Best Pico Lasers for Med Spas (2026): 6 Compared
Best pico laser for med spas in 2026: PicoWay, PicoSure Pro, enlighten, Discovery Pico and Picofy compared on wavelengths, FDA clearance and price.
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For med spa owners, dermatology practices and medical directors. Updated October 22, 2026 · Prepared by Prospyr. A pico laser (picosecond laser) is the device behind most tattoo removal, pigment and "laser facial" menus a med spa adds today. Prospyr makes practice software, not lasers, and none of the manufacturers or distributors below is a Prospyr product or partner. Each summary reflects what the company publishes on its own website, checked October 2026, cross-checked against the FDA's 510(k) database. Specifications, indications, pricing and service terms change, so get every number in writing before you sign.
What is a pico laser?
A pico laser is an aesthetic laser that fires pulses measured in picoseconds (trillionths of a second), shorter than the nanosecond pulses of a Q-switched laser. Makers say the shorter pulse breaks pigment and tattoo ink into smaller particles with less heat, and most systems add a fractional or lens-array handpiece that the FDA has cleared for acne scars and wrinkles in certain skin types. The wavelength decides what a pico laser treats: 1064 nm for dark ink and pigment across the widest range of skin types, 532 nm for red, orange and yellow ink and surface pigment, and 670, 694, 730, 755 or 785 nm for blue and green ink or pigment, depending on the maker. For a med spa, the buying questions are which wavelengths are included, which indications are cleared for which skin types, what the skin handpieces add, and what training and service come with it.
The 6 pico lasers at a glance
| # | Company | Device and who it suits | Published pricing or terms | Worth a call if you want … |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Candela | PicoWay: 532, 730, 785 and 1064 nm; practices treating pigment, melasma and multicolor tattoos | Not published | The broadest published wavelength and skin type chart |
| 2 | Cynosure Lutronic | PicoSure Pro: 755 nm, optional 532 and 1064 nm; pigment-led practices | Not published | A 755 nm pico laser with a Focus lens for skin revitalization |
| 3 | Cutera | enlighten: 532, 670 and 1064 nm, picosecond and nanosecond; tattoo and pigment practices | Not published | Two pulse durations and PICO Genesis protocols on one system |
| 4 | Cartessa Aesthetics (Quanta System) | Discovery Pico Plus and Derm: 532, 694 and 1064 nm; multi-service med spas | Not published | Optional IPL and erbium add-ons on the same pico base |
| 5 | Astanza (Quanta System) | Discovery Pico series; practices making tattoo removal a main service | Price guide: $80,000 to $300,000 for an FDA-cleared tattoo laser | Lifetime training and a published service guarantee |
| 6 | InMode | Picofy: 1064 and 532 nm; practices already on InMode platforms | Not published | A newer pico laser from the maker of Morpheus8 |
How we chose this list
We looked for manufacturers or US distributors that sell a picosecond laser to aesthetic practices and publish real specifications on their own site, then checked each against the FDA's 510(k) database. We compared four things a practice manager can confirm before a demo:
- Wavelengths and skin types. Which wavelengths ship in the base system, and the Fitzpatrick range the company or the FDA clearance gives for each.
- Skin indications. Whether a fractional or lens-array handpiece is cleared for acne scars or wrinkles, so the laser earns on facial treatments as well as tattoos.
- Other uses on the same base. Nanosecond modes, IPL or erbium add-ons can make the purchase pay off faster, or tie up money in modules you will not use.
- Support you can verify. Published training, service and pricing terms.
We left out Q-switched-only lasers (see our tattoo removal laser list for those), used-equipment resellers and devices we could not tie to a current US seller. The order is our editorial view, not a measure of results.
1Candela (PicoWay)#
Candela, headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, sells PicoWay, a picosecond laser with four wavelengths: 532, 730, 785 and 1064 nm. Candela publishes a color and skin type chart, and positions PicoWay for patients with darker skin, where it says nanosecond lasers carry more risk of side effects. The most recent PicoWay clearance in the FDA database, K220853 (October 2022), covers tattoo removal by wavelength, benign pigmented lesions, melasma (532 and 1064 nm, Fitzpatrick I to IV), café au lait macules and lentigines, and nevus of Ota (1064 nm, III to IV).
What stands out:
- Skin handpieces. The same clearance lists the Resolve 1064 nm handpiece for acne scars (Fitzpatrick II to V) and melasma, and the Resolve 532 and 1064 nm handpieces for wrinkles (I to IV).
- Ink coverage. Candela lists 1064 nm for black, brown, green, blue and purple ink across Fitzpatrick I to VI, and 730 and 785 nm for blue and green.
- Training. Candela describes clinical, marketing and service support plus the Candela Academy.
Right for: practices that want one pico laser for pigment, melasma and multicolor tattoos. Ask: which wavelengths and Resolve handpieces are in your quote, and the cost of adding the 730 and 785 nm handpieces later.
2Cynosure Lutronic (PicoSure Pro)#
Cynosure Lutronic, based in Westford, Massachusetts, sells PicoSure Pro, which delivers 755 nm energy in picoseconds, with optional 532 nm for red, yellow and orange ink and optional 1064 nm for black ink in darker skin types. The page lists one Zoom handpiece (2 to 6 mm) and four fixed handpieces (5, 6, 8 and 10 mm), a flat lens for pigment, and a Platinum Focus lens it describes as for skin revitalization with no downtime.
What stands out:
- Pigment indications. Cynosure states PicoSure Pro is "the only picosecond device FDA-cleared to treat melasma pigment, nevus of Ota and Hori's nevus." The FDA database lists the most recent PicoSure Workstation clearance as K261570 (June 2026), with the 755 nm wavelength cleared for tattoo and benign pigmented lesion removal including nevus of Ota, Hori macules and melasma, and the Focus Array for acne scars and wrinkles in skin types I to IV. The database also lists melasma among PicoWay's cleared indications, so compare the exact wording for each.
- Track record. Cynosure reports more than 1 million treatments performed.
Right for: practices that build their pico laser menu around pigment and skin revitalization first and tattoos second. Ask: whether 532 and 1064 nm are in the base price, the skin type range for each indication in writing, and what clinical training is included (the page offers a training request but does not describe it).
Choosing vendors for your practice?
Prospyr runs the practice they plug into: booking, charting, packages and payments on one patient record. We move your data over for you.
3Cutera (enlighten)#
Cutera sells enlighten, which combines 2-nanosecond and 660/750-picosecond pulses with three wavelengths: 532, 670 and 1064 nm. Its indications for use, cleared under K182997 (December 2018) for the enlighten III Laser System, list 1064 nm for benign pigmented lesions and dark tattoo ink in all skin types (Fitzpatrick I to VI), 670 nm for green and blue ink (II to IV), and 532 nm for red and yellow ink (I to III).
What stands out:
- Acne scars. The 1064 nm wavelength with the Micro Lens Array is listed for acne scars in Fitzpatrick II to V.
- Named protocols. Cutera runs PICO Genesis and PICO Genesis FX treatments for pigment and skin remodeling.
- A skin-focused model. Cutera also lists enlighten SR, which it describes as designed for skin revitalization, with 532 and 1064 nm at 750 ps.
Right for: practices that want both pulse durations for stubborn or multicolor tattoos, plus named skin treatments to market. Ask: which configuration includes 670 nm, the price difference between enlighten and enlighten SR, and the post-warranty service cost.
4Cartessa Aesthetics (Quanta System Discovery Pico)#
Cartessa Aesthetics, based in Melville, New York, describes itself as Quanta System Aesthetic Division's exclusive US partner and sells the Discovery Pico Series, including Discovery Pico Plus and Discovery Pico Derm. It lists three laser wavelengths (532, 694 and 1064 nm), four pulsing modes (picosecond, nanosecond, Opti Pulse and microsecond) and peak power "up to 1.8 Gigawatts." The FDA database lists the series under K240983 (June 2025), submitted by Quanta System SpA.
What stands out:
- Handpieces by job. OptiBeam II flat-top handpieces in square shapes for tattoos and round shapes for benign pigment, plus a fractional handpiece for acne scars and wrinkles.
- Add-ons. Cartessa lists an optional chilled IPL and an erbium 2940 nm wavelength, and describes Pico Plus as also treating vascular lesions and unwanted hair with add-ons.
- Treatment brands. Cartessa says its team creates branded treatments meant to drive patient demand.
Right for: multi-service med spas that want a pico laser that can also take IPL or erbium work. Ask: which add-ons are in your quote, what training and support are included (the product page does not describe them), and whether Cartessa or another seller services the unit in your region.
5Astanza (Quanta System Discovery Pico)#
Astanza Laser, based in Dallas, Texas, also sells the Discovery Pico Series, which its page says is "built by Quanta System for clinics, med spas, and dermatology practices." Tattoo removal is the center of its business. Astanza lists three models: Discovery Pico Derm (1064 and 532 nm, picosecond and photo-thermal modes), Discovery Pico (adds Q-switched and Opti-Pulse modes) and Discovery Pico Plus (adds 694 nm), with peak power up to 1.8 GW.
What stands out:
- Training and service terms. Astanza states each purchase includes lifetime training and clinical support and a 3-business-day service guarantee, and it mentions a Growth Accelerator Program.
- Published price guide. Astanza's buying guide says to expect $80,000 to $300,000 for an FDA-cleared tattoo removal laser sold with training and support, and suggests judging a machine by its monthly payment against expected treatment volume.
- Owner support. Astanza notes it has discontinued the PicoStar it previously sold and continues to service and support current owners.
Right for: med spas making tattoo removal a main service line, with pigment and resurfacing as a second revenue source. Ask: the service guarantee terms in writing, what the Growth Accelerator Program costs, and how its Discovery Pico configurations and support differ from Cartessa's.
6InMode (Picofy)#
InMode, based in Irvine, California, sells Picofy, a picosecond Nd:YAG laser at 1064 and 532 nm with peak power listed at 2.0 GW and ZOOM, ARRAY MLA 110 and PEAK MLA 60 handpieces. InMode lists removal of tattoos and benign pigmented lesions, plus wrinkles and acne scars, and names dermatologists and med spa professionals as its market. The FDA database lists PICO SHINING (PICO-K; PICOFY) under K261214 (May 2026), submitted by Speclipse, Inc., with 1064 nm cleared for tattoos in Fitzpatrick I to VI, acne scars in II to V and wrinkles in I to IV.
Right for: practices already running InMode platforms that want a pico laser from the same vendor. Ask: what Picofy offers for blue and green ink with two wavelengths, who services the laser, and the handpiece replacement cost.
Questions to ask any pico laser company
- What is the 510(k) number and cleared indication for each wavelength and handpiece? Look it up yourself in the FDA's 510(k) database, check the Fitzpatrick range for each indication, and keep your marketing claims inside it.
- Which wavelengths and handpieces are in the base price? Skin handpieces and extra wavelengths are often priced separately.
- What is the five-year cost? Include handpieces, any per-pulse or per-treatment fees, the service contract and optics replacement. Run the numbers in our equipment ROI calculator and compare financing against buying with the lease vs. buy calculator.
- What training is included? Ask how many providers are trained, whether it covers laser safety and protocols, and whether new hires are trained later at no cost. See our lists of laser certification courses and laser safety officer training.
- What are the service terms? Get response time, loaner policy and post-warranty price in writing, and compare against extended warranty providers.
- Who may operate a pico laser in your state? Delegation and supervision rules vary by state; confirm with your medical director before you schedule patients.
Where Prospyr fits
A pico laser pays off when tattoo and pigment patients come back for every session in the series. Prospyr lets a practice sell those sessions as packages, send follow-up messages to rebook the next visit, and chart wavelength, spot size and fluence per area in the aesthetic EMR so the next provider can repeat the settings. To see that with your treatment menu, book a practice demo.
If you are pricing a laser, compare new systems against used and refurbished aesthetic laser resellers and laser rental companies, and see our IPL machine list if you are weighing a photofacial device instead.
Frequently asked questions
Which pico laser is best for a med spa?
There is no single best pico laser; the right one depends on whether tattoos, pigment or skin revitalization drive your bookings, and on your patients' skin types. A tattoo-led practice may favor more wavelengths and a seller focused on tattoo removal, while a skin-led practice may favor a cleared acne scar and wrinkle handpiece. Get at least three written quotes with the same wavelengths, handpieces, training and service included.
How much does a pico laser cost?
Only Astanza publishes a figure: its buying guide puts an FDA-cleared tattoo removal laser with training and support at $80,000 to $300,000 as of October 2026. The other companies on this list do not publish prices, so compare written quotes on the five-year cost, not the purchase price alone.
What is the difference between a pico laser and a Q-switched laser?
A Q-switched laser fires nanosecond pulses, while a pico laser fires picosecond pulses, which makers say break ink and pigment into smaller particles. Some systems, such as Cutera's enlighten and the Quanta Discovery Pico series, offer both pulse types. Our tattoo removal laser list also covers Q-switched systems.
Is a pico laser FDA approved?
Pico lasers are FDA-cleared through the 510(k) pathway rather than approved, and each clearance covers specific indications, wavelengths and skin types. Every system on this list has a clearance in the FDA's database. Ask each company for its 510(k) number and keep your marketing claims within the cleared indications.
Can a pico laser replace a CO2 or fractional laser?
Not fully. Pico lasers with fractional or lens-array handpieces are cleared for acne scars and wrinkles in certain skin types with little downtime, but ablative resurfacing is a different category. See our lists of CO2 laser machines and RF microneedling devices to compare.
Want your company considered?
We review this list quarterly. Companies that make or distribute picosecond lasers for med spas can send their website and what they offer practices to info@prospyrmed.com. Inclusion is editorial and not paid.
Editorial scope
This list is based on each company's public website and the FDA's 510(k) database, checked October 2026 with AI-assisted research. Companies did not review this article before publication. It is not a guarantee of results, a recommendation of any device for a specific patient, or a substitute for checking references, FDA clearances and your state's scope-of-practice rules. Read our methodology or report a correction.