Picosecond (Pico) Laser Treatment in Danville, CA
Pico Laser Treatment in Danville, CA
A picosecond laser delivers extremely short pulses of energy designed to target pigment or create controlled photoacoustic effects with limited heat spread. Depending on the exact FDA-cleared device and wavelength, picosecond lasers may be used for tattoo removal, benign pigmented lesions and selected skin-rejuvenation or scar applications.
A pico laser fires pulses so short they are measured in trillionths of a second. That shatters pigment rather than cooking it, and it leaves far less heat behind in the surrounding skin. Depending on the exact machine and the colour of light it uses, these lasers are used for removing tattoos, for harmless brown marks, and for some skin and scar treatments.
Pico Laser: the essentials
The short version
Picosecond-pulse laser; exact wavelength(s), handpieces and fractional optics depend on the device.
A laser with extremely short pulses. Which colours of light it has, and which handpieces, depend on the machine.
Tattoo removal and benign pigmented lesions are established uses for multiple FDA-cleared picosecond systems; some devices also have fractional/rejuvenation applications.
Tattoo removal and harmless brown marks are the established uses. Some machines also treat texture and general skin quality.
Usually a series for tattoo removal; benign pigment or texture may require one or more sessions depending on diagnosis and device.
A course for tattoos. For brown marks or texture, one or more sessions, depending on the diagnosis and the machine.
Often hours to several days of redness/swelling for pigment or rejuvenation; tattoo treatment can cause whitening, pinpoint bleeding, blistering or crusting.
Usually hours to a few days of redness and swelling for brown marks. Tattoo treatment can turn the skin white immediately, and cause pinpoint bleeding, blisters or crusting.
The clinician should identify the picosecond laser platform and wavelength planned for treatment because capabilities vary by system.
The clinician should tell you which pico laser and which colour of light will be used, because what they can do varies between systems.
Correct diagnosis and wavelength selection matter. Some cosmetic tattoo pigments can darken after laser exposure, and pigment changes can occur in any skin tone.
Getting the diagnosis and the colour of light right matters. Some cosmetic tattoo inks turn darker after laser treatment, and skin colour can change in anyone.
What is a picosecond laser?
What is a pico laser?
Picosecond lasers emit pulses measured in trillionths of a second. These very short pulses can create a strong photoacoustic effect that fragments pigment particles while limiting the duration of heat exposure to surrounding tissue.
It fires pulses measured in trillionths of a second. Those extremely short bursts shatter pigment particles mechanically, rather than heating them, so much less heat spreads into the skin around them.
What can a Pico laser treat?
What can it treat?
The safest answer depends on the exact device and its FDA clearance. Across cleared picosecond systems, well-established applications include tattoo removal and benign pigmented lesions; published literature also supports selected uses in photoaging, scars and fractional rejuvenation.
The honest answer depends on the exact machine and what it is approved for. Across these lasers, the well established uses are removing tattoos and treating harmless brown marks. Published research also supports certain uses for sun damage, scars and general skin quality.
| Concern | How Pico may fit |
|---|---|
| Unwanted tattoos | Picosecond wavelengths can fragment selected tattoo colors; multiple sessions are usually required and color response varies |
| Benign pigmented lesions | Certain cleared wavelengths treat lentigines/freckles and other diagnosed benign pigment lesions |
| Texture / acne scars / photoaging | Some systems use fractional optics or laser-induced optical breakdown; evidence and indications vary by device |
| Melasma | Requires caution because melasma can relapse or worsen with energy-based treatment; not a simple “pigment removal” problem |
Unwanted tattoos These lasers shatter certain ink colours. It takes several sessions, and different colours respond very differently.
Harmless brown marks Certain settings treat sun spots, freckles and other marks that have been identified as harmless.
Texture, acne scars and sun damage Some machines have attachments for this. How much evidence there is varies from machine to machine.
Melasma Needs real caution. Melasma relapses, and energy treatments can make it worse. It is not a simple case of removing pigment.
Diagram showing ultra-short picosecond laser pulses fragmenting pigment particles in skin
A diagram showing very short laser pulses shattering pigment particles in the skin.
How does Pico laser tattoo removal work?
How does tattoo removal work?
Laser wavelength is selected to interact with particular ink colors. Ultra-short pulses fragment pigment so the body can gradually clear smaller particles; complete removal is not guaranteed and some colors respond poorly.
The colour of light is chosen to match the colour of the ink. The extremely short pulses shatter the pigment into pieces small enough for your body to carry away. Complete removal is not guaranteed, and some colours respond poorly.
Who may be a good candidate for Pico laser treatment?
Who is it suitable for?
Candidates have a clearly diagnosed target, such as an unwanted tattoo or benign pigment lesion, and understand that treatment response depends on pigment type, depth, skin tone, device wavelength and prior treatment history.
Someone with a clearly identified target, such as an unwanted tattoo or a harmless brown mark, who understands that the response depends on the kind of pigment, how deep it is, their skin tone, the machine, and anything that has been tried before.
Concept diagram showing different laser wavelengths targeting different pigment colors without naming a specific device
A diagram showing how different colours of laser light target different colours of ink.
Who may not be a good candidate, or may need a test spot?
Who should wait, or have a test patch first?
Treatment may be deferred for active infection, recent tanning/sunburn or uncertain pigmented lesions. Cosmetic tattoos and certain inks require special caution because some pigments can paradoxically darken after laser exposure.
Anyone with an infection, a recent tan or sunburn, or a brown mark nobody has identified. Cosmetic tattoos and certain inks need special caution, because some of them turn darker rather than lighter after laser treatment.
- Any new, changing or suspicious pigmented lesion requires diagnosis before cosmetic laser treatment
- Recent tan or sunburn increases burn and pigment-change risk
- Cosmetic tattoo pigments containing iron oxide or titanium dioxide may darken with laser exposure
- History of abnormal scarring or pigment change should be discussed
- Any new, changing or suspicious brown mark needs a diagnosis before any cosmetic laser.
- A recent tan or sunburn raises the risk of burns and of patchy colour.
- Some cosmetic tattoo inks, particularly those containing iron or titanium, go darker when lasered.
- Tell us if you have ever scarred badly, or had skin colour changes after a procedure.
What is recovery like after Pico laser?
What is the recovery like?
Recovery varies with the target and settings. Pigment/rejuvenation treatments may cause temporary redness, swelling or darkening/flaking; tattoo treatment may produce immediate whitening, swelling, blistering, crusting or pinpoint bleeding.
It depends what is being treated and at what settings. Treating brown marks or skin quality may leave you red, swollen, or with the treated spots darkening and flaking. Tattoo treatment often turns the area white immediately, and can cause swelling, blisters, crusting and pinpoint bleeding.
What are the benefits and risks of Pico laser treatment?
What are the benefits and risks?
Picosecond technology can selectively target pigment with very short pulses, but it can still cause burns, pigment alteration, blistering, scarring or incomplete response.
The advantage is that it can go after pigment very precisely, with very short pulses. It can still burn you, change your skin colour, blister, scar, or simply not clear everything.
| Potential benefits | Risks / limitations |
|---|---|
| Efficient pigment fragmentation for selected tattoo colors and benign lesions | Pain, redness, swelling, blistering, crusting or pinpoint bleeding |
| Short pulses can reduce nonspecific thermal exposure compared with longer pulse domains | Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, especially after inflammation |
| Some systems support fractional texture/scar treatment | Multiple sessions, incomplete clearance, paradoxical tattoo darkening, rare scarring |
What you can gain Efficient breakdown of certain tattoo colours and harmless marks. Less general heating than lasers with longer pulses. Some machines can also treat texture and scars.
What you are accepting Pain, redness, swelling, blisters, crusting or pinpoint bleeding. Skin that ends up darker or lighter, especially after inflammation. Several sessions, an incomplete result, tattoo ink that turns darker instead of lighter, and rarely a scar.
Picosecond laser device used at Dermatology and Laser Centre
The pico laser used at Dermatology and Laser Centre.
What are alternatives to Pico laser?
What else could I do instead?
Alternatives depend on the target and may include Q-switched nanosecond lasers, other pigment-specific lasers, fractional resurfacing, topical treatment for pigment disorders, or no treatment.
It depends on the target. An older type of laser with slightly longer pulses, another pigment laser, fractional resurfacing, creams for pigment problems, or nothing at all.
Illustrative result
What a result can look like
Illustration, not a patient photograph. Before and after picosecond laser treatment for a benign pigmented lesion. It shows the kind of change this treatment is intended to produce. Individual results vary, and no outcome is guaranteed. Photographs of real patients are published only with written consent.
This is a drawing, not a photo of a patient. It shows a before and after for pico laser treatment of a harmless brown mark, to give you an idea of the kind of change it aims at. Results are different for everyone, and nothing is guaranteed. We only publish photos of real patients with their written permission.
Questions patients ask
Is Pico laser the same as PicoSure or PicoWay?
Is Pico the same as PicoSure or PicoWay?
No. “Picosecond laser” describes pulse duration, not one brand. Different systems use different wavelengths, handpieces and FDA-cleared indications. The exact device at the practice must be confirmed.
No. Picosecond describes how short the pulses are, not a brand. Different machines use different colours of light, different handpieces, and are approved for different things. Ask which one we have.
Can Pico laser remove any tattoo color?
Can it remove any tattoo colour?
No. Response depends on wavelength, ink color and composition, depth, tattoo density and skin type. Some colors are resistant and complete removal is not guaranteed.
No. It depends on the colour of light used, on the colour and make up of the ink, on how deep it is, how densely it was applied, and on your skin type. Some colours resist it, and complete removal is never guaranteed.
Can permanent makeup get darker after laser?
Can permanent make up go darker?
Yes. Some iron-oxide or titanium-dioxide-containing cosmetic pigments can darken after laser exposure. Medical assessment and sometimes a test spot are appropriate.
Yes. Some cosmetic inks, particularly those containing iron or titanium, darken when lasered. That needs assessing, and often a test patch first.
Can Pico laser treat melasma?
Can it treat melasma?
Picosecond lasers are used for melasma in selected protocols, but melasma is relapse-prone and can worsen with laser-induced inflammation. It should not be marketed as a guaranteed pigment-erasing treatment.
These lasers are used for melasma in certain careful plans. But melasma relapses, and the inflammation a laser causes can make it worse. Nobody should sell it to you as a guaranteed way of erasing pigment.
How much downtime is there after Pico laser?
How much time will I need off?
It depends on the indication and energy. Light pigment/rejuvenation treatment may cause short-lived redness, while tattoo treatment can cause blistering or crusting for several days.
It depends what is being treated and at what energy. A light treatment for pigment or skin quality may leave you briefly red. Tattoo treatment can blister and crust for several days.
How many Pico laser sessions will I need?
How many sessions will I need?
There is no universal number. Tattoo removal usually needs a series; benign pigment or texture treatments vary by diagnosis, device and response.
There is no standard number. Tattoo removal always needs a course. For brown marks and texture it depends on what it is, the machine, and how you respond.
Talk it through with a physician first.
Every plan starts with an assessment of your skin, your anatomy and what you actually want to change.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether a treatment is right for you. Approved uses, risks and results differ from person to person, and product labelling changes. Ask us at Dermatology and Laser Centre about your own situation, or make an appointment, and seek urgent care for any serious symptom.
