how does laser work?

The traditional laser removal method has long been “Q Switched” lasers with nanosecond pulse durations— that’s  bursts of light in one billionth of a second increments. After years of research and advancement in laser technology, the PicoSure Pro was developed and released in 2022. This machine produces picosecond pulse durations — one trillionth of a second — that has the capability of removing tattoos faster, more efficiently, and in a fewer treatments than the traditional Q Switched.

While the Q Switched lasers use heat to remove ink (and cause more damage to the skin in the process), the FDA approved PicoSure Pro uses these exceptionally short laser pulses to target the ink particles beneath the skin with a massive amount of pressure. This intense pressure causes the pigments to break apart and fragment into tiny particles which are then absorbed and disposed of by the body’s lymphatic system.

Before the recent advancements in technology, picosecond lasers were not as effective at removing stubborn pigments like yellow, orange and red ink when compared to the traditional laser methods. However, scientists were recently successful in improving the picosecond laser method wavelength to remove all ink colours in every skin tone.

This new advancement, implementing a 523nm (nanometer) wavelength,  is perfect for targeting those tough pigments. When incorporated with the standard 755nm laser in the PicoSure Pro, this combined system delivers a peerless ability to eliminate unwanted ink across the colour spectrum, regardless of skin tone.