Two families of lasers dominate tattoo removal: Q-switched (nanosecond) and picosecond lasers such as PicoSure. Here is a plain comparison of PicoSure vs Q-switched.
Pulse duration
Q-switched lasers fire in nanoseconds (billionths of a second). Picosecond lasers fire roughly a thousand times faster. Shorter pulses rely less on heat and more on a photomechanical “shatter” effect.
What that means for you
- Particle size, picosecond pulses tend to create smaller ink fragments.
- Heat, less thermal energy reaches surrounding skin.
- Stubborn ink, picosecond systems can help with tattoos that plateaued on older lasers.
Cynosure’s PicoSure overview explains the manufacturer’s view of these benefits. Independent dermatology resources such as the American Academy of Dermatology note that results always depend on the tattoo and the person.
Bottom line
The laser is only part of the result, experience, settings and aftercare matter too. Learn about our setup on the laser tattoo removal page.
