Pico vs Nano Lasers for Tattoo Removal: Why We Chose Nano at CliniClear

If you’re considering laser tattoo removal, you’ve likely come across the debate between pico and nano lasers. It’s a hot topic in the aesthetics world, and for good reason, both technologies promise to fade unwanted ink, but they come with different approaches, costs, and outcomes. At CliniClear, we’ve chosen to invest in a top-tier nano laser from Polaris Medical, and we’re here to explain why this decision makes sense for us, and for you, our clients. Let’s dive into the science, the hype and the reality of pico vs nano lasers.

The Hype Around Pico Lasers: A Game-Changer in 2012?

When Cynosure introduced the PicoSure laser in 2012, the world’s first picosecond aesthetic laser to be approved for commercial use it was hailed as a revolutionary leap forward. Picosecond lasers operate in trillionths of a second (10⁻¹² seconds), delivering ultra-short pulses of energy that shatter tattoo ink into tiny particles. The theory? These smaller particles are easier for your body to clear out compared to the larger fragments left by nanosecond lasers, which pulse in billionths of a second (10⁻⁹ seconds). Early publications, like Treatment of Tattoos with a Picosecond Alexandrite Laser: A Prospective Trial (Saedi et al., Arch Dermatol, 2012), fuelled excitement by suggesting pico lasers could outperform nano lasers by a wide margin, some even speculated they were 10 times better in terms of clearance speed and efficiency.

The science behind pico lasers is compelling. Their shorter pulse duration aligns more closely with the thermal relaxation time of tattoo ink particles (typically 10-100 nanoseconds), maximising photomechanical effects while minimising heat damage to surrounding skin. Studies like Successful and Rapid Treatment of Blue and Green Tattoo Pigment with a Novel Picosecond Laser (Brauer et al., Arch Dermatol, 2012) showed impressive results, particularly for tricky colours like blue and green, which nano lasers historically struggled with.

The Reality: Pico Isn’t a Magic Bullet

Fast forward to today, and the narrative has shifted. While pico lasers are undeniably effective, they haven’t lived up to the “10x better” hype. Research and real-world experience suggest they’re more like 20% better than high-quality nano lasers in terms of ink clearance per session. For example, a 2017 study in the British Journal of Dermatology (Pinto et al.) comparing pico and nano lasers found that while pico lasers offered slightly faster clearance, the difference wasn’t dramatic, especially for black ink, where nano lasers still hold their own. On average, pico treatments might reduce the number of sessions from, say, 10 to 8 for full removal. That’s a modest improvement, not a game-changer.

Here’s the kicker: pico treatments often cost double what nano treatments do. The equipment itself is astronomically expensive, think luxury car prices versus a reliable family SUV. For clients, that translates to session prices that can easily hit £300-£400, compared to £50-£100 for nano treatments. If you’re looking at 8 pico sessions versus 10 nano sessions, the cost-effectiveness of pico starts to crumble. For many, the slight reduction in sessions doesn’t justify the price tag.

Why We Chose a Nano Laser, and Not Just Any Nano

At CliniClear, we’re not about cutting corners. You won’t find us using some £200 knock-off nano laser imported from a sketchy website, those are often non-compliant with UK safety standards and borderline illegal to operate commercially. Instead, we’ve invested in a top-tier nano laser from Polaris Medical, an industry leader with decades of expertise in laser technology. Our system is an active nano laser featuring flat beam technology and a generous 10mm spot size, delivering consistent, powerful results that rival even pico systems for many tattoos.

What sets our Polaris Medical nano laser apart? The active design ensures precise energy delivery by using an electronically controlled modulator rather than cheaper, unreliable passive Q-switched designs. This guarantees every pulse hits with the same energy and duration, ensuring rock-solid reliability and pinpoint accuracy that translates to better fading, session after session.

The flat beam technology distributes energy evenly across the treatment area, maximising ink fragmentation and avoiding the hot spots and uneven coverage you might get with cheaper systems.

And with a spot size of up to 10mm, we can cover larger tattoos efficiently. We usually start your first session with the biggest spot size your tattoo allows. Larger spot sizes penetrate deeper into the skin and reduce laser scattering seen with smaller spot sizes, meaning faster treatments and better results.

We’ve seen fantastic results, comparable to pico for black and dark inks, and still highly effective for reds and other colours when paired with the right wavelengths (like 532nm or 1064nm).

The Bottom Line: Value Meets Results

Yes, pico lasers might edge out nano lasers slightly in speed and efficacy, especially for stubborn multi-coloured tattoos. But for the vast majority of clients, our Polaris Medical nano laser delivers excellent results at a fraction of the cost. We’re talking clear, faded tattoos in 8-12 sessions (depending on ink depth, age, and colour) without breaking the bank. Plus, our experienced technician tailors every treatment to your tattoo and skin type, ensuring you get the best outcome possible.

So, why did we choose nano over pico? It’s simple: we believe in offering high-quality, cost-effective tattoo removal that doesn’t compromise on results. The science backs us up, nano lasers, when built by professionals like Polaris Medical, remain a powerhouse in tattoo removal. If you’re ready to say goodbye to that ink, come see us at . Let’s get started with a free consultation and show you what our top-level nano laser can do!

References

Treatment of Tattoos with a Picosecond Alexandrite Laser: A Prospective Trial (Saedi et al., Arch Dermatol, 2012) URL: Treatment of tattoos with a picosecond alexandrite laser: a prospective trial - PubMed

Successful and rapid treatment of blue and green tattoo pigment with a novel picosecond laser URL: Successful and rapid treatment of blue and green tattoo pigment with a novel picosecond laser - PubMed

(pinoto et el) Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) 1064-nm picosecond laser vs. Nd:YAG 1064-nm nanosecond laser in tattoo removal: a randomized controlled single-blind clinical tria URL: https://derma.raulin-und-kollegen.de/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2018/10/Laser_Pico-Nano.pdf