Picosecond Laser FAQs

Both deliver high-energy pulses to fragment pigment, but the picosecond pulse is roughly a thousand times shorter than a Q-switched nanosecond pulse. The shorter pulse increases the photoacoustic (pressure) effect, fragmenting pigment into finer particles the body can clear.

Pulse duration and real peak power, primary and secondary wavelengths, the treatment modalities it supports (picosecond, long-pulse, fractional), skin-type suitability, regulatory licensing in your jurisdiction, included training, and service and consumable support — then total cost of ownership, not just the upfront price.

Shorter, well-controlled picosecond pulses increase the photoacoustic effect that fragments pigment, but real-world performance also depends on delivered peak power, wavelength, spot size, and provider settings. Compare the full specification, not the headline number alone.

1064 nm penetrates deeper with lower melanin absorption, which is why it is used across a broad range of skin types; 755 nm is absorbed more strongly by surface melanin. A platform that leads with 1064 nm and adds 532 nm covers more pigment and tattoo work across skin types.

At the same energy, a 500 ps pulse delivers higher peak power because peak power is energy divided by pulse duration. Higher peak power increases the photoacoustic effect that fragments pigment. Pulse width is one important factor among wavelength, delivered energy, and spot size.

It can be, if pigment and tattoo are your only goals. A multi-modality platform that adds long-pulse 1064 nm and fractional modes lets one system also support vascular, skin-quality, and texture protocols — which usually changes the return-on-investment case.

It can make sense if the total cost of ownership is genuinely lower — but factor in recertification, consumable and service access, out-of-warranty repair exposure, and the condition of the optics, not just the upfront price.

Confirm the device's regulatory status in your jurisdiction (for example, Health Canada licensing or FDA clearance) and that the status transfers with the unit. Ask the distributor for the record before purchase.

Tattoos, PMU, pigment and sun damage, melasma-prone skin (conservative provider-guided protocols), redness and veins, pores, acne scars and texture, and year-round skin quality — plus selected hair-reduction protocols with the long-pulse mode.

It is used in melasma protocols. Published studies report that 1064 nm picosecond laser can improve melasma, though results vary and may be comparable to established treatments. It is not a cure, and melasma is recurrence-prone.

For melasma specifically, gentle 1064 nm picosecond approaches are often preferred where appropriate, because they spare epidermal melanin and act photomechanically rather than by bulk heat. IPL's broad-spectrum heat can trigger rebound in some patients. Neither cures melasma, and provider judgment governs choice.

Yes — its 1064 nm picosecond delivery is the wavelength used for darker skin. In published studies, 1064 nm picosecond tattoo removal was associated with effective clearance and a low rate of long-term pigment changes in skin types III–IV.

Yes — a fractional picosecond (LIOB) mode remodels atrophic acne scars, texture, and pores by creating tiny intradermal zones that trigger non-ablative repair. It's best for depressed scars and texture; results build over a series of sessions and vary by patient.

Yes, picosecond laser is used to lighten or remove permanent makeup (microbladed brows, lip blush, eyeliner) by fragmenting the pigment for gradual clearance over a series of sessions. Results depend on ink type, depth, colour, and skin type.