PicoWay Tattoo Removal: 3 Sessions vs. 10?

Why Someone Who Received 10 Tattoo Removal Sessions Without Results Saw Changes After Just 3 Sessions with PicoWay

Last Wednesday,

a man in his 30s visited our clinic

who had received over 10 laser sessions elsewhere for tattoo removal.

He had a small tattoo on the inside of his wrist

with mixed black and red colors.

The black had faded somewhat,

but the red remained almost unchanged.

"Will this never come off?"

he asked,

and honestly, I see cases like this frequently in the treatment room.

Here's exactly what makes the difference

PicoWay delivers light pulses

at the picosecond level (one trillionth of a second).

The Q-switched lasers commonly used before

operate at the nanosecond level.

That's a 1000-fold difference in units.

Unlike Q-switched lasers, PicoWay

'shatters' ink particles rather than

'melting' them.

Instead of burning with heat,

it uses shock waves to break particles into smaller pieces,

reducing damage to surrounding tissue

while breaking pigments into finer fragments.

Why don't some people see results even after 10 sessions?

"PicoWay uses picosecond-level laser technology to shatter ink particles into fine pieces.

It has higher ink destruction efficiency than conventional lasers,

allowing us to reduce treatment sessions and remove all colors.

"

— Dr. Wi Young-jin (Beautystone Clinic, Hongdae)

Let me explain using the case

of that patient I mentioned earlier.

The reason the red ink didn't come off

was due to wavelength compatibility.

Conventional Q-switched lasers primarily use

two wavelengths: 1064nm and 532nm.

These wavelengths respond well to black and blue

but have poor absorption rates for red, orange, and yellow.

PicoWay includes additional

785nm and 730nm wavelengths.

These wavelengths specifically target

red, green, and blue colors that were previously difficult to remove.

That's why we can say

"all colors can be removed."

When combined with shorter pulse widths,

ink clusters break into more fragments.

The smaller the fragments,

the easier it is for our body's macrophages

to absorb and eliminate them through the lymphatic system.

This is the real reason treatment sessions are reduced.

That patient received 3 PicoWay sessions

and saw 60-70% reduction in the red color.

What remained unchanged after 10 sessions

showed visible improvement in just 3 sessions.

This is how I categorize cases in my practice

Treatment sessions and approach vary

depending on tattoo type, colors, and depth.

I typically provide guidance like this:

However, this doesn't mean it's perfect.

PicoWay also has limitations.

Deeply embedded old amateur tattoos,

especially those with thick ink deposits,

can still require over 10 sessions.

Additionally, you'll experience

scabbing and redness for 2-3 days after treatment.

Still, recovery is faster compared to conventional lasers.

Three most frequently asked questions in my practice

Q1. I heard semi-permanent eyebrows can turn red during removal. Does this happen with PicoWay too?

A. Yes,

but this isn't an equipment issue—

it's due to the chemical reaction of the pigment itself.

Some semi-permanent inks contain iron oxide

which can turn orange to brick-red

when exposed to laser treatment.

That's why for eyebrow removal,

we always start with a test shot

in a less visible area.

Q2. What's the cost per session, and how often should I receive treatment?

A. It varies by size and colors,

but small tattoos start from around $80-100 per session.

Intervals are typically 6-8 weeks.

Too frequent sessions can stimulate pigment cells

before they've been properly eliminated,

actually delaying the recovery process.

Q3. Are there side effects like scarring or pigment loss?

A. To be honest,

I can't say there are none.

Excessive energy levels can rarely cause

hypopigmentation (areas turning white).

That's why adjusting energy levels

according to skin tone and tattoo depth is crucial,

and taking a gradual approach with multiple sessions

is the safest method.

If you have any questions, I'll examine and guide you personally in the treatment room. This is Dr. Wi Young-jin.