Picosecond Laser Treatment
Tattoo Removal
Four wavelengths, one laser, built to clear the full range of tattoo ink color — with less thermal damage than older systems.
The Piqo4 removes tattoo ink through a photoacoustic effect: energy delivered in pulses lasting one trillionth of a second creates a pressure wave that shatters ink particles mechanically, rather than heating and destroying them the way older, slower lasers do. Once fragmented, the ink particles are small enough for the body's own lymphatic system to clear naturally over the following weeks.
That mechanism is only part of what makes the Piqo4 effective on tattoos specifically. It delivers four distinct wavelengths — 1064nm, 532nm, 585nm, and 650nm — each tuned to a different range of ink color. Black, dark blue, and dark green respond to 1064nm; red, orange, and yellow respond to 532nm; the 585nm and 650nm wavelengths reach the lighter blues, greens, and purples that older single-wavelength lasers have historically struggled to clear. Multi-color tattoos, which used to require multiple laser systems or produced incomplete results, can be addressed in a single course of treatment.
Because the photoacoustic mechanism produces less thermal injury than conventional heat-based lasers, treatment carries a lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — a meaningful advantage for patients with medium to darker skin tones, and for tattoos placed in areas where scarring or discoloration would be especially visible.
THE EXPERIENCE
Each session takes 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the tattoo. Most patients describe the sensation as a light snapping against the skin — tolerable without numbing for most people, though a topical anesthetic is available for larger or more sensitive areas.
Some redness and micro-crusting in the treated area for three to five days is expected as the skin responds to treatment. Sun protection over the treated area is important throughout the removal process.
A full course of tattoo removal typically requires six to ten sessions, spaced six to eight weeks apart to give the body time to clear fragmented ink between treatments. The exact number depends on the tattoo itself.
What it treats
INK COLOR
TATTOO SITUATIONS
IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Piqo4 is well suited to most patients pursuing tattoo removal, including those with multi-color ink or medium to darker skin tones — cases where older, single-wavelength lasers often produce incomplete results or carry a higher risk of discoloration.
Several factors affect how many sessions a specific tattoo will need: ink color and density, how deeply the ink was placed, and the age of the tattoo. Older tattoos that have already faded somewhat on their own often clear in fewer sessions than dense, recently placed ink. A consultation with your provider will assess your specific tattoo and give you a realistic session estimate.
Results and maintenance
Fading becomes visible over the two to three weeks following each session, as the body clears the fragmented ink particles — a gradual process rather than an immediate change. Most patients complete their full course in six to ten sessions spaced six to eight weeks apart. Once ink has fully cleared, no maintenance treatment is needed.
