Show patients their result before they treat.
The leading picosecond lasers — ultra-fast pulses that shatter tattoo ink and pigment with less heat.
Sarah Jenkins
Plan • Device
Recommended Protocol
PicoSure & PicoWay
Picosecond laser
Maintenance & Follow-Up
Ongoing plan
PicoSure (Cynosure) and PicoWay (Candela) are the leading FDA-cleared picosecond lasers. They fire ultra-fast pulses that shatter tattoo ink and pigment into tiny particles the body clears, removing tattoos in fewer sessions than older lasers and also treating sun spots, melasma, and texture with minimal downtime.
PicoSure (Cynosure) and PicoWay (Candela) are the two leading picosecond lasers — devices that fire in trillionths of a second to break pigment into ultrafine particles the body clears away. Their photomechanical action removes tattoos in fewer sessions than older nanosecond lasers and, with fractional handpieces, also treats sun spots, melasma, and texture with minimal heat and downtime. Both are FDA-cleared and effective across a range of ink colors and skin tones when used by a trained provider.
For a practice, picosecond lasers open two revenue streams from one platform: tattoo removal and pigment/skin-revitalization treatments. Both are multi-session by nature, so framing realistic timelines is essential. Previewing the projected fading or clearing on the patient's own photo across a planned series sets honest expectations and secures the full course of treatments.
PicoSure & PicoWay
Made by
Cynosure (PicoSure) / Candela (PicoWay)
Category
Picosecond laser
Type
In-clinic device
US regulatory status
FDA-cleared picosecond lasers for tattoo removal and benign pigment.
See the full treatment category — what it does, the concerns it solves, and how it fits into a visual 12-month plan.
Common questions patients ask about PicoSure & PicoWay — and what practices should be ready to answer.
Both are picosecond lasers that shatter pigment with ultra-short pulses; PicoSure is made by Cynosure and PicoWay by Candela, and they use slightly different wavelengths and pulse durations. A trained provider selects the right device for the ink colors or pigment being treated.
It varies with the size, ink colors, depth, and age of the tattoo, but most take several sessions spaced weeks apart. Picosecond lasers typically need fewer sessions than older nanosecond lasers.
Yes — with fractional handpieces they also treat sun spots, melasma, and skin texture, which is why practices use them for both tattoo removal and skin revitalization.
Patients weigh their options by name. Browse the alternatives Afters can visualize and plan.
Sciton's gentle fractional laser — a low-downtime 'prejuvenation' treatment for tone, texture, and early pigment.
View brandSciton's high-powered BroadBand Light — the premium IPL for sun damage, redness, and brown spots.
View brandA gentle 'baby Fraxel' fractional laser for early aging, glow, and skin-quality maintenance.
View brandAfters simulates the outcome on a patient's own photo and builds a visual 12-month plan — so consults convert and average ticket climbs.