Picocare is One of Latest Tattoo Removal Devices to Receive FDA Clearance

Last year, non-profit and law enforcement agencies in San Diego were given a $100,000 grant to buy a tattoo removal machine as an initiative to start a free tattoo removal service. In San Diego’s North County, there are over 22 established street gangs and over 1,700 known members, making the stigma of a gang tattoo hard to hide from. Many former gang members feel cursed with their visible tattoos, and find it challenging to be accepted in both professional and educational environments. Aside from these recent community-driven endeavors, the laser industry is also taking steps to make tattoo removal more accessible. WONTECH, a Korea-based laser and ultrasound equipment company, has just received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its Picocare system, a laser tattoo removal device.

Picocare uses Nd:YAH (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet), a laser that produces light in four different wavelengths in pulses that last only 750 picoseconds -- 00000000075 second. The laser can erase away tattoos of various pigments while leaving minimal damage to skin tissue. WONTECH claims that Picocare is more effective than nanosecond laser machines and is less painful and requires fewer shots than other lasers.

Getting rid of tattoos is usually an agonizing experience, however eliminating obvious tattoos is one of the key steps in the recovery process for former gang members. Technology like Picocare is poised to help make the tattoo removal procedure more appealing. “[Picocare] has emerged as one of the most popular kinds of picosecond laser equipment in Korea,” said WONTECH CEO, Reno Kim in a press release. “As the performance and stability have already been verified through many procedures since its launch in Korea, we are looking forward to seeing rapid market penetration in the U.S. market as well."