PicoSure vs PicoWay vs StarWalker vs TORO: Pico Lasers Compared

PicoSure, PicoWay, Fotona StarWalker PQX and DEKA TORO are all picosecond lasers that break pigment with ultra-short pulses. They differ in wavelengths, extra pulse modes and fractional options. PicoSure is built around 755 nm; PicoWay around 1064 and 532 nm; StarWalker PQX and TORO add Q-switched modes. IN Eternity Clinic uses StarWalker PQX and TORO.

What makes a laser a “pico” laser?

A picosecond is a trillionth of a second. Picosecond lasers deliver pulses in the hundreds of picoseconds, roughly a thousand times shorter than the nanosecond pulses of traditional Q-switched lasers. At that speed, energy is absorbed by a pigment particle faster than heat can escape from it. The particle is stressed by a pressure wave and fractures into fragments, an effect described as photoacoustic rather than photothermal. The body then clears the fragments over the following weeks.

Two practical consequences follow. Smaller fragments may be cleared more readily, which is why picosecond lasers were first adopted for tattoo removal, including blue and green inks that respond poorly to older lasers. And less heat reaching the surrounding skin can reduce the risk of the skin reacting with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a real concern in Singapore where most skin is Fitzpatrick type III to V. Lower risk is not no risk, and settings still matter.

Several platforms also offer fractional or lens-array modes, which split the beam into many tiny spots. These create microscopic zones of injury inside the skin that prompt collagen remodelling, and are used for texture, pores and fine acne scarring.

Why does wavelength matter more than brand?

Each wavelength is absorbed differently. Shorter wavelengths such as 532 nm are strongly absorbed by melanin and haemoglobin but penetrate shallowly, suiting superficial brown spots and red or orange ink. Mid wavelengths around 730 to 785 nm reach a little deeper and are absorbed by melanin and by blue, green and black inks. 1064 nm penetrates deepest and is absorbed less by melanin, which makes it the gentler choice for darker skin, dermal pigment and black ink.

In practice, the most important decision is not which brand to use but which wavelength, spot size, fluence and pulse mode suit the pigment in front of you and the skin it sits in. A platform with more wavelengths gives the operator more options. It does not make the decision for them.

PicoSure vs PicoWay vs StarWalker PQX vs TORO

PicoSure, from Cynosure, was among the first picosecond lasers for aesthetic use. It is built around a 755 nm alexandrite wavelength, with 532 nm added on newer versions, and is known for its focusing lens array used in fractional skin treatment. PicoWay, from Candela, is built around 1064 and 532 nm with additional handpieces at other wavelengths and fractional options.

Fotona StarWalker PQX is an Nd:YAG-based platform offering picosecond and Q-switched pulses at 1064 and 532 nm, with fractional and other modes, giving flexibility to change pulse type within one session. Q-switched nanosecond pulses still have a place, for example for some superficial pigment and certain inks, which is why platforms that offer both pulse types remain useful. DEKA TORO combines a 785 nm picosecond wavelength with Q-switched 1064 and 532 nm, so it can treat pigment with picosecond pulses and also deliver a longer thermal pulse aimed at dermal collagen.

What is pico laser used for?

The common indications are tattoo removal, sun spots and freckles, Hori’s naevus and other dermal pigment, post-inflammatory marks after acne, and, with care, melasma. Fractional modes are used for texture, pores and fine scarring. Each indication responds differently. Sun spots and freckles often clear in a small number of sessions. Dermal pigment such as Hori’s naevus needs a longer series. Melasma is managed rather than cleared, using low-energy settings over many sessions alongside sun protection and skincare, because aggressive treatment can make it darker.

This is why pigment is typed before any laser is chosen. Several types often sit together on the same cheek, and treating them all with one setting is the most common reason pigment treatment disappoints.

Why do settings matter so much in Asian skin?

Skin with more melanin absorbs more of the laser energy intended for the target. When too much energy is absorbed by the surrounding skin, the result can be post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, a darkening that can take months to fade, or, with repeated aggressive toning, patches of lighter skin. Both are more likely in Fitzpatrick types IV and V, which are common in Singapore.

Picosecond pulses help by delivering less heat, but the choice of wavelength, spot size, energy and interval between sessions matters at least as much. Longer wavelengths such as 1064 nm are absorbed less by epidermal melanin and are often chosen for darker skin and deeper pigment. Sessions are spaced to let any inflammation settle, sun protection is non-negotiable, and a test area may be used for sensitive or previously reactive skin. Hot, humid weather and outdoor lifestyles in Singapore make that aftercare particularly important.

What should you ask about any pico laser treatment?

Rather than asking which brand a clinic uses, it is more useful to ask what type of pigment you have, which wavelength will be used for it and why, how many sessions are expected, how darkening or irritation will be handled if it happens, and who performs the treatment. A clinic that can answer these clearly is more likely to plan the treatment around your skin than around its equipment.

How is pico laser planned at IN Eternity Clinic?

IN Eternity Clinic uses two picosecond platforms. The R2 Glow protocol runs on the Fotona StarWalker PQX, and T2 Frax Radiance runs on the DEKA TORO, combining 785 nm picosecond pulses for pigment with a longer thermal pulse for dermal collagen. PicoSure and PicoWay are not offered at the clinic.

Dr Sin Yong examines the skin, identifies each type of pigment, asks about previous treatments, hormones and sun habits, and then chooses the platform, wavelength and settings. For many people the plan also includes skincare, sun protection and sometimes medical treatment. For an overview of how pigment is handled, see pico laser for pigmentation; for ink, see tattoo removal.

What does pico laser feel like, and what happens afterwards?

Most people describe quick snapping or flicking sensations on the skin. Numbing cream and cooling are used for stronger settings and for tattoos. After pigment treatment, the skin is usually pink for a few hours. Treated spots may darken and flake over about a week before fading. Tattoo treatment can cause whitening, swelling and occasionally blistering for a few days. Sun protection is essential between sessions, and any sign of darkening or irritation should be reported so that the plan can be adjusted.

Sessions for pigment are usually spaced three to six weeks apart, and for tattoos often longer, to give the body time to clear fragments and the skin time to settle. Rushing the interval rarely speeds the result and can increase irritation. Gentle skincare without strong acids or retinoids is usually advised for a few days after each session, and treatment is postponed if the skin is tanned, sunburnt or irritated.

Common myths, answered

• Myth: All pico lasers are the same.
  Fact: They share the picosecond principle but differ in wavelengths, extra modes and fractional options, which changes what each is suited to.
• Myth: Pico laser cannot cause pigmentation.
  Fact: The risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation is lower than with some older lasers, but not absent, especially in darker or melasma-prone skin.
• Myth: One session clears melasma.
  Fact: Melasma is chronic. Low-energy treatment over many sessions, with sun protection and skincare, aims for control rather than clearance.
• Myth: The newest platform always gives the fastest result.
  Fact: Pigment type, depth, skin type and settings decide the outcome more than the age or brand of the laser.