Laser modality
Picosecond Laser
A laser modality that emits ultra-short, picosecond-domain pulses, used on multi-application platforms by professional aesthetic and dermatology clinics.
Picosecond systems are defined by pulse duration rather than a single wavelength, and typically operate across multiple wavelengths; exact parameters are specified in each device's manufacturer documentation.
What is picosecond laser technology?
A picosecond laser delivers its energy in pulses measured in trillionths of a second — roughly a thousand times shorter than a Q-switched nanosecond laser. That extremely short pulse acts on tattoo ink and pigment largely through a photoacoustic effect, fragmenting the particles so the body can clear them, with less heat spread into the surrounding skin.
The defining characteristic is pulse duration, not a single wavelength. In practice that means three things for a buyer:
- It is a pigment tool first. Tattoo ink, cosmetic (PMU) pigment, lentigines, and sun damage are the natural targets, because they respond to pressure-driven fragmentation.
- Wavelength still matters. Pulse duration decides how energy is delivered; wavelength decides what absorbs it. Professional platforms therefore ship with more than one wavelength.
- It is usually sold as a platform. Because the same Nd:YAG source can be run in other pulse regimes, modern picosecond systems are typically multi-application platforms rather than dedicated tattoo lasers.
What can a clinic offer with a picosecond laser?
The commercial case rests on two kinds of demand: corrective work that brings new patients through the door, and recurring skin-quality work that keeps them on the calendar.
Corrective categories — finite, high-intent, strongly searched:
- Tattoo removal across black, coloured, and multi-ink work
- PMU, microblading, and cosmetic-pigment correction
- Pigment and sun damage — lentigines, sun spots, uneven tone
- Melasma-supportive, provider-guided 1064 nm protocols for pigment-prone skin
Recurring categories — available when the platform offers additional regimes:
- Collagen banking and skin revitalization with PicoFusion™
- Carbon laser peel facials as an easy, repeat-friendly service
- Pores, texture, and acne-scar remodeling with PicoMatrix™
- Redness and vascular protocols where a long-pulse 1064 nm mode is included
The Pro 1 Pico picosecond mode is used in professional clinics to support tattoo and pigmentation treatments.
A pigment-only picosecond laser treats tattoos and pigment, then stops. A multi-regime picosecond platform keeps the room productive between tattoo sessions — which is where device utilization, and therefore return on the purchase, is decided.
Picosecond vs Q-switched: what actually changes?
Both technologies fragment pigment. The difference is the ratio of pressure to heat.
| Q-switched Nd:YAG | Picosecond | |
|---|---|---|
| Pulse duration | Nanosecond domain (~10⁻⁹ s) | Picosecond domain (~10⁻¹² s) |
| Dominant effect | Photoacoustic with a larger thermal component | Predominantly photoacoustic; less heat spread |
| Fragment size | Larger | Finer, easier for the body to clear |
| Typical strengths | Established, effective for black ink and pigment | Stubborn and multi-colour ink, PMU, pigment-reactive and darker skin |
| Buyer profile | Cost-sensitive tattoo-focused clinics | Clinics building a multi-category pigment and skin-quality menu |
Q-switched lasers remain effective tools, and many clinics have built profitable practices on them. The picosecond advantage is in the pulse physics — finer fragmentation with a smaller thermal component — which tends to matter most for resistant ink, delicate facial PMU, and patients whose skin reacts to heat. The full comparison is in Picosecond vs Q-Switched Laser, and the owner’s-side timing question in Upgrading from Q-Switched to Picosecond.
Picosecond vs long-pulse: two different jobs
Picosecond delivery is a pigment pathway. A long-pulse 1064 nm Nd:YAG mode is a photothermal pathway: it heats vascular and dermal targets over a far longer pulse, which is how redness, telangiectasia, selected veins, and dermal-heating protocols are addressed. They are complementary, not competing — and whether a platform offers both is one of the clearest dividing lines between a pigment-only picosecond laser and a true multi-regime system.
Why wavelength still matters on a picosecond platform
Pulse duration governs the mechanism; wavelength governs the target. A professional platform pairs a short pulse with the wavelengths its clinic’s case mix requires.
| Wavelength | Typical targets | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1064 nm | Black and dark ink, deeper pigment, darker skin types | Penetrates more deeply and is absorbed less by epidermal melanin |
| 532 nm | Red, orange, and warm-toned ink; superficial pigment | Strongly absorbed by warm-toned pigment near the surface |
| 585 nm / 650 nm | Resistant blue and green inks | Optional pigment handpieces on the Pro 1 Pico for the colours 1064/532 nm address less efficiently |
The 1064 nm wavelength is what makes a picosecond platform credible for melanin-rich skin: see 1064 vs 532 nm on a pico laser and Why 532 nm needs caution on darker skin.
How to evaluate a picosecond platform
“Picosecond” describes a pulse domain, not a specification. When comparing systems, ask for the figures behind the label:
- True pulse width. Platforms differ — 500 ps and 750 ps are not the same pulse, and pulse width changes peak power. See 500 ps vs 750 ps.
- Wavelengths included, and which are optional. 1064/532 nm is the working core; additional ink-colour handpieces widen the tattoo menu.
- Energy per pulse and dual-pulse delivery. Ask what the system can deliver and how it manages energy on delicate areas.
- Additional regimes. Does the platform also run long-pulse vascular, pulse-stacking skin-quality, or remodeling modes — or is it pigment-only?
- Consumables. A platform with no per-pulse cartridge or disposable keeps the margin on every treatment.
- Training and clinical support. Picosecond tattoo and PMU work is technique-sensitive; the training path matters as much as the optics.
- Licensing documentation. Confirm the device’s licence and clearance status for your market on the product page.
The Picosecond Laser Buying Guide walks through each of these in detail, and the Pro 1 Pico Buying Guide applies them to one platform.
Picosecond on the Pro 1 Pico platform
Pro 1 Laser offers picosecond capability through the Pro 1 Pico, a multi-platform system distributed by Laser Equipment Global. Device specifications, licensing, and regulatory status are documented on the product page, which is the authoritative source for what the device is licensed and configured to do.
The Pro 1 Pico pairs true 500 ps picosecond delivery at 1064 nm and 532 nm — with optional 585 nm and 650 nm pigment handpieces and PTP dual-pulse energy up to 1600 mJ — with PicoFusion™ collagen banking, long-pulse 1064 nm vascular Nd:YAG, and the PicoMatrix™ advanced remodeling handpiece. It is used across Fitzpatrick I–VI with appropriate parameters by a trained provider, and carries no per-pulse consumable cost.
The Pro 1 Pico system integrates Picosecond, Q-Switched, and Long-Pulse Nd:YAG modes.
See the Pro 1 Pico product page for specifications, licensing, and regulatory status.
Technical background
Picosecond systems are defined by pulse duration rather than by one wavelength, and platforms commonly operate across more than one wavelength so a provider can match the approach to the target. Exact wavelengths, pulse parameters, and output figures vary by device and are listed in each system’s manufacturer documentation. Providers evaluating a specific configuration should request the current specification sheet rather than rely on general wavelength ranges.
Devices using this technology
Related applications
Related technologies
FAQs
What is the difference between a picosecond laser and a Q-switched laser?
Both fragment pigment with high-peak-power pulses. A Q-switched laser fires in the nanosecond domain; a picosecond laser fires roughly a thousand times shorter. The shorter pulse shifts the balance toward a photoacoustic effect, producing finer fragments with a smaller thermal component — which is why clinics upgrade for stubborn ink, multi-colour tattoos, and pigment-reactive skin.
What wavelengths does a picosecond laser use?
Most professional platforms are built around 1064 nm for deep and dark pigment and 532 nm for superficial, warm-toned pigment. Some add further wavelengths for specific ink colours — the Pro 1 Pico offers optional 585 nm and 650 nm handpieces for blue and green inks.
What can a clinic offer with a picosecond laser?
Tattoo removal, PMU and microblading correction, and pigment correction are the corrective categories. On a multi-regime platform the same system can also run collagen banking, skin-revitalization and carbon-peel services, and — where a long-pulse mode is included — vascular and redness protocols.
Which clinics is picosecond technology suited to?
Dermatology clinics, medical spas, and aesthetic providers that want a versatile, platform-based system rather than several single-purpose devices.
How much does a picosecond laser cost?
Professional picosecond platforms are a significant capital purchase, and the price depends on pulse width, wavelengths, energy, and the additional regimes included. Our Canadian and US cost guides explain the ranges; the current Pro 1 Pico price is published on its product page.
What does Pro 1 Laser offer with picosecond technology?
Pro 1 Laser offers picosecond capability through the Pro 1 Pico multi-platform system. Device specifications, licensing, and regulatory status are detailed on the Pro 1 Pico product page.
How do I request specifications or pricing?
Use the contact options on this page to request specifications or book a demonstration. A specialist can discuss configuration, training, and availability for your clinic.