PicoSure Picosecond Laser: On Premises, Not Outsourced

What "picosecond" means, and why pulse speed matters

Every tattoo removal laser does the same basic job: it fires energy at the ink sitting in your dermis, breaking the pigment into fragments small enough for your immune system to carry away. The difference between laser generations is how they break the ink.

A picosecond is one trillionth of a second. PicoSure delivers its energy in pulses roughly a thousand times shorter than the nanosecond pulses of older Q-switched lasers. That ultra-short pulse changes the physics of what happens to the ink:

• Q-switched (nanosecond) lasers work largely photothermally. The pulse is long enough that a meaningful part of its effect comes from heating the ink, and some of that heat spreads into surrounding tissue.
• Picosecond lasers work primarily photomechanically. The pulse is so short that it creates a pressure wave that shatters ink particles, with less reliance on heat.

Smaller fragments are easier for your lymphatic system to clear between sessions. In practice, picosecond lasers often need fewer sessions than older Q-switched lasers, though every tattoo responds differently, and no honest operator will promise you a number before assessing your ink. Our PicoSure vs Q-switched deep dive covers the comparison in full.

PicoSure vs older Q-switched lasers at a glance

What PicoSure means for colour tattoos

Black ink absorbs energy across a broad range of wavelengths, which is why it responds best for every laser. Colours are pickier: each pigment absorbs some wavelengths and reflects others. PicoSure's primary 755nm alexandrite wavelength is well matched to black, blue and green pigments, green being a colour older lasers often struggle with, and more wavelength delivery options extend coverage to other colours.

Some pigments remain genuinely stubborn for every laser on the market, yellows, whites and certain pastels among them. If your tattoo has these, we'll tell you up front rather than let you discover it six sessions in. Read the colour tattoo removal guide for the colour-by-colour picture.

Real client result

Colour ink on the arm, drag to compare

A real client part-way through treatment: visibly lighter and washed back, with pigment still remaining. Colour and large surface areas are the slowest to clear, so colour sleeves need more sessions than black and fade unevenly. Real client results. Identifying details removed to protect privacy. Individual results vary; some inks fade rather than fully clear. See more before & after →

Regulation and safety

PicoSure devices are included on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and are FDA-cleared in the United States (510(k) clearances on the public FDA register). That tells you the device itself meets regulatory requirements. The rest comes down to how it's operated.

At Ink Off, every treatment starts with a skin and ink assessment, settings are matched conservatively to your skin type, and eye protection is worn for every pulse. Laser tattoo removal has normal, expected after-effects, temporary redness, swelling, sometimes blistering, and our aftercare guide covers exactly how to manage them. For the full risk picture, including what to check before choosing any operator in Australia, see our safety and regulations guide.

What a session feels like

Treatment itself is quick, typically 5 to 15 minutes depending on the size of your tattoo. Most clients describe the sensation as sharp snaps, like a rubber band flicking the skin. It's uncomfortable rather than unbearable, it's over fast, and we use cooling to take the edge off. Sessions are typically spaced 6–8 weeks apart so your body can clear the shattered ink between visits.

Curious about the pain question specifically? We wrote an honest answer: Does tattoo removal hurt?

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