Picosecond Laser Machines

Tattoo ink and pigment sit in the dermis as particles too large for the body's macrophages to carry away. A laser pulse absorbed by the particle heats and expands it faster than the surrounding tissue can respond, and the particle fractures. The shorter the pulse, the more of that energy goes into the mechanical fracture (the photoacoustic effect) and the less into heating the surrounding skin. Nanosecond Q-switched lasers (pulses of 5 to 20 billionths of a second) established the service; picosecond lasers (pulses of hundreds of trillionths of a second) fracture particles into smaller fragments with less collateral heat, which is the basis for the claims of fewer sessions and less risk of scarring and pigment change.

The four wavelengths

• 1064 nm: black and dark blue inks; weakly absorbed by melanin, so the safest wavelength on darker skin and the one used for pigment toning.
• 532 nm: red, orange and yellow inks and superficial pigmented lesions; strongly absorbed by melanin, so used with care.
• 755 nm: green and blue inks and some pigmented lesions; the wavelength that distinguishes a full-color platform.
• 1320 nm: a longer wavelength used as the carbon peel tip (a carbon lotion is applied, the laser vaporizes it and exfoliates the surface) and for skin texture sessions.

Spot size and energy

Larger spots (up to 10 mm on every model here) penetrate deeper and cover ground faster for large tattoos; small spots (down to 2 mm) concentrate energy for detail and resistant ink. The useful comparison is energy at the spot size you will use: the EL400, for example, ranges from 50 mJ at 532 nm to 1,200 mJ at 755 and 1064 nm. The EL900 and Picoking II run 3,000 W power supplies.

• [Winkonlaser EL400 Portable Tattoo Removal Picolaser](/products/winkonlaser-el400-portable-tattoo-removal-picolaser-machine), $2,500: four wavelengths, 2 to 10 mm spots, 50 mJ (532 nm) to 1,200 mJ (755 and 1064 nm), water and air cooling, portable with a 15.6 inch touchscreen. The entry point.
• [Winkonlaser Picoking EL500](/products/winkonlaser-picoking-el500-picosecond-laser-tattoo-removal-machine), $3,600: four wavelengths from an 8 mm rod, 2 to 10 mm spots, water and air cooling with four fans, portable with a 15.4 inch touchscreen. The portable step up.
• [Winkonlaser Picoking EL900](/products/winkonlaser-picoking-el900-picosecond-laser-tattoo-removal-machine), $9,200: console with articulated laser arm, four wavelengths, 2 to 10 mm spots, 3,000 W power supply, water and air cooling, 110 to 220 V. The clinic unit.
• [Winkonlaser Picoking II](/products/winkonlaser-picoking-ii-picosecond-laser-tattoo-removal-machine), $9,900: second-generation console with laser arm, four wavelengths, 2 to 10 mm spots, 3,000 W supply, in Regular and Pro configurations (the Pro adds a filter set and protocols; ask us what else it includes).

Pulse width in picoseconds is not printed on the listings for any model; all four are rated picosecond by the manufacturer, and we are collecting the documented pulse widths, energy per spot size and repetition rates (see our running supplier list). Ask us for the current spec sheet before you order.

A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is the established, lower-cost tool for black and dark ink and for pigment toning, and it remains a sound first purchase for a studio whose clients mostly bring dark professional tattoos. A picosecond platform costs more and is positioned for color work, resistant and previously treated tattoos, pigmented lesions on skin where heat is a concern, and clients who want fewer sessions.

• Mostly black ink, tight budget: a Q-switched Nd:YAG; see Nd:YAG Laser Machines.
• Color inks, cover-up fading, pigmented lesions, carbon peels: a four-wavelength picosecond platform from this page.
• High daily volume: the EL900 or Picoking II with laser-arm delivery and a 3,000 W supply.

The Tattoo Removal Machines hub compares both technologies and all six systems in one table.

• Delivery. An articulated arm (EL900, Picoking II) gives stable beam delivery for a dedicated room and long treatment days; handpiece delivery on the portable units (EL400, EL500) keeps the machine movable between rooms or locations.
• Energy at usable spots. Compare millijoules at 4 to 6 mm, the sizes most tattoo work uses, not the headline maximum.
• Cooling. Water plus air cooling on all four; the EL500 adds four fans. Cooling capacity sets how many back-to-back sessions the laser sustains.
• Services beyond tattoo. All four run carbon peels (1320 nm tip) and treat pigmented lesions, which fill the schedule between tattoo clients.
• Budget. $2,500 for the EL400 to $9,900 for the Picoking II Regular; the Pro configuration costs more.

Session economics

Tattoo removal sessions are commonly priced in US clinics by size, from about $150 for a small piece to $500 or more for a large one, with courses of 6 to 12 sessions spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart. Even the entry EL400 pays back within a handful of courses; the console units earn their price on throughput and the color range that keeps clients from going elsewhere.

Regulation and safety

Laser tattoo removal is a regulated procedure in most states, with operator licensing or supervision rules. Wavelength-rated protective eyewear for everyone in the room, a test spot on each new client, and photo documentation are standard practice. Regulatory status belongs to a specific model and intended use; ask us for the documentation on any model before advertising a claim.

Buying from us

Free shipping to domestic USA addresses in the lower 48, including freight consoles; Alaska, Hawaii and international by quote. Winkonlaser systems carry a 3-year manufacturer warranty and Shape Tactics systems 2 years, handled through us as your US point of contact. We send the manufacturer's spec sheet, handle list and consumable pricing for any model before you order, and quote multi-unit pricing for clinics and groups.

Trademarks

PicoSure is a trademark of Cynosure and PicoWay is a trademark of Candela; Longevity Based is not affiliated with either. The Winkonlaser EL400, EL500, EL900 and Picoking II are sold under their own model names in the same picosecond technology category, with their own specifications, warranties and documentation.