Tattoo regret affects up to 12% of Americans. Learn how the Candela PicoWay® picosecond laser at 86INK in Tulsa safely erases unwanted ink — and why it outperforms older Q-switched technology.
The Anatomy of a Tattoo: Why Removal Is Complex
To understand why laser tattoo removal works the way it does, it helps to understand what a tattoo actually is at the cellular level. When a tattoo artist deposits ink into your skin, the needles carry pigment particles past the epidermis — the outer, constantly renewing layer — and into the dermis, the deeper structural layer of the skin. The dermis does not shed and renew the way the epidermis does, which is precisely why tattoos are permanent.
The body's immune system immediately recognizes the ink particles as foreign matter and dispatches macrophages — large immune cells — to engulf and remove them. This is why tattoos fade slightly in the weeks after they are applied. But the ink particles used in modern tattoo pigments are too large for macrophages to fully engulf and transport away. The macrophages that do capture ink particles essentially become trapped in the dermis, holding the pigment in place indefinitely. The result is a stable, long-lasting image embedded in the living tissue of your skin.
This biological reality — ink particles locked inside immune cells in the dermis — defines the challenge of tattoo removal. Any effective removal technology must be able to reach the dermis, shatter those particles into pieces small enough for the immune system to clear, and do so without causing unacceptable damage to the surrounding skin.
The Evolution of Tattoo Removal Technology
For most of the twentieth century, tattoo removal options were crude and often left scarring worse than the tattoo itself. Dermabrasion (mechanically sanding the skin), salabrasion (rubbing salt into abraded skin), and surgical excision were the primary methods available — all of them painful, imprecise, and prone to permanent scarring.
The introduction of Q-switched lasers in the 1980s and 1990s represented a genuine breakthrough. These devices delivered nanosecond pulses — billionths of a second — of laser energy that could shatter ink particles through a combination of photomechanical and photothermal effects. Q-switched lasers became the clinical standard for tattoo removal for nearly three decades, and they remain in use at many facilities today.
However, Q-switched technology has meaningful limitations. The nanosecond pulse duration generates significant heat in the surrounding tissue, which can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) — a rebound darkening that is particularly problematic in patients with medium to darker skin tones. Q-switched lasers also struggle with certain ink colors, particularly light blues, greens, and yellows, which require different wavelengths to absorb laser energy effectively. And because the pulse duration is longer, the ink particles are not shattered as completely, requiring more sessions to achieve clearance.
The development of picosecond laser technology in the 2010s addressed each of these limitations in a clinically meaningful way.
The Candela PicoWay® Advantage
At 86INK in Tulsa, we use the Candela PicoWay® — a state-of-the-art picosecond laser platform that represents the current gold standard in tattoo removal and pigment treatment. Understanding what makes picosecond technology different from its predecessors explains why it delivers superior results with fewer sessions and a better safety profile.
Picosecond Technology: Pressure Over Heat
The defining characteristic of the Candela PicoWay® is its pulse duration: one trillionth of a second, or one picosecond. To put this in perspective, a nanosecond is one billionth of a second — a picosecond is one thousand times shorter than that. This difference in pulse duration fundamentally changes the physics of how the laser interacts with ink particles.
Q-switched nanosecond lasers work primarily through a photothermal mechanism: the laser energy heats the ink particles rapidly, causing them to expand and shatter. This heating effect also transfers thermal energy to surrounding tissue, which is the source of the PIH risk and the discomfort associated with older technology.
The Candela PicoWay® operates through a predominantly photoacoustic mechanism. Because the energy is delivered in such an ultra-short pulse, the ink particle absorbs the energy and undergoes a rapid pressure change — essentially a shockwave — before any significant heat can transfer to surrounding tissue. The result is more complete shattering of ink particles into microscopic fragments, with dramatically less thermal injury to the skin around them.
These smaller fragments are more efficiently cleared by the immune system, which is why PicoWay® treatments typically require fewer sessions than Q-switched alternatives to achieve the same degree of clearance.
Versatility Across Ink Colors
Not all tattoo inks respond equally to laser energy. The laser must match the wavelength of light to the color of the ink — a principle called selective photothermolysis. Dark inks (black, dark blue, dark green) absorb a broad range of wavelengths and are the easiest to treat. Light inks (light blue, green, yellow, orange, pink, white) are notoriously difficult because they reflect rather than absorb many common laser wavelengths.
The Candela PicoWay® addresses this challenge through its multi-wavelength capability. The system operates at three distinct wavelengths — 1064 nm, 532 nm, and 785 nm — allowing treatment of virtually the full spectrum of tattoo ink colors in a single device. This versatility is clinically significant: patients with multicolored tattoos do not need to be referred to a different facility or treated with a different device for difficult colors.
The table below summarizes how different ink colors respond to the PicoWay® wavelengths:
| Ink Color | Primary Wavelength | Response | |---|---|---| | Black, dark blue | 1064 nm | Excellent | | Red, orange | 532 nm | Excellent | | Dark green, dark teal | 1064 nm | Very good | | Light blue, sky blue | 785 nm | Good | | Yellow, light green | 532 nm | Good | | Pink, purple | 532 nm | Good | | White, flesh tones | Multi-wavelength | Variable |
Fewer Treatments, Better Results
Because picosecond pulses shatter ink into smaller particles than nanosecond pulses, the immune system can clear the fragmented pigment more efficiently between sessions. Clinical studies comparing picosecond and nanosecond lasers consistently show that picosecond technology achieves equivalent or greater clearance in fewer treatment sessions.
For patients, this translates directly into lower total cost, less cumulative downtime, and a shorter overall treatment timeline. Most tattoos treated with the Candela PicoWay® at 86INK require between 6 and 12 sessions for complete or near-complete clearance — with simpler tattoos (black ink, professional application, favorable location) often clearing in fewer.
Safety for All Skin Types
The reduced thermal injury associated with picosecond technology makes the Candela PicoWay® significantly safer for patients with medium to darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick types III–VI) than older Q-switched devices. At 86INK, we treat a diverse patient population, and the ability to safely and effectively treat all skin types without elevated PIH risk is a clinical priority that informed our technology investment.
The 86INK Experience: From Consultation to Clearance
Your Consultation
Every patient journey at 86INK begins with a complimentary consultation with Leisha Lawson, FNP-C. This is not a brief intake appointment — it is a thorough clinical assessment that includes evaluation of your tattoo's ink colors, density, and layering; assessment of your skin type and tone; review of your medical history and any factors that may affect healing; and a candid discussion of realistic expectations, session estimates, and total investment.
Leisha's background as a board-certified nurse practitioner with advanced training in laser medicine means that your treatment plan is developed with the same clinical rigor applied to any medical procedure. We do not offer one-size-fits-all pricing or session packages — every plan is individualized based on what your specific tattoo and skin require.
Your Treatment Sessions
On treatment day, the area is cleaned and photographed for your clinical record. A topical numbing cream is applied for 20 to 30 minutes before the session begins. During treatment, you will feel a series of sharp, quick sensations — often described as the snap of a rubber band — as the laser pulses across the tattoo. The Candela PicoWay®'s photoacoustic mechanism means less heat buildup than older devices, which most patients find more tolerable than they expected.
Each session typically takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on the size and complexity of the tattoo. Immediately after, the treated area may appear frosted (a white discoloration caused by rapid gas formation in the skin), followed by redness and mild swelling that typically resolves within a few hours to a day.
Aftercare and the Healing Interval
The interval between sessions — typically 6 to 8 weeks — is not arbitrary. It is the time your immune system needs to clear the fragmented ink particles mobilized by the previous session. Rushing sessions shortens this clearance window and reduces the effectiveness of subsequent treatments. Patients who follow the recommended interval and aftercare protocol consistently achieve better results in fewer total sessions.
Aftercare is straightforward: keep the area clean and dry for the first 48 hours, apply a thin layer of healing ointment, avoid sun exposure on the treated area, and contact us immediately if you notice any signs of infection. We provide written aftercare instructions at every session and are available by phone or text if questions arise.
Beyond Tattoo Removal: Comprehensive Skin Care at 86INK
The Candela PicoWay® is not only a tattoo removal device — it is a versatile platform for treating a range of pigment and skin quality concerns. At 86INK, we use the PicoWay® Resolve™ fractional handpiece for skin rejuvenation applications including melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and overall skin texture improvement.
We complement the PicoWay® with the Candela Nordlys® system — a multi-application platform that uses Selective Waveband Technology (SWT®) IPL for vascular conditions including rosacea, spider veins, port wine stains, cherry angiomas, and poikiloderma of Civatte. Together, these two Candela platforms allow us to address virtually the full spectrum of skin concerns that bring patients to a medical aesthetic practice.
Our service menu also includes the Candela Exceed™ medical microneedling device for acne scar treatment and skin rejuvenation, Glacē Hydrodermabrasion Photofacial for deep cleansing and brightening, and neurotoxin injections for dynamic wrinkle treatment. Every service at 86INK is performed by Leisha Lawson — not delegated to an unlicensed technician — ensuring that the clinical expertise behind your treatment plan is also the expertise behind its execution.
At 86INK in Tulsa, we believe that the decision to remove or modify a tattoo deserves the same clinical seriousness as any medical procedure. Book your complimentary consultation to receive a personalized assessment and honest treatment roadmap. Call or text us at (918) 625-1480, or visit us inside Elite Wellness + Aesthetics at 11917 S Norwood Ave, Suite 112, Tulsa, OK 74137.
