PicoWay® is a picosecond laser that fires ultra-short bursts of energy, measured in trillionths of a second, to shatter tattoo ink into tiny particles the body clears naturally. At Laser Eraser, physicians customize each PicoWay® treatment to your skin type and ink colors for laser tattoo removal.
How PicoWay® works
PicoWay® is a picosecond laser, meaning it delivers its energy in pulses measured in picoseconds — trillionths of a second. That timescale is the whole point of the technology. Instead of relying mainly on heat to break down tattoo ink, an ultra-short pulse relies on a rapid pressure effect. The energy hits the ink so quickly that it fractures the pigment into extremely small particles rather than simply warming the surrounding tissue.
Tattoo ink sits in the deeper layer of the skin, held in place by cells that are too large for the body to remove on its own. When PicoWay® shatters that ink into microscopic fragments, those pieces become small enough for the body's natural clearance systems to carry away over the following weeks. This is why laser tattoo removal is a gradual process rather than a single visit — each session breaks down more ink, and the body needs time between sessions to flush what was released.
Different ink colors absorb different wavelengths of laser light, which is why a versatile picosecond platform matters. A tattoo that combines black, blue, red, and green can be difficult to treat with a single approach, so the ability to tailor the wavelength and settings to the specific pigments in your tattoo is a meaningful advantage.
Why the picosecond timing matters
Older laser technologies operate in nanoseconds — billionths of a second. That is fast, but a picosecond pulse is roughly a thousand times shorter. The shorter the pulse, the more the laser's effect shifts from a heat-driven process toward a rapid mechanical shattering of the ink. Smaller ink fragments are easier for the body to clear, and the reduced reliance on heat is part of why many patients describe the treatment as more comfortable than they expected.
Because PicoWay® can break ink into finer particles, it is often well suited to stubborn colors and previously treated tattoos that did not fully respond to earlier removal attempts. It is the same core technology used by some national tattoo-removal chains, so choosing Laser Eraser does not mean choosing a lesser laser — it means getting that laser in the hands of a physician-led team.
- Pulses measured in picoseconds — trillionths of a second
- Roughly a thousand times shorter than older nanosecond lasers
- Shatters ink into finer particles the body can clear
- Customized to your skin type and the specific ink colors in your tattoo
Why it matters for your treatment
The technology only performs as well as the person operating it. At Laser Eraser, PicoWay® treatments are physician-administered, which sets the practice apart from franchise and spa-based competitors where a technician may run the device. Founder and lead physician Dr. Alvaro Alban is an emergency-medicine physician in New Jersey who pursued specialized training at the Institute for Laser Medicine in Skippack, Pennsylvania, with a focus on laser tattoo removal — including large and multi-color pieces, full back pieces, and arm and leg sleeves. Dr. Hobson, a physician with an emergency-medicine background, is a second treating physician at the practice.
Physician oversight matters because safe, effective removal depends on reading your skin type, choosing appropriate settings for each ink color, and adjusting the plan as your tattoo fades. A doctor-administered approach means those decisions are made by someone with clinical training rather than handed off to a fixed protocol. It also means that if your skin responds unexpectedly, the person guiding your care can adapt.
Most tattoos take roughly 8 to 12 sessions to fully remove, though the exact number varies with ink density, placement, color, and your skin type. Because it is a multi-session journey, working with a consistent physician-led team helps keep your treatment tailored from your first session through your last.
What to expect and what it costs
PicoWay® sessions themselves are typically quick — many patients describe procedures lasting around ten minutes or less, depending on the size of the tattoo. Sessions are spaced apart to give your body time to clear the shattered ink before the next treatment. Laser Eraser begins with a free, no-pressure consultation, where a physician evaluates your tattoo, discusses realistic expectations, and outlines a plan.
Rather than charging per session, Laser Eraser offers complete-removal packages: a single fixed price that covers all the sessions needed to fully remove a tattoo. This package approach removes the uncertainty of not knowing how many visits you will ultimately need. Flexible payment options are available if you'd like to spread the cost. If you have multiple tattoos, a custom package is quoted at your free consultation.
As with any cosmetic treatment, complete removal cannot be guaranteed for every tattoo, and honest expectations are part of a physician-led consultation. Cosmetic laser tattoo removal is generally not covered by insurance, which is one more reason the free consultation exists — so you can understand your options and costs before committing to anything.
Frequently asked questions
A picosecond is one trillionth of a second. PicoWay® delivers its laser energy in these ultra-short bursts, which shatters tattoo ink into very fine particles your body can clear — rather than relying mainly on heat like older, slower lasers.