PicoWay: Complete Buyer's Guide
PicoWay is a mature premium platform distinguished by four available true picosecond wavelengths, broad U.S. indications, strong skin-type coverage, and multiple full-beam and fractional delivery options. Initial FDA clearance: October 30, 2014.
analytics Quick Specifications
Wavelengths
PicoWay is Candela's multi-wavelength picosecond Nd:YAG platform for tattoo removal, benign pigmented lesions, and fractional skin treatments. The 1064 nm and 532 nm wavelengths form the platform core, while dedicated 730 nm and 785 nm applicators broaden blue/green tattoo and pigment coverage — a fully configured system offers four true picosecond wavelengths in total.
Resolve and Resolve Fusion handpieces fractionate 532 nm and/or 1064 nm energy for wrinkles, acne scars, and selected pigment indications. This wavelength breadth allows PicoWay to address a wide range of tattoo ink colors and pigmented lesion types across multiple Fitzpatrick skin types.
Pulse Duration
Public materials describe pulse durations of approximately 339 ps at 1064 nm, 294 ps at 532 nm, 246–250 ps at 730 nm, and about 300 ps at 785 nm — buyers should verify the exact figure for the specific applicator being quoted. This ultra-short delivery produces a photoacoustic rather than photothermal impact, reaching pigment beneath the skin's surface while minimizing risk of overheating the epidermis.
Energy & Fluence
Energy and fluence vary materially by wavelength, spot size, and handpiece. Rather than relying on one universal mJ figure, request the current technical schedule for the exact configuration being quoted.
Spot Sizes / Handpieces
Zoom spot sizes vary by wavelength, with public materials commonly describing ranges up to 10 mm. Dedicated and fractional applicators use fixed treatment patterns, with repetition rates up to 10 Hz depending on mode and configuration.
Fractional Technology
Resolve™ Fractional Module: a dual-wavelength picosecond fractional handpiece for pigmentation, skin irregularities, and signs of aging.
Full-beam Zoom delivery is complemented by Resolve microbeam fractional delivery and Resolve Fusion, which combines focused and ring-shaped spots for more customizable fractional coverage. The exact handpiece package is configuration-dependent.
FDA-Cleared Indications & Market History
PicoWay received its initial U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance on October 30, 2014 for tattoo removal using 1064 nm and 532 nm, entering the U.S. market in late 2014. The clearance set expanded over the following years:
- 2014: Initial clearance — tattoo removal (1064 nm & 532 nm)
- 2015: Benign pigmented lesions
- 2016: 785 nm applicator
- 2017: Resolve fractional indications
- 2019: 730 nm applicator
- 2022: Expanded pigment and melasma indications
Current U.S. labeling covers:
- Tattoo removal across multiple ink colors
- Benign pigmented lesions, wrinkles, and acne scars
- Melasma, lentigines, café au lait macules (CALMs)
- Nevus of Ota
Skin-type versatility is a notable strength: the 1064 nm tattoo indication extends through Fitzpatrick skin type VI, and several pigment and fractional indications cover multiple skin types. Wavelength-specific limitations apply — verify the exact labeled indication set for the quoted configuration.
Principal Strengths
- Established platform and manufacturer history — cleared and commercially available in the U.S. since 2014.
- Broad wavelength portfolio — a fully configured system provides 1064, 532, 730 and 785 nm for wide tattoo-color and pigment coverage.
- Strong skin-type versatility — the 1064 nm tattoo indication extends through Fitzpatrick skin type VI, with several pigment and fractional indications covering multiple skin types.
- Broad U.S. indication set — tattoos, benign pigmented lesions, melasma, café-au-lait macules, lentigines, nevus of Ota, acne scars, and wrinkles, with wavelength-specific limitations.
- Multiple beam-delivery modes — Zoom full-beam, Resolve microbeam, and Resolve Fusion options support tattoo, pigment, and fractional treatment strategies.
Limitations & Buyer Risks
- Premium acquisition cost — a reasonable new-system planning range is approximately $250,000–$325,000 for a well-configured platform, but current written quotations control.
- Full versatility depends on options — the 730 nm, 785 nm, and fractional handpieces may materially increase the configured price.
- Configuration complexity — indications, pulse duration, spot size, and treatment coverage depend on the selected wavelength and applicator.
- Electrical and site requirements — PicoWay generally requires dedicated 200–240 V service and site planning rather than a standard 110/120 V receptacle.
- Commercial terms are not transparent — warranty duration, service pricing, and third-party ownership-transfer or inspection fees are not consistently published.
Approximate Pricing
Manufacturer Direct
*Approximate planning range for a well-configured system. Options, applicators, training and commercial package materially affect price — current written quotations control.
Secondary Market
*Used pricing is not publicly standardized for this platform. It varies heavily on shot count, condition, included handpieces and seller — request a current quote.
Ownership Considerations
Who Might Consider This Platform?
PicoWay may be best suited for an established dermatology, plastic-surgery, tattoo-removal or high-volume aesthetic practice that wants a premium multi-wavelength platform, broad FDA-cleared treatment coverage, strong relevance across skin types, and both full-beam and fractional delivery.
It is especially compelling when the practice will actually use the optional 730/785 nm tattoo-color coverage and Resolve family for pigment, wrinkles, or acne scars.
Bottom Line
PicoWay occupies a leading premium position in the U.S. pico-laser market. Its strongest advantage is breadth: a fully configured system combines four true picosecond wavelengths with full-beam, microbeam and Fusion delivery, plus one of the category's broadest current FDA-cleared indication sets. Its main purchasing limitation is configuration economics — advertised platform capability may depend on separately priced applicators and handpieces.
Buyer note: Specifications, indications, pricing, warranty and service terms should be verified for the exact quoted configuration. This profile is a purchasing aid, not clinical, legal or regulatory advice.
Pico Laser Interactive Spotlight Table
Click any column header to sort from highest to lowest and lowest to highest
| PicoTech | 5 Standard: 1064, 532, 755, 585, 650nm | 2 Standard – Honeycomb 120px & 1064 DOE 49px | 350ps | 350ps | 800mj | 25.46 J/cm2 | 2 Years | $60,000 |
| PicoSure Pro | 1 Standard: 755nm (532, 1064nm optional) | 1 Standard Platinum Focus™ Lens Array | 900ps (500ps@755) | 450ps | 300mj | 9.55 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $200,000 |
| PicoWay | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm (730, 785nm optional) | 0 Standard – Resolve Fractional optional | 343ps | 294ps | 400mj | 12.73 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $250,000 |
| Discovery Pico | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm (694nm ruby on Plus) | 0 Standard – Optional Microbeam HC/DF | 450ps | 370ps | 800mj | 25.46 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $160,000 |
| PicoPlus | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm (595, 660nm optional) | 0 Standard – Optional Dual Focused Dots | 450ps | 450ps | 800mj | 25.46 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $160,000 |
| PicoCare Majesty | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm (595, 660nm optional) | 0 Standard – Optional MLA/DOE | 250ps | 180ps | 500mj | 15.92 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $125,000 |
| PicoLazer | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm | 1 Standard – Fractional Handpiece | 450ps | 450ps | 500mj | 15.92 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $95,995 |
| PicoLO Premium | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm | 1 Standard – Dia FX fractional | 450ps | 380ps | 500mj | 15.92 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $150,000 |
| PicoStar | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm | 0 Standard – Optional MicroSpot PICO | 300ps | 300ps | 800mj | 25.46 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $180,000 |
| StarWalker PICO Pro | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm (585, 650nm optional) | 1 Standard – FracTAT® & FracRevive | 300ps | 300ps | 800mj | 25.46 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $180,000 |
| PicoClear | 4 Standard: 1064, 532, 585, 650nm | 1 Standard – PicoLift 7×7 fractional | 350ps | 300ps | 450mj | 14.32 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $120,000 |
| PICOHI 300 | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm | 0 Standard – Optional VMLA, ZMLA, DOE | 300ps | 275ps | 500mj | 15.92 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $95,000 |
| PicoFusion HS-298 | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm | 0 Standard – Optional MLA/DOE | 350ps | 300ps | 500mj | 15.92 J/cm2 | 2 Years | $129,000 |
| Picofy | 2 Standard: 1064, 532nm | 0 Standard – Optional Array MLA 110 & Peak MLA 60 | 300ps | 300ps | 500mj | 15.92 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $160,000 |
| enlighten III | 3 Standard: 1064, 532, 670nm | 0 Standard – Optional MLA Handpiece | 750ps | 750ps | 600mj | 19.10 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $180,000 |
| PiQo4 | 4 Standard: 1064, 532, 585, 650nm | 0 Standard | 500ps | 500ps | 650mj | 20.69 J/cm2 | 1 Year | $180,000 |