PicoWay is an FDA-cleared picosecond laser system made by Candela, used primarily for tattoo removal, pigmentation correction, acne scar treatment, and skin rejuvenation. It works by delivering ultra-short pulses of laser energy that shatter pigment particles through pressure waves rather than heat, which reduces damage to surrounding skin and shortens recovery time compared to older laser technologies.
How PicoWay Works
Traditional lasers used for tattoo removal and pigmentation rely mostly on heat to break down ink or melanin particles. PicoWay takes a different approach. It fires pulses measured in picoseconds (trillionths of a second), so brief that the energy creates a pressure wave, called a photoacoustic effect, instead of building up heat in the tissue. That pressure wave shatters pigment into tiny fragments small enough for your immune system to clear naturally over the following weeks.
Because the pulses are so short, there’s minimal thermal damage to the skin around the treatment area. This is the key advantage over older Q-switched (nanosecond) lasers: less heat means a lower risk of scarring and a lower chance of post-treatment darkening or lightening of the skin.
What PicoWay Treats
The system has FDA clearance for a broad list of conditions, which is part of what sets it apart from more specialized devices:
- Tattoo removal: Multicolored tattoos including black, brown, green, blue, purple, red, yellow, and orange inks.
- Benign pigmented lesions: Sun spots (lentigines), café au lait birthmarks, melasma, and Nevus of Ota.
- Acne scars: Cleared for use on light to dark skin tones (Fitzpatrick types II through V).
- Wrinkles: Fine lines treated through collagen stimulation using specialized handpieces.
Multiple Wavelengths for Different Colors
One of PicoWay’s distinguishing features is that it operates at up to four wavelengths, each tuned to absorb different pigment colors. No single wavelength can address every ink color effectively, so the system switches between them depending on what’s being treated.
The 1064 nm wavelength penetrates deepest and handles the most common tattoo colors: black, brown, green, blue, and purple. It’s also the wavelength cleared for all skin tones, including the darkest. The 532 nm wavelength targets red, yellow, and orange inks, which sit at the opposite end of the color spectrum and don’t respond well to longer wavelengths. The 730 nm and 785 nm wavelengths fill the gap for green and blue inks, with clinical data showing the 730 nm wavelength clearing blue and purple pigments by roughly 83% and green by 77%.
This multi-wavelength approach is why PicoWay is often recommended for multicolored tattoos. Many older systems could only handle dark inks effectively, leaving greens, reds, and yellows partially intact.
Skin Rejuvenation With the Resolve Handpiece
For acne scars and wrinkles, PicoWay uses a different attachment called the Resolve handpiece. Rather than targeting visible pigment, this handpiece splits the laser beam into a grid of tiny focal points that create microscopic changes beneath the skin’s surface without breaking the outer layer. These micro-injuries, called laser-induced optical breakdowns, trigger a healing response that stimulates the production of new collagen and elastin. Over several weeks, this remodeling process smooths acne scars and softens fine lines.
Because the outer skin layer stays intact, recovery from Resolve treatments tends to be faster than with ablative lasers that physically remove skin. Most of the rejuvenation work happens beneath the surface.
Suitability for Darker Skin Tones
Laser treatments have historically carried higher risks for people with darker skin, particularly unwanted pigmentation changes. PicoWay’s ultra-short pulses reduce this risk because less heat is deposited into the skin, but the FDA clearances still vary by wavelength and condition.
The 1064 nm wavelength is cleared for tattoo removal across all skin tones, making it the safest option for darker complexions. For acne scars, the Resolve handpiece at 1064 nm is cleared for Fitzpatrick skin types II through V, which includes medium to dark brown skin. However, most of the pigmentation treatments (melasma, sun spots, wrinkle reduction) are cleared only for types I through IV, so people with very dark skin should confirm that their specific concern falls within the device’s approved range.
How It Compares to Older Lasers
Q-switched lasers, which fire pulses in nanoseconds (billionths of a second rather than trillionths), were the standard for tattoo removal for decades. They still work, but picosecond lasers like PicoWay shatter ink into smaller fragments per session. Research has found that picosecond lasers require roughly 25% fewer treatment sessions than Q-switched lasers to achieve comparable clearance, based on standardized scoring methods used to predict tattoo removal difficulty.
Fewer sessions means less cumulative trauma to the skin and a shorter overall treatment timeline, though the per-session cost of picosecond treatments is typically higher. For stubborn ink colors like green and blue, the efficiency gap between the two technologies tends to be more pronounced.
What a Session Feels Like
Most providers apply a topical numbing cream about an hour before the procedure. During treatment, cooling devices or chilled air are directed at the skin to manage discomfort. The sensation is commonly compared to a rubber band snapping against the skin. Each laser pulse lasts a fraction of a second, and sessions for small tattoos or pigmented spots can be quite short, often under 15 to 20 minutes. Larger or more complex tattoos take longer.
Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen can be taken beforehand, though most clinics advise against ibuprofen or aspirin since they can increase bruising.
Recovery and Downtime
For standard pigmentation treatments and lighter tattoo removal sessions, the most common side effects are mild redness, swelling, and a tingling sensation. These typically resolve within 24 to 48 hours, and many people see redness fade within a few hours of leaving the clinic.
More intensive sessions, particularly for dense or multicolored tattoos, can produce increased redness, swelling, and microscabbing or crusting over areas of darker pigment. These effects generally clear up within a few days. Keeping the area moisturized, avoiding sun exposure, and leaving any crusting alone to shed naturally are the standard aftercare recommendations.
Compared to ablative resurfacing lasers that remove layers of skin, PicoWay’s downtime is notably shorter. Most people return to normal activities the same day or the next, though strenuous exercise and direct sun exposure are best avoided for a few days after treatment.
Number of Sessions Needed
This varies widely depending on the treatment goal. Pigmented lesions like sun spots may clear in one to three sessions. Melasma, which is notoriously stubborn, often requires more. Acne scar improvement typically becomes visible after three to six sessions spaced several weeks apart.
Tattoo removal requires the most patience. A small, dark, professionally applied tattoo might need four to six sessions, while large, multicolored, or heavily layered tattoos can take ten or more. Spacing sessions further apart, typically six to eight weeks or longer, gives your immune system time to clear the shattered ink particles and generally improves results per session.