Tattoos and Beyond: the Clinical Evolution of Picosecond Laser Technology

Picosecond lasers are a new commercial development in cutaneous laser surgery. While the importance of short picosecond laser pulses for the treatment of tattoos has long been known, the development of picosecond lasers has only recently been commercially viable. The picosecond lasers are able to photomechanically fragment tattoo ink particles more effectively than traditional Q-switched lasers. Similarly, pigmented lesions can be effectively treated with picosecond technology. New handpieces are able to fractionate and focus the picosecond laser pulse to cause light-induced optical breakdown in the dermis. The nonthermal dermal injury stimulates collagen production benefitting those with cutaneous scarring and photoaging. As newer systems are developed with multiple picosecond wavelengths, the clinical indications for their use will continue to expand.