PicoWay® Body & Tattoo Removal in Richmond, BC

It varies with ink depth, age and colour. Typically 4-8 or more sessions spaced 6-8 weeks apart. Dr. Jiang estimates your range at assessment. Complete removal cannot be guaranteed.

For pigmentation or scars it feels like mild prickling. Tattoo removal is more intense, often described as a rubber-band snap; we apply topical numbing cream first.

It is often chosen for these skin types because its photoacoustic effect uses less heat, which can lower the risk of burns and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). No laser is risk-free; settings are individualised.

Fees are not published online because the cost depends on the plan: what is treated (sun spots on the hands or arms, pigment on the chest or back, scars, or a tattoo), the size of the area and the number of sessions. Sun spots often need fewer sessions than scars or tattoos. A physician assesses the area first and you receive a quote for the whole plan. For tattoo-specific pricing factors, see our Tattoo Removal page.

Yes, PicoWay is used for sun spots (lentigines) and age spots on the hands, arms and décolletage, and these often need fewer sessions than tattoos.

It may improve their texture and appearance by stimulating new collagen, though complete erasure should not be expected and results vary.

Downtime is short and most people return to normal activities the same day. After pigment or scar treatment, redness may last 12-24 hours and spots can darken and flake over about a week. After tattoo removal the area may frost, blister or scab for several days. Keep the area clean, do not pick crusts, avoid hot tubs and hard workouts for about 48-72 hours, and protect it with SPF 50+ for several weeks.

Our Richmond clinic uses the PicoWay picosecond laser. PicoWay and PicoSure are different devices; Dr. Jiang can explain what PicoWay can do for your tattoo or pigmentation at consultation.

We are at Unit 110, 5580 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC, about a 3-minute walk from Lansdowne Station on the Canada Line, so patients from Vancouver, Burnaby and across Greater Vancouver can come by SkyTrain. Treatment is by appointment, open daily 9:00-18:00, with consultations in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

It can be, when the concern suits a picosecond laser. Sun spots and age spots on the hands, arms and chest often respond within a few sessions, while scars and stretch marks improve more modestly and tattoos need a longer series. Pigment can return with sun exposure, so ongoing sun protection matters. A physician assessment and a written session plan help you judge whether the expected change is worth it for you.

The main downsides are that most concerns need several sessions, results are gradual, and some pigment or ink fades only partly. Side effects include redness, swelling and light crusting; after tattoo removal also frosting, pinpoint bleeding and blisters, which usually heal within about 1–2 weeks. Less often the skin becomes temporarily lighter or darker, and rarely a texture change or scar develops. Aftercare and sun avoidance lower these risks.

Neither is better in general; they work differently. BBL and IPL are broadband light devices that heat pigment and redness through a filtered flash, and are often used for sun damage and redness over larger areas. A picosecond laser such as PicoWay delivers single wavelengths in very short pulses that break up pigment mainly through pressure, and can also treat tattoo ink, which light devices do not. RAAC offers PicoWay and DPL; Dr. Jiang advises which fits your skin.