PicoSure vs Quanta Q-Plus C Q-Switch Technology
So, you’ve done your research on Laser Tattoo Removal and now have found that there are multiple technology’s available to choose from. Where do you go from here? Let us break it down for you. The Pico Technology has two claims, that they remove tattoos quicker than Q Switch Technology and that the recovery is quicker. Here at Lighten Up Laser we did our research keeping two factors in mind, how do we offer you the best service and how do we insure you the best results. We feel that we have done our due diligence in determining which technology, the Pico or the Quanta Q-Plus C was going to be the best investment that would offer you quality treatment with superior results. Our feeling was and still is, that there is no comparison, the Quanta Q-Plus C, the gold standard of Laser Tattoo Removal in the Industry was the obvious choice, the facts are as follows:
It’s All About the Science:
Quanta Q-Plus C
The Quanta Q-Plus C is the only FDA approved laser on the market that offers three true wavelengths (Nd:Yag 1064, Ruby 694 and 532). Therefore, it is the only laser that can successfully remove the full spectrum of color!
Targeting different ink colors requires different wavelengths. When determining which wavelength to work with, the two most important factors are:
Research has proven, the best wavelength to successfully target dark pigment (Black, Dark Blues, etc.) is the ND:Yag 1064, which settles deepest in the skin . The best wavelength to target the difficult Blue/Green colors is the Ruby 694, which settle mid skin, and the only wavelength to target the Reds/Oranges is the KTP 532 which settle at the surface of the skin.
PicoSure Technology
The Pico technology does have positive results in fading or removing tattoos however it only offers one wavelength (Alexandrite 755). The 755 wavelength was one of the first wavelengths used in tattoo removal but has two main pitfalls:
It passes right by red ink and can stop short of deep black colors. Its wavelength inhibits it from hitting exactly where it should in the skin to have ideal responses for complete removal.
Don’t Forget Training and Technique!
Recovery time and results are two major concerns of all clients, as they should be! Pico’s marketing claims that the area treated will heal more quickly with less damage to the surrounding tissue and lead us to further explore the possibility of investing in one of their machines. After thorough research, we found that the Pico claims were made based off inferior Q-Switch technologies to that of the Quanta Q-Plus C laser.
The Quanta Q-Plus C laser removes tattoos quicker than other Q-Switched lasers and the healing time is the fastest on the market, which by the way, has much to do with training and technique. Client recovery times are markedly. We work closely with our Medical Director and will always keep the integrity of your skin our main priority.
More Facts:
There are many variables involved with laser tattoo removal, including but not limited to; wavelength, pulse rate, strength of energy, spot size, ink color etc. When lasers are being utilized to remove tattoos, they are delivering energy to the ink particles breaking them into millions of pieces, enabling the body to remove them as waste (a process that natural takes place in the body, which is why tattoos fade).
The manufacturing of these devices uses these and other important variables into consideration when developing devices that will offer superior results. One very important variable is the time it takes the laser to deliver the energy to the ink particles. The Quanta Q Pulse C-Q Switch Laser delivers energy in nanoseconds, a technology that has been both studied and proven to be safe and effective. Lasers like the PicoSure System are delivering energy in a much shorter time known as picoseconds. Picosecond delivery is seen by some to be unsafe as the shorter delivery times do not allow enough time for the energy to dissipate not allowing the heated areas to cool thus increasing the risk of scarring and skin discoloration.
Taking the Science into account behind Laser Tattoo Removal, the obvious need for multiple wavelengths, and the facts about energy and the potential risk of complications delivered in picoseconds, the PicoSure Technology has unfortunately lacked the results they guarantee.
A study by the Journal of Laser and Health Academy concluded:
“[T]he published literature and our preliminary results seem to indicate that current “picosecond” lasers are not expected to have a significantly better tattoo clearance effect in comparison with the “gold standard” Q-switched nanosecond tattoo lasers. … It is our opinion that top-of-the-line Q-switched nanosecond lasers will remain the devices of choice for tattoo removal.”
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