Legal note
The content is for information. It does not replace a consultation, an examination or an individual medical assessment.
The treatment is preceded by a medical consultation, at which the doctor assesses the lesion, skin phototype, coexisting conditions and medication taken.
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Why the pulse duration decides everything
Lasers differ not only in wavelength but also in how quickly they deliver energy. This is the second quantity that decides the outcome, and with this device it is more important than the first.
The shorter the pulse, the less heat passes from the target to the surrounding tissue. Below are the four orders of magnitude in which different lasers work. The width of the marker corresponds to the pulse duration.
Picoseconds
10⁻¹² s, this laser
Photomechanical action. The pigment shatters into fine particles before the heat spreads to the surroundings. The particles are removed by the lymphatic system.
Nanoseconds
10⁻⁹ s
Older-generation lasers, a pulse a thousand times longer. The action is more thermal, the pigment is broken into coarser fragments.
Microseconds
10⁻⁶ s
Fractional ablative lasers. The heat vaporises microcolumns of the epidermis, and the tissue between them stays intact.
Milliseconds
10⁻³ s
Hair removal and work on vessels. The heat is meant to reach the target and stay long enough to damage it.
Orders of magnitude given schematically, to compare the methods.
The practical conclusion: a shorter pulse does not mean a „gentler treatment”, but a different mechanism. Instead of burning the pigment out, it breaks it up mechanically, so less heat reaches the tissue around the target.
Three wavelength ranges and their colour targets
Effectiveness depends on how a given colour absorbs light of a particular wavelength. Our platform works in three ranges: 1064 and 532 nm, and ruby 694 nm, delivered by a separate laser path within the same device. The doctor chooses the range to match the colour of the pigment.
1064 nm
Black and very dark navy blues
The deepest-reaching range of this device. Used for black pigment and for lesions located deeper in the dermis.
532 nm
Reds and some warm shades
The visible green range, strongly absorbed by red pigment. Acts more superficially.
694 nm
Greens, turquoises and some blues
The ruby range, delivered by a separate laser path in the same platform. Helps with pigments that are difficult for the other two wavelengths.
More about pigment removal itself, the number of sessions and the protocols for permanent make-up is on the tattoo removal page.
How deep the beam reaches
The target may lie in the epidermis or deep in the dermis, and the beam has to reach exactly there. With this laser the reach is increased by combining a large spot size, of the order of 6 to 10 mm, with high peak power.
1
2
3
4
5
1 Superficial pigmentation, epidermis
2 Melasma, the boundary of the epidermis and dermis
3 Permanent make-up
4 Tattoo
5 Naevus of Ota and Ito, scars with an inflammatory component
Reach into the depth of the dermis matters for lesions that lie deeper than typical pigmentation: the melanocytic naevi of Ota and Ito, difficult tattoos and scars with an inflammatory component.
The proportions in the drawing are approximate.
Indications
Tattoo removal is the best-known application, but not the only one. A pulse of the right fluence also stimulates fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin, which is why this laser is sometimes part of the plan for scars and in skin conditioning treatments.
What this treatment will not do
It does not guarantee complete removal of a tattoo. The aim of the therapy is the maximum clinically possible lightening of the pigment, and the outcome depends on its composition, colour and depth.
It does not remove the cause of pigmentation. With melasma the approach reduces the visibility of the lesions and requires sun protection, because the condition tends to recur.
It does not replace the diagnosis of a pigmented lesion. A lesion of undetermined nature requires a medical assessment first.
It is not a one-off treatment. The therapy is conducted in a series, with intervals set by the time the body needs to clear the shattered pigment.
Consultation, laser test patch and the series
The treatment is always preceded by a medical consultation, and often also by a laser test patch on a small area.
For permanent make-up in the eyebrow, lip and lash line areas we use more conservative protocols, because these are anatomically sensitive areas.
After the treatment
A shorter pulse limits the transfer of heat to the tissue around the target, so the reaction is usually milder than after lasers with a longer pulse. That does not mean there is no reaction.
Possible transient redness and swelling in the treatment area.
During pigment removal, transient whitening or a scab may appear, which must not be picked off.
Sun protection applies for the whole duration of the therapy, and for pigment indications it is decisive.
Aftercare recommendations for the following days are given by the person performing the treatment.
Contraindications
Most of them are relative, which means postponing the appointment or changing the plan rather than ruling out the treatment. Tell us about them at the consultation, and the doctor will set the safest moment to start or propose a different method.
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NL Clinic, Katowice
How the content is created
Last updated
14 August 2026
The assignment of ranges confirmed by the clinic: all three wavelengths, including ruby 694 nm, come from the same platform, in which the ruby path is a separate laser path. The material is for information and does not replace a consultation or a medical assessment.
The questions we are asked most often
How does a picosecond pulse differ from a nanosecond one?
In duration, and therefore in the way it acts. A nanosecond pulse is a thousand times longer and works mainly through heat, that is thermally. A picosecond pulse delivers energy so quickly that the pigment shatters mechanically before the heat spreads to the surroundings. That is why the pigment breaks into finer particles, which the body clears through the lymphatic system.
Is the picosecond laser used only for tattoo removal?
No. Tattoo removal is the best-known application, but not the only one. A pulse of the right fluence also stimulates fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin, which is why this laser is also used for pigmentation, melasma, scars and in skin conditioning treatments.
How many sessions will be needed?
We do not give a number before the consultation. It depends on the depth and type of pigment, its colour, location, skin phototype and whether the tattoo has been treated before. The session plan and intervals are set by the doctor after assessing the lesion, often after a laser test patch.
Is the treatment safe and painless?
We do not use assurances of complete safety or absence of pain, because no laser treatment can support such an assurance. A shorter pulse limits the transfer of heat to the tissue around the target, which reduces the risk of a burn compared with lasers with a longer pulse. Sensations during the treatment are individual, and we discuss contraindications and possible reactions at the consultation.
Can every tattoo colour be removed?
Effectiveness depends on how a given colour absorbs light of a particular wavelength. Our platform works in three ranges: 1064 nm for black and very dark navy blues, 532 nm for reds and some warm shades, and 694 nm in the ruby range, delivered by a separate laser path, which helps with difficult green, turquoise and some blue pigments. The aim of the therapy is the maximum clinically possible lightening of the pigment, not a guarantee of complete removal.
When is the laser test patch done?
Usually at the start of the first treatment, not at a separate visit. A few pulses on a small area show how the specific pigment and the specific skin react to the chosen settings, and allow the same session to continue or the wavelength and fluence to be changed. A separate earlier test patch is done rarely, with a darker phototype and with permanent make-up, where we use more conservative protocols.
The content is for information. It does not replace a consultation, an examination or an individual medical assessment.