Honestly, I used to

schedule PicoWay sessions every 2 weeks.

Let me start with the conclusion.

For PicoWay tattoo removal, getting treatments more often at shorter intervals

does not make the tattoo fade faster.

I’ll explain why in this post.

PicoWay treatment interval,

you may think it’s the same for everyone. But actually,

PicoWay is a picosecond laser that uses a 1064 nm wavelength

to break ink particles into tiny pieces

so they can be eliminated through the lymphatic system.

Even among picosecond lasers, unlike PicoSure (755 nm),

PicoWay’s 1064 nm wavelength

penetrates deep into the dermis.

That’s why it is especially effective for black and blue inks.

However, this is not a procedure where simply breaking the ink is the end of the story.

Why doesn’t another session after just 2 weeks

offer much additional benefit?

"If the interval is too short, there’s no added benefit,

and if it’s too long, it wastes time.

4–6 weeks is the optimal period for the lymphatic system to clear the broken ink particles,

so having another session sooner than that

offers almost no additional benefit."

— Dr. Wi Young-jin (Beautystone Clinic, Hongdae)

"I want to remove it quickly—

can’t I just get treated every 2 weeks?"

I hear this question very often in the clinic.

But ink doesn’t disappear immediately

just because a laser breaks it down.

The key is the body’s 'lymphatic system.'

It takes macrophages and the lymphatic vessels

an average of 4–6 weeks to carry away

the finely fragmented ink particles.

This is a physiological timeline that doesn’t vary much

from person to person.

If you treat again after just 2 weeks, you’re essentially firing the laser again over ink

that has not yet been cleared, which is inefficient.

Instead, only the surrounding healthy tissue is further irritated,

which increases the risk of hyperpigmentation and redness.

A 35-year-old man who visited us last week

had received five treatments at another clinic at 2-week intervals,

and he said it looked almost the same.

The treatments hadn’t been given enough time for clearance,

so the effects never accumulated.

When we reset the interval to 5 weeks and completed 3 sessions,

the tattoo cleared much more cleanly than after

the previous 5 treatments.

PicoWay treatment interval,

custom guide by ink color and area

Recommended intervals vary slightly

depending on the ink color and treatment area.

Because lymph flow in the ankles and calves is slower than in the face,

it’s better to allow about 6 weeks.

Also, the principles of ink clearance (tattoo removal) and

melanin stimulation (toning) are fundamentally different,

so the treatment intervals should not be confused.

3 questions our clients ask

most often

Q1. If my schedule is delayed and I come back after 8 weeks,

will the effect be the same?

Since clearance is usually complete in 4–6 weeks,

there isn’t much difference if you return at 8 weeks.

However, if it goes beyond 3 months, efficiency may drop,

so it’s best to return within 6–8 weeks if possible.

Q2. Is there a way to finish faster

by reducing the number of sessions?

The number of sessions needed is already determined

by the amount and depth of the ink.

If we push the energy too high, scarring can occur,

so keeping the interval precise is

ultimately the best way to reduce the overall cost.

Q3. I’ve developed hyperpigmentation—

can I still go ahead with treatment?

In this case, the procedure should definitely be postponed.

If you treat again while PIH is present,

melanin will be stimulated and it can get darker.

It’s safer to wait about 2 more weeks

and let the skin calm down.

If you take away just one thing today —

don’t increase the number of PicoWay sessions;

keep the 4–6 week interval precisely.

Ink is not simply broken up;

it is removed as it clears out of the body.

In the next article,

I’ll explain why the number of sessions can differ even for the same black tattoo.

This was Dr. Wi Young-jin.

Related reading

• The 'golden time' to maximize Rejuran results — the true recommended interval, according to a doctor

• DuoDERM replacement interval: just know this

• For those considering tattoo removal in Hongdae and Hapjeong, Dr. Wi Young-jin answers