Color Tattoo Removal with PicoWay: An Honest Comparison of Removal Rates by Color

Color Tattoo Removal with PicoWay: Not Every Color Responds the Same Way

Hello, this is Beautystone Clinic. One of the most common questions we hear from patients considering PicoWay tattoo removal is: "Can you actually remove colored tattoos? Especially ones with bright shades like red, yellow, or green?"

If you've tried searching online for clear answers and come up empty, you're not alone. Today, we're going to break it all down — from how PicoWay works on different pigments to its honest limitations — with complete transparency.

No sugarcoating. Just the facts.

1. Why PicoWay Is Used for Color Tattoo Removal (The Science Behind It)

Tattoo ink consists of pigment particles embedded deep within the Dermis. When a laser fires energy at these particles, they shatter — and your immune cells sweep up the debris, gradually clearing the skin. The difference between pico and nano pulses is like comparing a slingshot to a rifle. Pico pulses are 1,000 times faster than nano — seriously! 😄 By delivering energy in an incredibly short burst, PicoWay shatters pigment particles more precisely while minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue.

What makes PicoWay stand out for color tattoos is that it supports four wavelengths: 532nm, 730nm, 785nm, and 1064nm. This multi-wavelength capability is the key to tackling a wide spectrum of colors.

• Black & Gray

  1064nm wavelength

• Red & Orange

  532nm wavelength

• Green & Blue

  730nm or 785nm wavelength

Because each pigment responds to a different wavelength, the capability of the device is what ultimately determines your results.

2. Removal Difficulty and Number of Sessions by Color

Based on our hands-on clinical experience, the response speed varies significantly depending on tattoo color. Here's a straightforward breakdown 👇

Color	Wavelength	Removal Difficulty	Average Sessions
Black / Gray	1064nm	Low (Relatively Easy)	6–10 sessions
Red / Orange	532nm	Moderate	8–12 sessions
Blue / Indigo	730nm	Moderate–High	10–15 sessions
Green	785nm	High	12–18 sessions
Yellow / White	—	Very High	Difficult to remove

To be completely honest with you, yellow and white pigments are notoriously difficult to remove with any laser currently available. These colors do not selectively absorb specific wavelengths, which means the laser response is inherently weak.

Multi-colored tattoos require the wavelength to be adjusted for each individual pigment, making the procedure more time-intensive and requiring more sessions compared to single-color tattoos.

3. Important Things to Know Before Your Procedure

"How many sessions will it take to fully remove it?" — This is a question we genuinely cannot answer with certainty during a consultation, because every tattoo is different. The color, ink composition, depth of pigment, and body location all vary from person to person.

• Session Intervals

  A minimum of 6–8 weeks between sessions is required. Scheduling sessions too frequently can put unnecessary stress on the skin and actually reduce the effectiveness of each treatment.

• Potential Side Effects

  Hyperpigmentation, blistering, and Scar formation are possible. For patients with darker skin tones, we strongly recommend a lower-energy approach — spreading sessions out to achieve safer, more gradual results.

• Contraindications

  Please inform us in advance if you are pregnant, have a keloid-prone skin type, or are currently taking photosensitizing medications. ✅

For the first week following your procedure, avoid prolonged water exposure and apply Sunscreen diligently to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. How long does the procedure take?

A. For an area approximately the size of the back of your hand, the procedure itself takes around 10–20 minutes. Including numbing cream application time, please plan for about 1 hour in total. Beautystone Clinic is also open on Sundays, so feel free to visit at your convenience.

Q2. Is it painful?

A. Most patients describe it as a sensation similar to a rubber band snapping against the skin. With adequate application of topical anesthetic cream beforehand, discomfort is significantly reduced — so there's no need to worry too much.

Q3. Where is the clinic located?

A. We are just a 5-minute walk from Hapjeong Station, and conveniently accessible from Sinchon, Ewha, Mangwon, and Seoul. Our Seoul National University-trained specialist physician provides every consultation and procedure personally, on a 1:1 basis. Effective color tattoo removal requires a tailored strategy for each individual pigment color.

Don't navigate this alone — come visit us at Beautystone Clinic. I'll assess your tattoo in person and give you an honest, personalized plan. 😊