Advanced Pico Laser Technology for Pigmentation, Acne Scars, Wrinkles, Skin Rejuvenation and Tattoo Removal
Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery is pleased to offer Picofy, an advanced picosecond Nd:YAG laser platform designed to address several common aesthetic concerns with extremely short bursts of laser energy.
Picofy combines 1064 nm and 532 nm wavelengths with ultra-short picosecond pulses, allowing our providers to precisely target selected pigment, tattoo ink and areas requiring fractional skin remodeling while limiting unnecessary heat exposure to surrounding tissue.
For patients seeking treatment for unwanted tattoos, certain benign pigmented lesions, acne scars, wrinkles or overall improvement in skin texture, Picofy provides another highly customizable option within our comprehensive aesthetic treatment program.
Our goal is not simply to offer another laser. Every Picofy treatment begins with an evaluation to determine whether picosecond laser technology—or another treatment available at Georgia Plastic—is most appropriate for your skin, concern and goals.
Quick Answer: Picofy is a picosecond Nd:YAG laser that delivers 1064 nm and 532 nm wavelengths in extremely short pulses. Depending on wavelength, treatment settings and skin type, it is FDA cleared for selected tattoo removal, benign pigmented lesions, acne scars and wrinkles.
What Is Picofy?
Picofy is a picosecond laser, meaning its laser pulses are measured in trillionths of a second.
Traditional laser treatments may rely substantially on heat to produce a desired tissue response. Picosecond systems deliver energy so rapidly that a significant component of their interaction with pigment is photoacoustic or photomechanical. The rapid pulse creates pressure that can break targeted pigment or tattoo ink into smaller particles while minimizing prolonged heat diffusion into surrounding tissue.
Picofy uses two primary wavelengths:
1064 nm Nd:YAG
The 1064 nm wavelength penetrates more deeply and has lower absorption by epidermal melanin than shorter visible wavelengths. Depending on the indication, it can be particularly useful when treating patients with more melanin-rich skin.
532 nm
The 532 nm wavelength is absorbed more strongly by superficial pigment. It can be useful for selected superficial pigmented lesions and tattoo colors in appropriately selected patients.
Having both wavelengths allows our providers to individualize treatment according to the location and type of pigment, tattoo characteristics, skin type and treatment objective.
What Can Picofy Treat?
Picofy has several FDA-cleared indications. The appropriate wavelength, treatment setting and patient selection vary according to the condition being treated.
Unwanted Tattoos
Picosecond laser technology has become an important option for laser tattoo removal because rapid, high-energy pulses can fragment tattoo pigment into progressively smaller particles that the body can clear over time.
Picofy 1064 nm is FDA cleared for tattoo removal in Fitzpatrick skin types I–VI for several darker tattoo colors, including black, brown, green, blue and purple.
The 532 nm wavelength can treat selected tattoo pigments in lighter skin types.
Tattoo removal is rarely a one-treatment procedure. The number of sessions depends on factors such as:
- Tattoo size
- Ink colors
- Ink density
- Professional versus amateur tattooing
- Tattoo location
- Age of the tattoo
- Previous treatment
- Patient skin type
- Individual response to treatment
Some patients want complete removal, while others simply want a tattoo faded sufficiently to make a cover-up easier.
Benign Pigmented Lesions
Picofy can be used for selected benign pigmented lesions in appropriately selected patients.
Pigmented lesions can vary substantially in their depth, cause and biological behavior. For this reason, we do not recommend treating an unexplained brown spot simply because a laser can lighten pigment.
Our providers first evaluate the treatment area to determine whether laser treatment is appropriate. Any lesion that appears suspicious or requires medical evaluation should be assessed before cosmetic laser treatment.
Picofy should also not be assumed to be the ideal treatment for every condition commonly described as “hyperpigmentation.” The diagnosis matters.
Acne Scars
Picofy can also be used for acne scar treatment.
For acne scars, treatment is not necessarily directed at visible pigment. Picofy’s fractional MLA handpieces can deliver concentrated microscopic laser energy into selected areas of the skin, creating a tissue response designed to stimulate remodeling while preserving surrounding untreated tissue.
This can be useful for patients concerned about acne-related textural irregularities.
Because acne scars vary—ice-pick, rolling, boxcar, tethered and mixed patterns are not equivalent—we may recommend Picofy alone or as one component of a multimodal acne-scar plan.
Depending on the scar pattern, other options may include RF microneedling, subcision, chemical reconstruction, fillers or other resurfacing procedures.
Wrinkles and Skin Texture
Picofy also has an FDA-cleared indication for treatment of wrinkles in specified skin types.
Fractional picosecond treatments can be used to stimulate a remodeling response without relying on traditional fully ablative resurfacing.
Patients may seek treatment for:
- Fine lines
- Uneven texture
- Photoaged appearance
- Selected areas of roughness
- Overall skin revitalization
During consultation, we determine whether Picofy, RF microneedling, chemical resurfacing or another procedure offers the best match for the patient’s objectives.
Picofy and Skin of Color
One reason we selected a dual-wavelength picosecond platform is the importance of having treatment options for a diverse range of skin tones.
Patients with darker skin require thoughtful laser selection because epidermal melanin can compete with the intended target for laser energy. This can increase the risk of unwanted pigmentary changes when an inappropriate wavelength or overly aggressive treatment is used.
The 1064 nm wavelength has relatively lower epidermal melanin absorption than shorter wavelengths such as 532 nm.
Importantly, however, not every Picofy indication carries the same FDA-cleared Fitzpatrick skin-type range.
For example:
- 1064 nm tattoo removal is cleared for Fitzpatrick I–VI.
- Acne-scar treatment includes Fitzpatrick II–V.
- Benign pigmented lesion treatment has different skin-type limitations.
- 532 nm treatment has more restricted skin-type indications than 1064 nm.
This is why we avoid a one-size-fits-all approach.
Having darker skin does not automatically mean that every laser treatment is inappropriate. It means that diagnosis, wavelength selection, treatment parameters and provider experience become especially important.
What Makes Picofy Different From IPL?
Patients frequently ask whether a pico laser and IPL are the same.
They are not.
IPL—Intense Pulsed Light—uses a broad spectrum of light filtered to target selected chromophores. It can be useful for photodamage, selected pigmentation and vascular redness in appropriate patients.
Picofy is a true laser system using specific wavelengths and extremely short picosecond pulses.
The two technologies therefore have different strengths.
For example, a patient with diffuse sun damage and facial redness may be better suited to IPL, while a patient with tattoo ink or an indication requiring picosecond technology may be better suited to Picofy.
Georgia Plastic offers multiple energy-based technologies so that treatment can be selected according to the problem rather than trying to make one device treat every condition.
Picofy vs. Morpheus8
Picofy and Morpheus8 are also fundamentally different technologies.
Picofy uses laser energy.
Morpheus8 uses fractional radiofrequency microneedling.
Morpheus8 places insulated or non-insulated microneedles into selected tissue depths and delivers radiofrequency energy to stimulate tissue remodeling.
Picofy delivers laser energy without inserting needles into the skin.
For some patients, one technology clearly makes more sense than the other. In other patients—particularly patients with complex acne scarring, texture concerns or combined pigment and structural changes—a carefully designed treatment plan may incorporate more than one modality.
The objective is not to perform the greatest number of procedures. It is to select the combination that makes biological and clinical sense for the patient’s concern.
Picofy for Tattoo Removal in Atlanta
Atlanta is a highly diverse city, and tattoo-removal needs are equally diverse.
Patients seek tattoo treatment for many reasons:
- A tattoo no longer reflects their personal style
- Career or lifestyle changes
- Relationship changes
- Poorly executed tattoos
- Tattoo distortion or fading
- Desire for a cover-up
- Cosmetic tattoo or permanent-makeup concerns
- Partial removal of selected tattoo components
Some tattoos respond more readily than others.
Dark ink often responds differently from bright or complex colors. Professional tattoos may contain more pigment at greater density than amateur tattoos. Layered tattoos and cover-ups can be particularly challenging.
During your consultation, we evaluate the tattoo and discuss realistic expectations regarding the likely number of sessions and degree of clearance.
No ethical laser practice should guarantee complete tattoo removal in a predetermined number of sessions.
What Happens During a Picofy Treatment?
Before treatment, your provider evaluates the treatment area, skin type and relevant medical history.
Protective eyewear is required during laser treatment.
Depending on the indication and treatment area, topical anesthetic or other comfort measures may be considered.
The Picofy handpiece is passed over the selected treatment area using parameters chosen specifically for the indication.
Treatment time varies considerably. A small tattoo or isolated pigmented lesion may require relatively little treatment time, while larger areas require longer sessions.
Patients often describe the laser pulse as a rapid snapping sensation.
After treatment, temporary redness, swelling or other local reactions can occur. Tattoo treatments may produce more noticeable immediate tissue responses.
Your provider will give you condition-specific aftercare instructions.
How Many Picofy Treatments Will I Need?
There is no universal number.
Tattoo Removal
Tattoo removal generally requires a series of treatments separated by adequate healing intervals. The body needs time to process fragmented tattoo pigment between treatments.
Pigmented Lesions
Some appropriately selected superficial lesions may respond relatively quickly, while others may require additional treatment.
Acne Scars and Wrinkles
Skin-remodeling treatments generally involve a series because collagen and tissue remodeling occur gradually.
At consultation, we will provide a proposed treatment plan based on your specific indication rather than selling a predetermined package that may not fit your needs.
What Is Recovery Like?
Downtime depends on what is treated and how aggressively it is treated.
Possible temporary reactions include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Pinpoint crusting
- Temporary darkening of treated pigment
- Tattoo whitening or frosting immediately after treatment
- Temporary changes in pigmentation
More significant adverse effects are possible with any laser procedure.
Sun protection is particularly important after pigment-directed procedures. Patients should carefully follow the post-treatment instructions provided by our clinical team.
Who Is Not a Good Candidate?
Picofy may not be appropriate for every patient.
Treatment may need to be postponed or avoided in patients with certain active infections, open wounds, recent significant sun exposure or tanning, medications that alter photosensitivity, specific medical conditions, pregnancy depending on treatment circumstances, or unrealistic expectations.
Pigmented lesions of uncertain diagnosis should not simply be cosmetically treated without appropriate assessment.
A consultation allows us to determine whether Picofy is appropriate and, equally importantly, when another option would be safer or more effective.
Why Choose Georgia Plastic for Picofy Treatment?
Technology matters, but the device is only one part of laser treatment.
At Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, aesthetic treatments are offered within a physician-led plastic surgery practice with access to multiple surgical and nonsurgical technologies.
That means our recommendations are not limited to a single machine.
If Picofy is appropriate, we can recommend it.
If IPL, radiofrequency microneedling, another energy-based treatment, skincare or a different intervention makes more sense, we can discuss those options instead.
Our approach is particularly valuable for patients with:
- Skin of color
- Complex pigmentation
- Acne scars requiring multimodal treatment
- Previous unsuccessful aesthetic treatments
- Tattoos with multiple colors
- Patients uncertain which technology they actually need
The goal is individualized treatment—not simply matching every patient to the newest device.
Schedule a Picofy Consultation in Atlanta
If you are considering pico laser treatment in Atlanta for an unwanted tattoo, selected pigmentation, acne scars, wrinkles or skin texture concerns, we invite you to schedule an evaluation at Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.
During your consultation, we can determine:
- Whether Picofy is appropriate
- Which wavelength may be considered
- Whether your skin type affects the treatment strategy
- How many sessions may reasonably be expected
- Expected downtime
- Alternative or complementary treatments
- Treatment pricing
Frequently Asked Questions About Picofy
Picofy is a picosecond Nd:YAG laser that uses 1064 nm and 532 nm wavelengths. Its extremely short pulses can target tattoo ink and selected pigmentation and can also be used with fractional handpieces for indications such as acne scars and wrinkles.
No. IPL delivers broad-spectrum filtered light, while Picofy is a laser delivering specific wavelengths in picosecond pulses. They have different mechanisms and treatment applications.
Yes. Tattoo removal is one of Picofy’s FDA-cleared indications. The appropriate wavelength depends on tattoo color, skin type and other clinical factors.
Picofy has certain indications that include darker Fitzpatrick skin types. Most notably, 1064 nm tattoo removal is FDA cleared for Fitzpatrick I–VI, while acne-scar treatment includes Fitzpatrick II–V. Other indications have different skin-type limitations. An individual evaluation is therefore necessary.
Usually not. Most tattoos require multiple treatments. Tattoo size, color, density, location, layering and individual response all influence the number of sessions required.
Treatment intervals vary according to the tattoo, tissue response and provider recommendations. Adequate time between sessions allows the skin to recover and the body to process fragmented pigment.
Yes. Picofy has an FDA-cleared indication for treatment of acne scars in specified skin types. The ideal acne-scar treatment depends on scar morphology, and some patients benefit from combining different treatment modalities.
Picofy is FDA cleared for treatment of benign pigmented lesions in specified skin types. “Hyperpigmentation” is a broad term with many possible causes, so diagnosis is important before laser treatment. Not every type of pigmentation should be treated the same way.
Melasma requires careful diagnosis and management because heat, inflammation and other factors can worsen the condition in some patients. We do not automatically recommend Picofy simply because someone has facial pigmentation. A provider should first determine the cause of the pigmentation and recommend an individualized treatment strategy.
Patients commonly describe laser pulses as brief snapping sensations. Discomfort varies according to the treatment area and indication. Comfort measures can be discussed before treatment.
Downtime varies. Temporary redness, swelling, tenderness, crusting or pigment changes can occur depending on the treatment. Tattoo removal may produce a more noticeable immediate tissue reaction than some skin-rejuvenation treatments.
Neither is universally better. They use completely different forms of energy. Picofy is a picosecond laser, while Morpheus8 is radiofrequency microneedling. The best choice depends on whether the main concern involves pigment, tattoo ink, scarring, texture, laxity or a combination of problems.
Pricing depends on the treatment indication, size of the treatment area, tattoo dimensions and complexity, and anticipated treatment plan. An individualized quote is provided after evaluation.
Georgia Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery offers Picofy picosecond laser treatments in the Atlanta area as part of our comprehensive surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic services.
