PicoWay Pigment & Tattoo Removal

WIDLS uses the PicoWay picosecond laser to treat sun spots, brown birthmarks, pigmented lesions, and unwanted tattoos. PicoWay delivers ultra-short picosecond pulses that shatter melanin and ink particles into fragments small enough for the body's immune system to clear, achieving results with fewer sessions and less thermal injury than traditional nanosecond Q-switched lasers. Treatment areas turn white immediately post-session, transitioning to pink and possible superficial crusting over approximately one week before pigment clears over one to two months. A series of sessions is typically required for full clearance of tattoos.

WIDLS performs pigment and tattoo removal using the Syneron Candela PicoWay system, a dual-wavelength picosecond laser platform that represents the current standard of care for pigmented lesion and tattoo clearance. Unlike traditional Q-switched nanosecond lasers, which rely primarily on photothermal destruction of pigment targets, PicoWay delivers energy in ultra-short pulses measured in picoseconds (trillionths of a second), producing a predominantly photoacoustic — rather than photothermal — shockwave effect at the target. This photoacoustic mechanism shatters melanin granules and tattoo ink particles into significantly smaller fragments than nanosecond lasers can achieve, enabling the lymphatic system to phagocytose and clear the debris more efficiently. The result is more complete clearance with fewer treatment sessions and less thermal injury to the surrounding dermis, reducing the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — particularly important for patients with darker Fitzpatrick skin types. PicoWay operates at 1064 nm (Nd:YAG) for deep blue, black, and green ink and for dermal pigmented lesions, and 532 nm (KTP) for superficial red, orange, and yellow ink and epidermal pigmentation. For tattoo removal, the number of sessions required depends on ink density, colour complexity, tattoo age, and depth of ink placement; professional multicolour tattoos may require six to twelve sessions or more. For benign pigmented lesions — solar lentigines, café-au-lait macules, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — fewer sessions are typically required, with treatment spaced four to eight weeks apart to allow the skin to clear cleared debris before the next session. Immediately post-treatment, the target area turns white (frosting) and then pink to red; superficial crusting may develop over several days as the disrupted pigment is shed. Sun protection is strictly required between sessions. Dr. Alster's experience with PicoWay protocols and knowledge of skin phototypes ensures treatment parameters are calibrated to maximise efficacy while minimising risk of adverse pigmentary changes.