Reviewed by Dr. Ray Turnure, MD, Medical Director, La Bella Vita Medi Spa (Loma Linda University, former Chief Resident in Family Medicine)
Key Takeaways
- PicoWay and PicoSure are both FDA-cleared picosecond lasers from established manufacturers (Candela and Cynosure, respectively), and both use ultra-short pulses to fracture tattoo ink.
- The primary difference is wavelength count: PicoWay uses four wavelengths, PicoSure uses three.
- PicoWay dedicates two separate wavelengths (730nm and 785nm) to the blue-and-green ink range, which has historically been the hardest range to clear.
- La Bella Vita Medi Spa uses PicoWay, chosen specifically for its wavelength coverage across stubborn ink colors and its clearance for tattoo removal across all Fitzpatrick skin types (I-VI).
If a search for “PicoWay vs PicoSure” has turned up both names looking interchangeable, they are not identical devices, and the differences are worth understanding before choosing a provider, regardless of which platform that provider uses.
What the Two Platforms Have in Common
Both PicoWay and PicoSure operate on the same underlying principle: pulses measured in trillionths of a second (picoseconds), short enough to fracture tattoo ink through a photoacoustic effect rather than relying primarily on heat. Both are cleared by the FDA for tattoo removal, and both come from manufacturers with a long track record in aesthetic laser technology, Candela and Cynosure, respectively. Neither platform is unproven or off-brand technology; a provider using either one is working with a legitimate, well-established tool.
PicoWay vs PicoSure: Where They Differ on Wavelength Count
The most concrete difference between the two systems is the number of wavelengths each one delivers.
PicoWay operates at four wavelengths: 532nm, 730nm, 785nm, and 1064nm, per Candela’s FDA clearance filing.
PicoSure operates at three wavelengths: 532nm, 755nm, and 1064nm, with the 532nm wavelength available as an add-on module for warm-toned inks.
That single additional wavelength on PicoWay is not a minor spec-sheet detail. It means PicoWay has two dedicated wavelengths, 730nm and 785nm, addressing the blue-and-green ink range specifically, where PicoSure relies on a single 755nm wavelength to cover black, blue, and green ink together. Blue and green pigments have historically been the most resistant colors to clear with laser treatment, so a platform with more dedicated coverage in that range has a genuine technical rationale behind it.
Ink Color Coverage, Side by Side
| Ink Color Range | PicoWay Wavelength | PicoSure Wavelength |
|---|---|---|
| Black / dark ink | 1064nm | 1064nm or 755nm |
| Blue / green | 730nm and 785nm | 755nm |
| Red / orange / yellow / violet | 532nm | 532nm (add-on) |
Both platforms cover the full visible ink spectrum. The difference is how many dedicated tools each one brings to the blue-green range specifically, which is where the PicoWay vs PicoSure wavelength gap matters most in practice.
Why La Bella Vita Uses PicoWay
Dr. Ray Turnure and the team at La Bella Vita Medi Spa selected PicoWay for the practice’s tattoo removal service based on this wavelength coverage, along with its clearance for treating all Fitzpatrick skin types (I-VI) for tattoo removal. Patients with stubborn blue or green ink, including cases that were only partially cleared with older technology elsewhere, are a large part of why that specific coverage matters in a Rocklin-area practice serving a wide range of skin tones and prior treatment histories.
This does not mean PicoSure is an inferior choice in absolute terms. Choice of platform is one factor among several, alongside provider training, physician oversight, and treatment protocol. It does mean that for patients specifically concerned about resistant blue or green ink, the number of dedicated wavelengths addressing that ink range is a legitimate, verifiable reason to ask a provider which platform they use and why.
For patients in Rocklin, Roseville, Lincoln, and the greater Placer County area evaluating tattoo removal options, understanding this distinction is one more way to make an informed choice, regardless of which practice or platform is ultimately selected.
Curious whether PicoWay is the right fit for your tattoo? Book a consultation →