PicoWay

How it works

PicoWay is a picosecond laser from Candela. It is built around more than one wavelength, with 532 nm, 785 nm and 1064 nm commonly cited, and each is suited to different targets. The shorter wavelengths act on red and brown pigment, while 1064 nm penetrates further and is used for darker inks and for toning. Pulses are extremely short, which breaks pigment into fine fragments the body clears over time. Response varies by person and several sessions are common.

Good to know

• Wavelength choice follows the target, and a single visit may use more than one, which is not always visible on a price list.
• Toning is typically priced per session over the face, while tattoo work depends on size and ink color.
• Handpieces and lens attachments can differ by treatment, and a clinic may list them as part of the session or on their own.
• Candela also sells Vbeam, a different laser, so the written name matters.

How PicoWay affects a treatment quote

Of all the pigment lasers, PicoWay is the one where it helps most to ask which wavelength is planned. A clinic might use 1064 nm for a toning series and 532 nm for a single brown spot at the same visit, and those are two different jobs on one estimate.

Break the quote into the parts: toning area, spot treatment, tattoo size. Ask for the sessions per part and the gap between them, and whether the figure is per session or per course. Add numbing, VAT and aftercare as separate checks. If you want a tattoo assessed, expect the final number only after the clinic has seen the tattoo, since ink color and depth determine the work.