Technology
PicoWay is a picosecond laser platform that delivers ultra-short pulses of light across several wavelengths to target pigment and stimulate skin renewal.
PicoWay in Vancouver
PicoWay is a picosecond laser that clears unwanted pigment and tattoo ink and refreshes skin texture. It delivers energy in pulses lasting only trillionths of a second, across several wavelengths, commonly including 1064 nm, 532 nm, 785 nm and 730 nm, so treatment can be matched to a particular ink colour or type of pigment. Fractional handpieces also treat texture and signs of aging.
At our clinic, PicoWay treatments are performed by our senior laser technicians under the medical direction of Dr. Gidon Frame.
PicoWay's pulses are so short that they work mainly through a photoacoustic, or pressure-based, effect. When a pulse reaches a pigment particle or tattoo ink, the rapid burst of energy shatters it into very small fragments, which your immune and lymphatic systems then gradually clear. Because the pulse is so brief, the effect stays concentrated on the target, with less heat reaching the surrounding skin.
With a fractional handpiece, the laser creates tiny zones of controlled change within the skin. Your skin responds with natural repair and collagen remodelling over the following weeks.
Tattoos, pigment and skin types each respond in their own way, so your plan is built around the area being treated.
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic can help you explore this technology, related treatments, and connected concerns.
Individual results vary.
Common, temporary effects: redness, swelling, pinpoint bleeding, temporary darkening or lightening of the skin, and blistering.
Less common risks: lasting changes in pigmentation and scarring. The risk of pigment change is higher in darker skin tones, so wavelength and settings are chosen carefully for your skin.
Eye protection. Protective eyewear is worn by everyone in the room throughout treatment, and the eye area is shielded when treatment is close by. Treatment on or near the eyelid or eyebrow, including cosmetic tattoos in those areas, needs particular care and is assessed individually.
Tattoo treatment. Cosmetic and flesh-toned inks, such as those used for eyebrow, lip and permanent-makeup tattoos, can darken when treated, so a test patch is often used first. Clearance is gradual, and some tattoos leave a faint shadow even after a full course, depending on ink colour, depth and age and how your body clears the fragments. Rarely, breaking down ink can trigger an allergic reaction.
Cold sores. If you have a history of cold sores, let us know before fractional treatment on the face. Preventive antiviral medication may be advised.
Reasons to postpone or reconsider: active infection or certain skin conditions in the area, isotretinoin now or recently, some other medications, a history of light sensitivity, a history of keloid or raised scarring, a recent chemical peel or resurfacing treatment in the area, pregnancy and recent tanning.
Aftercare. Keep the area clean, let any crusting heal without picking, and protect treated skin with daily sunscreen before and after treatment.
This is not a complete list.
Related Treatments
Uses selected laser and light-based wavelengths, guided by assessment, to help address excess pigment, sun damage and uneven skin tone.
Controlled laser energy that renews the skin surface and stimulates repair, helping soften texture, scars, fine lines and sun damage.
Uses very short, high-energy laser pulses to break tattoo ink into tiny particles that the body gradually clears over a series of treatments.
Combines resurfacing and collagen-remodelling treatments, selected according to scar type, depth and skin type, to soften the texture and appearance of scars and stretch marks.
Conditions It May Help Address
The relationship between a technology and a concern depends on the treatment plan, patient assessment, and how the technology is being used.
Acne is a skin condition that can affect people of all ages and skin types. Our physicians assess what is happening in your skin and help you choose an appropriate medical treatment, maintenance and preventive plan as well as your at-home skincare.
Darkened patches, spots and texture changes caused by excess pigment and cumulative sun exposure.
Hollowing or darkness beneath the eyes from shadowing, pigment, visible vessels, thin skin, or volume loss.
Visible pores and an irregular skin surface often linked to oil, acne, or aging.
Skin that looks less smooth or radiant and feels uneven because of surface irregularity.
Visible facial creases that develop from repeated expression, collagen loss, sun exposure and skin dryness.
Reduced firmness and mild tissue descent related to aging and the decline of collagen and elastin.
Loose neck skin, horizontal creases, or visible muscle bands that can reduce definition of the neck and jawline.
Tattoo pigment that a person would like to fade or remove.
Changes in skin colour or texture from rapid stretching, injury, or surgical healing.
Talk with Anti-Aging Clinic about your goals and the options that may be worth exploring.
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic
Your consultation. You'll meet our senior laser technicians or cosmetic health and skincare advisors, who look at your skin type, your medical history and your goals. Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
FAQ
That depends on what's being treated, such as a tattoo or a pigmented lesion, and on ink colour, depth, your skin type and how your body responds. Some concerns need only a few visits and others need several, so your course is planned around the specific area.
Picosecond lasers can be used across a range of skin tones. The risk of pigment change is higher in darker skin, so our senior laser technicians choose the wavelength and settings carefully for your skin.
Most people feel a snapping or stinging sensation, and comfort varies by area and person. Cooling or topical numbing may be used. Some tenderness, redness or swelling afterward is common and usually settles over a few days.
PicoWay delivers energy in much shorter pulses than traditional nanosecond lasers, relying more on a pressure-based effect to break pigment into finer particles. For some tattoos, this can mean more efficient clearance, and results still depend on the tattoo and the individual.
Reviews
Reviews help show the human side of care, from the first consultation to comfort, communication, treatment planning, and follow-up.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
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