Treatment overview
Laser Tattoo Removal with PicoWay®
When tattoos don’t turn out the way you’d hoped, we have the advanced technology to make them less permanent. PicoWay laser removal works by shattering tattoo ink into minuscule particles, including those pesky blues and greens, across a broad range of skin types and colours. FDA approved, and doctor-supervised, PicoWay’s photoacoustic energy offers a safer treatment than photothermal devices.
Starting from: $500 for a 5 cm tattoo. See pricing details
Recommended number of sessions: 3+, 3-6 weeks apart
Treatment duration: Approximately 40 minutes
Required maintenance: None
The benefits
A Clear Start for Ink Regret with PicoWay Tattoo Removal
Procedure Benefits
- Treats black, brown, blue, green, purple, red, yellow, and orange ink
- Well-tolerated treatment with mild, temporary side effects
- Low to no downtime so you can get right back to daily activities
For the Body
- Treats a large variety of skin types and colours
- Breaks down ink particles that are easily removed by the body
Results
- Removes tattoos in fewer treatments with fewer risks
- Quick and safe treatment
- Ultra-short pulses target specific areas, minimizing risk to nearby cells
How it works
Laser Fast Technology for Tattoo Removal
PicoWay uses photoacoustic (sound) energy instead of photothermal (heat) energy to shatter ink particles. This unique picosecond laser technology delivers faster, more comfortable treatments than traditional laser tattoo removal solutions. This laser is so fast it’s measured in picoseconds – a trillionth of a second.
Photoacoustic high-energy laser pulses are delivered below the skin to break down the tattoo ink into tiny particles, nearly invisible to the naked eye. Your body’s natural elimination process slowly removes these particles. The laser treats specific pigments without breaking the skin surface.
The treatment experience
Planning Your Tattoo Removal Treatment
Your experience begins with a consultation with one of our expert staff. Together, we’ll create a treatment plan that best suits your needs. We review your concerns, expectations, skincare regimen, price estimates, and your relevant medical history during your session.
Treatment plans vary based on pre- and post-treatment care, number and frequency of sessions, strength of treatment, etc., all of which are based on skin type, tattoo size and colour, treatment expectations, and personal concerns.
Your Guide to the PicoWay Laser Tattoo Removal Treatment
Before the Treatment
Apply sunscreen and avoid the sun 4–6 weeks before and after your treatment. You may be asked to stop oral or topical medications or other skincare products 3–5 days before. Do not use self-tanning products 1–2 weeks before and remove residual self-tanner.
During the Treatment
Safety considerations are vital during laser procedures. You’ll wear protective glasses, and all precautions will be taken to ensure your safety and comfort. Your teeth may be protected with a moist, wet gauze if treating the upper lip.
After the Treatment
You may notice a slight “frosting” on the treated area. Any redness, swelling, or pinpoint bleeding may last up to 2 hours. Apply ointment. Your skin will scab over and flake off in 7–10 days. Don’t pick, scratch or aggressively wash the area.
Pricing
How Much does Tattoo Removal Cost?
The PicoWay treatment costs depend on the number of treatments and the size of your tattoo. Our base price starts at $500 for a 5 cm tattoo. To ensure that our treatments are as affordable as possible, we offer packages with additional savings when several tattoo removal treatments are purchased collectively.
Yes. The doctor may not approve your PicoWay treatment if you have:
- A pacemaker/defibrillator.
- Metal implants or other implants in the area.
- Skin cancer, other cancers, or pre-malignant moles.
- Severe concurrent conditions, such as cardiac disorders.
- If you are pregnant and nursing.
- History of diseases stimulated by heat, such as recurrent herpes simplex in the treatment area. It may be treated following a prophylactic regimen.
- Poorly controlled endocrine disorders, such as diabetes.
- Any active condition in the treatment area, such as sores, psoriasis, eczema, or rashes.
- History of skin disorders, keloids, abnormal wound healing, or very dry and fragile skin.
- A history of bleeding coagulopathies, or use of anticoagulants.
- Facial laser resurfacing and deep chemical peeling within the last three months, if the face is treated.
- Excessively tanned skin from sun, sun-beds, or tanning creams within the last two weeks.
- Synthetic fillers; e.g., silicone, in the treatment area.
These are some contraindications that may prevent you from having a PicoWay treatment, however, during your consultation, your medical doctor may still approve your treatment if your risk deems to be below. If the treatment area had injections the following waiting periods are required:
- Following neuromodulator injections: wait 2 weeks.
- Following natural fillers; e.g., hyaluronic acid, collagen: wait 4 weeks.
Almost anyone. Please let the doctor know if you:
- Have a history of skin cancer or any other kind of cancer.
- Have impaired immune system due to immunosuppressive diseases such as AIDS and HIV, or use immunosuppressive medications.
- Have diseases, which may be stimulated by light at the wavelengths used, such as a history of systemic lupus erythematosus, porphyria, or epilepsy.
- Use medications, herbs, food supplements, and vitamins known to induce photo-sensitivity to light exposure at the wavelengths used, such as isotretinoin (Accutane) within the last 6 months, tetracycline, or St. John’s Wort within the last two weeks.
PicoWay uses photoacoustic (sound) energy instead of photothermal (heat) energy to shatter ink particles. And it uses an ultra-fast speed that is measured in picoseconds (trillionth of a second) compared to other lasers that may operate at nanoseconds (billionth of a second). This difference in speed allows it to break the ink particles into fine particles. For example, where nanosecond devices would break the ink particles from rock to gravel, the PicoWay breaks it from rock to sand (much finer). PicoWay patients report high satisfaction and little to no downtime.
PicoWay does all of this while simultaneously reducing risk. PicoWay’s ultra-short pulses target a specific area for a very short duration, minimizing the heat that gets transferred to the skin and lowering the risk of injury to neighbouring cells.
The most common immediate side effects are:
- Discomfort
- Mild/excessive redness
- Swelling
- Crusting, blisters, or a burn
- Pinpoint bleeding
- Tingling
- Purplish spots
There are pre- and post-treatment care recommended to minimize the risks and ensure a safe treatment and recovery.
Some patients may experience hyper-pigmentation (the darkening of skin colour) or hypo-pigmentation (the lightening of skin colour). This is usually temporary and the skin will return to normal once the healing is complete.
Scarring can also occur but it’s rare and can usually be prevented with proper aftercare (treating blisters properly). If you notice excessive blistering or have any questions, please contact our clinic to meet with a doctor.
Side effects with PicoWay are typically transient and expected as part of the laser treatment. Patients experience low to no downtime. In some cases, patients may use a topical anesthetic to enhance comfort during the treatment. More common side effects include redness, swelling, pinpoint bleeding, tingling, or purplish spots. These effects will differ, however, depending on the treatment you receive. You will likely experience some pain and discomfort during treatment but it will be dependent on the treatment you receive.
PicoWay is ideal for all skin types and colours of tattoo ink. It is important to follow post-care instructions.
PicoWay laser tattoo removal is effective and fast and usually requires less treatments than traditional laser tattoo removal machines. You’ll see significant tattoo clearance within the first few treatments.
The speed and number of treatments required to remove your tattoo depends on several factors:
- Tattoo size: Small spot tattoos require less time to treat than a full sleeve tattoo.
- Skin type: Some skin types, especially darker ones, will need a lower energy setting to operate safely, requiring more treatments to achieve optimal clearance.
- Ink colour: Some colours require more treatments than others to achieve the desired result.
In one study, 86% of patients showed at least 50% clearance of their tattoos after 3 treatments. Another study showed 83% of blue/green tattoos had at least 50% clearance after 2 treatments.
Depending on the condition treated, you may see initial improvement after your first treatment. Typically, multiple treatment sessions are needed. For example, a clinical study of benign pigmented lesions found that after 2 treatments, 87% of lesions had a least good response (more than 50% had a good response or better). PicoWay 510(k) clearance for benign pigmented lesions (K150326).
Yes. PicoWay laser has low to no downtime. Most people are able to return to their activities of daily living shortly after treatment. You may need a bandage to keep the treatment area dry for a few days following tattoo removal.