Not all tattoo removal is the same
If you’ve been Googling tattoo removal for a while, you’ve probably noticed that almost all clinics use the same buzzwords: picosecond, advanced technology, safe, and effective. That’s not a lie—but it doesn’t tell you anything about what’s actually happening under your skin, or whether the clinic you choose can actually remove your tattoo.
Because the truth is simple and a little uncomfortable: one laser doesn't remove all colors. Not a single one.
Tattoo ink absorbs light differently depending on its color. Black ink is no problem—it absorbs almost all wavelengths. But blue, green, sky blue? Those are notoriously difficult. Not because the laser isn’t powerful enough, but because the wavelength doesn’t match.
This is where the new PicoWay 730nm comes into play
What is a wavelength—and why should you care?
Think of it this way: each tattoo ink color is like a lock. The laser is the key. And the key must be the right shape to open the lock.
A laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm (nanometers) precisely targets black and dark ink. A 532 nm laser targets red ink. But what about blue and green? Their absorption profiles make them nearly immune to standard wavelengths.
That is precisely why TBL Medical has now invested in the 730 nm handpiece for the Candela PicoWay.
730 nm: The Missing Key
The 730 nm handpiece is based on titanium sapphire crystal technology and is FDA-approved for the removal of blue and green tattoo pigments—as well as benign pigmented lesions such as age spots, freckles, and sun damage.
What makes it unique is the combination of two factors:
1. The optimal wavelength of 730 nm has 14% higher melanin absorption than the widely used 755 nm wavelength found in competing systems. This means more precise targeting of the pigment—and less energy reaching surrounding tissue that should not be affected.
2. The shortest pulse duration on the market: 250 picoseconds. That’s 250 trillionths of a second. To put that in perspective: a nanosecond laser—which was the standard until recently—is 1,000 times slower. The shorter pulse means that the energy is released as a photomechanical shockwave, not heat. The ink is mechanically shattered into dust. The surrounding skin remains untouched.
Compared to its closest competitor on the market (755 nm picosecond), the pulse duration is 66% shorter. This is not a marginal improvement—it represents a generational shift in technology.
With our comprehensive range of lasers, TBL Medical now covers the entire color spectrum:
| Tattoo ink | Technology |
|---|---|
| Black / dark brown | PicoPro 1064 nm + PicoWay 1064 nm |
| Dark blue / navy blue | PicoPro 1064 nm + PicoWay 730 nm |
| Sky blue / light blue | Fotona YellowLase 585 nm + PicoWay 730 nm |
| Green | Fotona RedLase 650 nm + PicoWay 730 nm |
| Red / orange | PicoPro 532 nm + PicoWay 532 nm |
| Purple | PicoPro 1064 nm + PicoWay 730 nm |
The double coverage on the hardest-to-cover colors isn’t a coincidence—it means we can choose the system that best suits your skin type and your specific ink, not just whatever we have on hand.
TBL Medical - Medical Expertise as Our Foundation
TBL Medical is one of Norway’s largest clinics for medical laser treatments, with over 15 years of experience. All consultations are conducted by qualified healthcare professionals, and we provide you with an honest assessment of what can be achieved with your tattoo, regardless of whether the answer is simple or complex.