengths can be useful for mild to moderate inflammatory acne and the background redness associated with breakouts.
- 04
Acne-related red and brown marks
Acne often leaves a mixture of post-inflammatory erythema and pigmentation. Light-based treatment can be useful when both colours are present.
- 05
Overall photodamage
When pigmentation and redness accumulate together with sun exposure and aging, BBL can improve the overall clarity and uniformity of the skin rather than treating one isolated spot at a time.
Why we use BBL HEROic
One face often has more than one colour problem.
A patient may have freckles across the cheeks, redness around the nose and lingering red marks from acne at the same time.
Because different filters can be selected during treatment, BBL HEROic allows us to approach these problems individually rather than treating the entire face as though every spot were the same.
Its integrated cooling system protects the surface of the skin while light energy is delivered.
Treatment is non-invasive, and recovery is usually short.
RevLite SI: selective treatment for pigment
RevLite SI is a multi-wavelength Q-switched laser platform.
Its principal 1064 nm and 532 nm wavelengths allow different types and depths of pigmentation to be treated selectively. The laser delivers energy in very short pulses, producing a predominantly photoacoustic effect on pigment while limiting unnecessary heating of surrounding tissue.
RevLite SI is particularly useful when pigmentation requires a more selective approach than broadband light.
At our clinic, an important role for RevLite SI is the gradual management of melasma and other diffuse or mixed pigmentation.
Melasma is not simply a collection of spots that can be permanently removed. It is a recurrent pigmentary condition influenced by ultraviolet exposure, inflammation, hormones and individual skin biology.
For this reason, treatment is deliberately conservative. More energy is not necessarily better.
BBL HEROic or RevLite SI?
The choice depends on the colour, depth and pattern of pigmentation.
BBL HEROic tends to be particularly useful when there is:
- freckles or sun-related superficial pigmentation
- facial redness or visible vessels
- rosacea
- active inflammatory acne
- red and brown acne marks
- a mixture of pigmentation and redness from photodamage
RevLite SI tends to be more useful when there is:
- melasma
- diffuse pigmentation requiring gradual treatment
- deeper or mixed pigment
- pigmentation requiring a more selective laser approach
Some patients benefit from both.
For example, BBL may be used to improve superficial sun spots and vascular redness, while RevLite SI is used separately and more conservatively for underlying melasma.
The treatment plan follows the diagnosis rather than the device.
Who is this for?
- 01
Freckles and sun spots
Those who have accumulated discrete brown spots from genetics, aging or sun exposure.
- 02
Redness and rosacea
Those whose complexion looks persistently flushed or who have visible small facial vessels.
- 03
Acne and acne marks
Those with active inflammatory acne or residual red and brown marks after breakouts.
- 04
Melasma and uneven pigmentation
Those with diffuse pigmentation that requires gradual treatment rather than aggressive removal.
- 05
A generally uneven complexion
Those who may not have one dominant lesion but feel that the skin looks mottled, dull or inconsistent in colour.
What makes treatment here different
Treat the colour, not the machine. Pigmentation, blood vessels and inflammation can look similar to the untrained eye. Treatment begins by identifying what is actually causing the discoloration.
Avoid unnecessary energy. Asian skin can develop post-inflammatory pigmentation when treatment itself creates excessive inflammation. Settings are therefore chosen according to skin type, recent sun exposure and previous response.
Melasma is treated differently. Melasma is managed gradually. We do not try to eliminate it aggressively in a single treatment, because excessive treatment can worsen pigmentation or produce uneven loss of pigment.
Combine technologies when appropriate. BBL HEROic and RevLite SI are complementary rather than competing devices. Using each for the problem it treats best often makes more sense than repeatedly using one machine for every type of discoloration.
Consultations and procedures are led by Dr. Jeong or Dr. Lee, supported by our medical team. Read more about our doctors.
What to expect
- STEP 01
Consultation
We assess whether the colour comes mainly from melanin, blood vessels, inflammation or a combination of these factors.
- STEP 02
Treatment planning
BBL HEROic, RevLite SI or a combination is selected according to the diagnosis, skin type and treatment goal.
- STEP 03
Treatment
Protective eyewear is worn throughout treatment. You may feel brief warmth or a light snapping sensation as the energy is delivered.
- STEP 04
After treatment
Temporary redness or warmth can occur. Dark pigmented spots treated with BBL may temporarily become darker before gradually fading. Most patients can return to normal daily activities soon afterward.
- STEP 05
Prevention
Daily sun protection is an essential part of pigment treatment. Melasma and other pigmentation can recur, and treatment results are easier to maintain when ultraviolet and visible-light exposure are controlled.
Frequently asked questions
- Q1
Which is better, BBL HEROic or RevLite SI?
Neither is universally better. BBL is particularly versatile when pigmentation, redness and photodamage occur together. RevLite SI provides a more selective Q-switched laser approach when melasma or other pigmentation requires gradual treatment. The choice depends on what is causing the discoloration.
- Q2
Can BBL treat redness as well as brown spots?
Yes. One of the advantages of BBL is that different filters can target different chromophores. Melanin contributes to brown pigmentation, while haemoglobin is the main target in vascular redness. This makes BBL useful when both are present.
- Q3
Can BBL be used for acne?
Yes. Selected wavelengths can be useful for mild to moderate inflammatory acne, and vascular treatment may also help with some of the redness associated with acne. It does not replace every form of acne treatment. Patients with significant or persistent acne may require medical treatment as part of the plan.
- Q4
Can melasma be removed completely?
Melasma is better thought of as a condition to control rather than something that can always be permanently removed. RevLite SI can improve melasma, but recurrence is common. Excessive laser treatment can also provoke rebound pigmentation or uneven loss of pigment. For this reason, treatment is deliberately gradual and is combined with sun protection and, when appropriate, other medical treatment.
- Q5
Can BBL HEROic and RevLite SI be combined?
Yes. They treat different components of skin colour and can complement one another. A common example is a patient with superficial sun spots and redness together with underlying melasma. BBL may be used selectively for the superficial and vascular components while RevLite SI is used more conservatively for the melasma.
- Q6
How many treatments will I need?
There is no fixed number. An isolated sun spot, diffuse redness, active acne and melasma all behave differently. The number and spacing of treatments are therefore decided after examining the skin and adjusted according to its response.
- Q7
Is there downtime?
Downtime is generally limited. Temporary warmth or redness can occur after either treatment. Pigmented lesions treated with BBL may darken temporarily before they fade. More intensive treatment may require a longer recovery period, and individual responses vary.
Begin with
a conversation.
Consultations are led by Dr. Jeong or Dr. Lee, with our medical team supporting you throughout your visit. Appointments are recommended so that you can be seen without waiting, in English or Korean.
Results and recovery times vary from person to person, and every medical procedure carries potential side effects. The information on this page is provided for general guidance only and does not replace an in-person consultation. Please consult with our doctors for advice specific to your case.