Does it really hurt?
Yes. Like a rubber band snapping against the skin, repeatedly. Most patients tolerate it without anaesthetic; if you can't, anaesthetic cream is offered. None of it is unbearable, and twenty minutes from now you'll be home.
Laser · Picosecond
PicoWay® Laser
Picosecond pigment reset & tattoo removal.
A laser that delivers pulses in trillionths of a second. It breaks pigment and tattoo ink into particles small enough for the body to clear naturally, with far less heat damage to surrounding skin than older lasers.
Typical sessions6 – 8
Session length20 – 40min
Downtime1 – 3days
DiscomfortModerate
What it treats
Best for pigmentation, tattoos, and dull, uneven skin.
- ·Sun spots, age spots, melasma
- ·Multicoloured tattoos, including green & blue
- ·Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- ·Skin rejuvenation (texture, fine lines)
- ·Freckles, lentigines
- ·Uneven skin tone
How a session goes
Four steps, every time.
- Consultation & skin assessment
I confirm what we are treating, photograph it, and select the wavelength and settings. You hear the plan in plain language; the technical parameters are my call.
10 – 15 min - Preparation
The area is cleaned and cooled. Anaesthetic cream is available if you prefer it.
5 min - Laser pass
The laser is moved across the area in overlapping passes. A series of sharp snaps, and a clicking sound.
10 – 25 min - Soothe & aftercare brief
The skin is cooled again. A printed aftercare note, and a direct line for the first 48 hours.
5 min
This will feel like a rubber band snapping against the skin, repeatedly. Most patients tolerate it without anaesthetic. If you cannot, that is fine — we use cream. But you should expect it to be uncomfortable. I have done thousands of tattoo removals and seen everything up to severe reactions — which is why I am always prepared for them.
Aftercare
The first 72 hours matter most.
The skin will be pink and may feel like mild sunburn for 24–48 hours. Small dark scabs may appear over pigmented areas — this is expected. Do not pick them.
Do
- Apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser twice daily.
- Use SPF 50+ every morning, for at least 6 weeks.
- Sleep with the treated area slightly elevated (if face).
- Drink water. Sleep. Boring advice that matters.
Don't
- Pick, scratch, or exfoliate the treated area.
- Expose the area to direct sun, saunas, or hot baths for 7 days.
- Use retinoids or acids for 10 days.
- Apply makeup until scabs have fully lifted.
FAQ
Common questions.
When can I wear makeup again?
Wait until any small dark scabs have lifted on their own — usually 5 to 7 days. Mineral, fragrance-free formulas first. If the area still looks angry by day 10, message me.
Can I be in the sun between sessions?
SPF 50 every morning, no exceptions, for at least 6 weeks after each session. No direct sunbathing for 4 weeks. Sun on freshly treated skin undoes the work — and can drive the pigment back darker than it started.
Will one session be enough?
Almost never. Sun spots clear in 2 to 4 sessions. Tattoos take 6 to 12, depending on depth and colour. Melasma is a longer game still. I'll tell you the realistic range after the first session, when I can see how your skin actually responds.
Can you guarantee my tattoo will be completely gone?
No. I won't promise something the skin decides. Most tattoos clear well, but ink composition, depth, age, and how your immune system handles fragmented pigment all matter. White, fluorescent, and some greens resist even the right wavelength. After the first session I'll tell you what I think your tattoo can realistically reach — and we revise as we go.
Can you commit to a fixed number of sessions?
No. I won't quote a fixed number, and anyone who does is selling rather than treating. The honest range is 6 to 12 for most tattoos; complex multi-coloured or heavily saturated work can need 15+. After the first session I see how your skin responds and give you a realistic estimate.
Will tattoo removal leave a scar?
Very rarely. The picosecond pulse breaks pigment via a photoacoustic effect, so almost no heat reaches the dermis — the scarring risk that older Q-switched lasers used to carry is largely gone. Two honest exceptions: if the original tattoo was applied over a pre-existing scar, that scar stays visible once the ink clears, and on rare predisposed skin types you can see patchy pigment loss. We dial settings conservatively for both cases.
Can you treat my melasma?
Yes — but with caution. Melasma is a chronic condition; lasers can settle it but they can also make it worse if pushed too hard. We start at the lowest setting and assess. I will not promise complete clearance — that promise is dishonest with melasma.
For colleagues
Technical specification.
For peer doctors and trainees. If this is unfamiliar language, skip to the FAQ instead.
Device & parameters
- Platform
- Syneron-Candela PicoWay
- Wavelengths
- 1064 nm · 785 nm · 532 nm
- Pulse width
- 300–450 picoseconds
- Typical fluence
- 1.6 – 3.5 J/cm² depending on chromophore
- Spot size
- 2 – 10 mm
- Tx interval
- 4 – 6 weeks for pigment, 6 – 8 for tattoo
- Skin types
- Fitzpatrick I – VI (wavelength-selected)