Laser Tattoo Removal (PicoWay)

Tattoo removal at UnionDerm uses the PicoWay picosecond laser as the primary platform, with Fraxel as a secondary option for specific ink types. PicoWay's ultra-short picosecond pulses shatter ink particles into smaller fragments than nanosecond lasers, enabling more efficient clearance across a broader range of ink colors. Multiple sessions spaced several weeks apart are required for complete removal. Performed by board-certified dermatologists at 19 Union Square West, Manhattan.

Tattoo removal at Union Square Laser Dermatology uses the Syneron-Candela PicoWay picosecond laser as the primary treatment platform, representing the current clinical standard for tattoo clearance. PicoWay operates with pulse durations measured in picoseconds (trillionths of a second) — typically 300–750 picoseconds — compared to the nanosecond (billionths of a second) pulses produced by older Q-switched Nd:YAG and Alexandrite systems. This distinction is clinically significant: the photoacoustic (pressure wave) mechanism that shatters tattoo ink into phagocytosable fragments is more efficient with ultrashort pulses, as the rapid energy deposition exceeds the thermal confinement time of the ink particles, producing a stronger photomechanical effect with less heat generation in the surrounding tissue. The result is more complete ink fragmentation per session, faster clearance across the full treatment course, lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and the ability to treat a wider range of ink colors — including traditionally difficult hues such as blue, green, and yellow — due to PicoWay's multi-wavelength capability (1064 nm for black/dark inks, 532 nm for red/orange, 785 nm for blue/green). Fraxel laser is available as a secondary modality for specific ink types or to address textural irregularities in the skin that may develop during a multi-session removal course. Multiple sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart are required for complete or near-complete tattoo clearance; the number of sessions varies with tattoo age, ink density, ink color palette, depth, skin type, and location on the body (distal extremities with lower perfusion typically require more sessions). All tattoo removal treatments at UnionDerm are performed by board-certified dermatologists. New patient consultations at $400 are required before treatment; $200 appointment deposits are standard. Exact per-session pricing is discussed at consultation and depends on tattoo surface area and complexity.