Pico laser isn't always best for tattoos. Know your ink or waste money. Find out why.
Hapjeong Tattoo Removal,
Pico vs Nano (Nd:YAG)
— Which one is right for my tattoo?

When the weather warms up and short sleeves come out,
many people find themselves worrying more deeply.
After seeing the tattoo on their upper arm in photos,
they decide, "I have to remove it this year."
and more people are coming in for consultations.
Before your consultation,
let’s start with answers to the 3 most common key questions.
📌 Key Checks Before Treatment
Q. Is the pico laser
always better?
In general, pico is the better option.
You can think of it that way.
(Though in some cases, it may not be.)
Q. How many sessions
does it take to remove it?
Depending on ink amount and skin type,
it can vary widely from 4 sessions to 15+ sessions.
Q. Are costs different in
Hapjeong/Hongdae?
More than location, device type and tattoo size
are what determine the price.
1. Pico Laser
vs Nd:YAG: The Differences

The biggest misconception is
"newest equipment is always the best."
These two devices differ from the very
principle of how they break down ink.
Category | Pico Laser | Nano (Nd:YAG) |
Operating method | Physically shatters into finer particles | Shatters into larger particles |
Ink colors | Color tattoos, multi-color ink | Black, dark single-color |
Skin damage | Less thermal damage | Possible accumulation of thermal damage |
Recommended cases | Hard-to-remove color tattoos | Shallow amateur tattoos |
What matters more than the device name is
using the right wavelength
for your tattoo condition.
2. Why is it hard
to give an exact number of sessions?

Tattoo removal
is not a one-session magic trick.
There are many factors
that affect removal speed.
Ink color
Yellow and white are very difficult.
Ink depth
Tattoos done by tattooists are often very deep.
Tattoo age
Older tattoos have more dispersed particles, so they take longer.
Skin type
It is harder to selectively target ink in darker skin.
Treatment energy
If the energy is too low, only the number of sessions increases.
Usually, small single-color tattoos take 4–6 sessions,
while color artistic tattoos often require 10–15+ sessions.
👨⚕️ Director Wi Youngjin’s Clinical Note:
Some patients come in saying they had multiple sessions
at other clinics
but saw no fading at all.
In most cases, out of fear of scarring,
the energy was set far too low.
Then the number of sessions just increases,
and only your wallet gets thinner.
Minimizing skin damage while
reliably breaking down ink means finding
the maximum safe energy level.
That is exactly the doctor’s skill.
3. Hapjeong/Hongdae Tattoo Removal
Cost Criteria

Costs are mainly determined
by 3 factors.
[ Tattoo size + Device type + Color 여부 ]
Pico lasers are expensive devices,
so the per-session cost is higher than Nd:YAG.
However, if the total number of sessions can be reduced,
the overall total cost
can ultimately be more reasonable with pico laser.
⚠️ Before treatment,
make sure to check this!
More important than equipment
is 'who performs the procedure.'
Tattoo removal requires watching real-time skin reactions
and finely adjusting energy levels.
Be sure to confirm whether it is a place where the director personally plans and performs the treatment.
ㅇWhat brand of pico device they have
ㅇWhether they have wavelengths for various colors
ㅇWhether they honestly explain the risk of scarring
💬 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. Can scars
remain?
Yes, if thermal damage accumulates,
it can happen.
That’s why keeping sufficient intervals between sessions (4–8 weeks)
is the best way to prevent scarring
and improve results.
Q2. Do you also
see patients on Sundays?
Yes, Beauty Stone Clinic in Hapjeong
offers Sunday appointments.
Even those available only on weekends
can visit comfortably.
Q3. Can semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos
also be removed?
Yes, it is possible.
However, after laser reaction,
a paradoxical color change
may occur,
so it is safest to proceed after a test.
If you have questions, send me a WhatsApp message,
and I will personally review your photos and consult you.
This was Dr. Wi Youngjin
from Beauty Stone Clinic, Hapjeong.
✦ Read Together
Red residual marks after eyebrow tattoo removal: 3 causes and solutions
How many sessions for irezumi tattoo removal? Around 15 sessions on average
Color tattoo removal with PicoWay: an honest comparison of removal rates by color
How many days should you keep DuoDERM on? Complete guide to replacement intervals

Lifting
울쎄라·써마지 받고 붓기가 언제 빠지는지, 직후·1주·2주로 나눠 알 수 있을까요?
리프팅 붓기 회복 타임라인 — 시술 직후 가장 붓는 구간부터 1주·2주 정리 시점까지, 울쎄라와 써마지의 붓는 양상 차이와 회복을 편하게 보내는 관리, 의료진에게 문의할 신호를 시점별로 짚어봐요.

Lifting
소프웨이브 리프팅 처음인데, 뭘 알고 시작하면 덜 헤맬까요?
소프웨이브가 어떤 초음파 방식으로 콜라겐 재생을 유도하는지, 다른 초음파 리프팅과 뭐가 다른지, 처음 받을 때 확인하면 좋은 것들을 짚어봐요.

Hair Removal
젠틀맥스 프로 플러스와 다이오드 레이저 제모, 파장과 피부톤에서 뭐가 어떻게 다를까요?
제모 레이저가 털 속 멜라닌을 겨냥하는 원리부터 젠틀맥스 프로 플러스의 두 파장, 다이오드의 한 파장 방식까지, 피부톤별 적합도를 비교해 선택 기준을 짚어봐요.

skin
레이저 시술 뒤에 거뭇하게 올라오는 색소침착, 시술 전부터 어떻게 예방하면 좋을까요?
레이저 후 색소침착 예방 — 멜라닌세포가 자극받는 원리부터 시술 전 준비, 회복기 자외선 차단 강도, 색소가 올라왔을 때 관리 방향까지 단계별로 짚어봐요.

Contouring & Volume
레이저·필러·보톡스 시술 후에 화장은 시술 종류마다 언제부터 다시 해도 괜찮을까요?
시술 후 화장이 걱정된다면 이 글 하나로 정리해요. 시술별 화장 가능 시점부터 색조·베이스·클렌징 되돌리는 순서, 다시 시작해도 되는 신호까지 짚어봐요.

Lifting
20대부터 50대까지, 연령대별 리프팅 시술은 언제 어떤 것부터 시작하면 좋을까요?
리프팅 시작 시점은 나이보다 피부 신호가 기준이에요. 연령대별 로드맵과 방식을 고르는 기준, 흔한 오해까지 짚어봐요.



