Tattoo Removal — PicoPlus Laser

Petra Clinic uses the PICOPLUS laser for tattoo removal — a device described by the clinic as exclusive to the Czech Republic. At 450 picoseconds pulse duration, the PICOPLUS delivers energy in ultrashort bursts that shatter tattoo ink particles via photomechanical (acoustic) action rather than the slower photothermal heating used by older nanosecond Q-switched lasers. Smaller ink fragments are cleared more rapidly by the immune system, meaning fewer sessions are typically needed to achieve significant fading or full removal. The system handles multi-colour and older, professionally applied tattoos that were previously considered difficult to treat. A free consultation is required first to assess the tattoo and estimate the number of sessions needed.

The PICOPLUS laser at Petra Clinic operates at a pulse duration of 450 picoseconds — approximately 100 times shorter than the nanosecond pulses of conventional Q-switched Nd:YAG and Alexandrite lasers. This ultrashort pulse duration creates a predominantly photomechanical (photoacoustic) rather than photothermal mechanism of action: the rapid energy delivery causes ink particles to fracture under a shock-wave-like pressure gradient rather than to absorb heat slowly and break apart. The resulting ink fragments are significantly smaller — reaching the nanometre scale — and are cleared through the lymphatic system two to five times more efficiently than fragments from nanosecond laser treatment. In practice this means faster clearing per session and fewer total sessions for comparable endpoints. The PICOPLUS system offers multiple wavelengths (1064 nm, 532 nm, 595 nm, 660 nm) to target the full spectrum of tattoo pigment colours: black and dark blue at 1064 nm; red, orange and yellow at 532 nm; green and cyan at 660 nm; and violet at 595 nm. This multi-wavelength capability is particularly valuable for multi-colour tattoos, which require a different device setting for each colour family — a significant advantage over single-wavelength devices. Older professional tattoos with saturated ink also respond well to the photomechanical mechanism, where the higher ink density in established tattoos can actually increase the acoustic pressure gradient and improve fragmentation. Before the first session the physician performs a full tattoo assessment — colour composition, ink saturation, tattoo age, skin phototype — and estimates the number of sessions required, which ranges from four to twelve or more. Sessions are spaced six to eight weeks apart to allow full lymphatic clearance of fragmented ink before the next treatment. After each session the area is covered with a dressing and clients must avoid direct sun for two to three weeks. Topical anaesthetic can be applied before longer sessions on larger tattoos.