Picosecond Pro technology
Why pico laser is in a different league
Not all tattoo removal lasers are equal. The Picosecond Pro delivers results that nanosecond and Nd:YAG lasers simply cannot match — faster, safer, and effective on every colour and skin tone.
The science behind the difference
Tattoo removal works by shattering ink particles small enough for your immune system to flush away. The speed at which the laser delivers its energy pulse determines how completely that shattering happens — and how much heat is left behind in your skin.
Pico laser fires in picoseconds — one trillionth of a second. Nanosecond and Nd:YAG lasers fire in nanoseconds — one billionth of a second. That is 1,000 times slower. The difference in outcome is enormous.
Pico laser vs nanosecond vs Nd:YAG
A direct comparison across the metrics that matter most.
| Picosecond Pro | Nanosecond laser | Nd:YAG laser | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulse speed | Picoseconds (10⁻¹²s) | Nanoseconds (10⁻⁹s) | Nanoseconds (10⁻⁹s) |
| Ink shattering | Photoacoustic — dust-fine particles | Photothermal — larger fragments | Photothermal — larger fragments |
| Sessions needed | Fewer — typically 6–12 | More — typically 10–20+ | More — typically 10–20+ |
| Clearance speed | Significantly faster fading | Slower fading per session | Slowest fading per session |
| Colour range | All colours including blues, greens & yellows | Limited — struggles with blues & greens | Mainly black & dark ink only |
| Skin tone safety | Safe on all skin tones (Fitzpatrick I–VI) | Risk of pigmentation on darker skin | High risk on darker skin tones |
| Heat damage risk | Minimal — ultra-low thermal effect | Moderate thermal damage risk | Higher thermal damage risk |
| Scarring risk | Very low | Moderate | Higher |
Pulse speed
Picosecond Pro
Picoseconds (10⁻¹²s)
Nanosecond laser
Nanoseconds (10⁻⁹s)
Nd:YAG laser
Nanoseconds (10⁻⁹s)
Ink shattering
Picosecond Pro
Photoacoustic — dust-fine particles
Nanosecond laser
Photothermal — larger fragments
Nd:YAG laser
Photothermal — larger fragments
Sessions needed
Picosecond Pro
Fewer — typically 6–12
Nanosecond laser
More — typically 10–20+
Nd:YAG laser
More — typically 10–20+
Clearance speed
Picosecond Pro
Significantly faster fading
Nanosecond laser
Slower fading per session
Nd:YAG laser
Slowest fading per session
Colour range
Picosecond Pro
All colours including blues, greens & yellows
Nanosecond laser
Limited — struggles with blues & greens
Nd:YAG laser
Mainly black & dark ink only
Skin tone safety
Picosecond Pro
Safe on all skin tones (Fitzpatrick I–VI)
Nanosecond laser
Risk of pigmentation on darker skin
Nd:YAG laser
High risk on darker skin tones
Heat damage risk
Picosecond Pro
Minimal — ultra-low thermal effect
Nanosecond laser
Moderate thermal damage risk
Nd:YAG laser
Higher thermal damage risk
Scarring risk
Picosecond Pro
Very low
Nanosecond laser
Moderate
Nd:YAG laser
Higher
What makes the Picosecond Pro the best choice
Faster clearance in fewer sessions
Because pico laser shatters ink into dust-fine particles rather than larger fragments, your immune system clears the ink far more efficiently between sessions. Most clients see significantly faster fading compared to nanosecond treatments — meaning fewer sessions, less time, and less money spent overall.
Safe on all skin tones
Nd:YAG and nanosecond lasers carry a real risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and depigmentation on medium to darker skin tones. The Picosecond Pro's ultra-short pulse duration dramatically reduces thermal damage, making it the only truly safe option for Fitzpatrick skin types IV, V, and VI.
Tackles every ink colour
Older nanosecond lasers struggle with blues, greens, and yellows — colours that absorb light at wavelengths they can't effectively target. The Picosecond Pro's photoacoustic mechanism shatters particles across the full colour spectrum, including the stubborn colours other lasers leave behind.
Minimal heat, minimal risk
Nanosecond and Nd:YAG lasers work primarily through photothermal action — heat. That heat damages surrounding tissue, increasing the risk of scarring, blistering, and textural changes. Pico laser works photoacoustically — pressure waves, not heat — so the surrounding skin is left largely untouched.
Better results on stubborn tattoos
Professional tattoos with dense, layered ink and older amateur tattoos with deep pigment are notoriously difficult for nanosecond lasers. The Picosecond Pro's superior shattering power makes it the go-to choice for complex, multi-colour, or previously treated tattoos that other clinics have struggled with.
Ready to experience the difference?
Send us an enquiry and we'll get back to you within 24 hours to arrange a consultation at one of our treatment studios.