Quanta Q Plus C vs PicoSure: Laser Tattoo Removal (Reviews/Ratings)
Whether you’re a patient considering treatment, or a clinic purchasing equipment, deciding on laser technology is a huge decision.
On this page, we’ll be comparing the tattoo removal abilities of the Quanta Q Plus C & PicoSure lasers.
Both machines are highly sought after in this industry. However, the differences between these two devices are pretty substantial.
What’s the bottom line?
We’re going to outline the following five biggest differences between the two:
- Color Treatment Abilities
- Pricing Differences
- Power Differences
- Square vs Circle Beams
- Marketing Claims
Color Treatment Abilities
The biggest difference between these two machines is the ink color removal abilities.
All ink colors have selected light absorption spectra. For the treatment to be effective, the laser must have the absorption spectrum of the pigment.
The four true laser wavelengths are:
- 1064 – Black, grey, brown & dark blue
- 532 – Red, orange, yellow
- 694 – Green & blue
- 755 – Black (although not as effective as 1064), blue & green
The Quanta Q Plus C has three wavelengths (1064, 532 & 694). It’s the only laser on the market that can effectively treat all tattoo colors in one machine.
The PicoSure has one wavelength (755). The 755 can treat greens & blues, but cannot treat reds, oranges or yellows.
This device can also treat black tattoos. However, it cannot treat blacks nearly as well as the 1064 wavelength on the Quanta.
Pricing Differences
This comparison is more suited for clinics, rather than patients. The pricing difference between both lasers is very substantial.
The following prices are what we’ve found to be MSRP estimates:
- Quanta Q Plus C: $150k (Estimate)
- PicoSure: $300k (Estimate)
Power Differences: Nanosecond vs Picosecond Technology
The Quanta Q Plus C has a peak power measured in nanoseconds (one billionth of a second.
The PicoSure has a peak power measured in picoseconds (one trillionth of a second).
Both devices have been on the market for a few years now. They’ve been producing results faster than any other comparable lasers available today.
But here’s the kicker:
Picosecond technology does not produce “faster” results when compared to nanosecond technology.
We’ve seen results from both lasers. The Quanta is more powerful, with more efficacy to fully remove tattoos. Especially black and red.
Square vs Circle Beams
Quanta Lasers have square beams & CynoSure/PicoSure systems have circle beams.
A Q-Switched laser emits energy in either a square spot, or round spot. The shape coming out of the hand piece is the exact shape that comes in contact with the surface of the skin.
For this reason, the shape of the beam becomes important.
A square beam allows for much greater control over the amount of treatment the skin receives. It allows the technician to equally distribute energy across the beam.
Circle beams are commonly found on older, more traditional lasers. Circle beams can cause overlap in an effort to fully cover the area of the tattoo being treated.
During treatment, square spots can be stacked next to each other to cover the skin surface easily, with minimal overlap.
Lasers with circular spots need significant overlap during treatment due to the inability to stack circles next to each other.
This can cause a significant amount of area to remain untreated. In order to treat the areas missed between the circles, the technician will have no choice but to over-treat, which can lead to undesirable side effects, or scars.
Here’s a video of the owner demonstrating the Quanta square beam/Optibeam technology, and performing a treatment on himself:
Marketing Claims
Quanta Aesthetic Lasers have been marketing the Q Plus C as the only device on the market with three true wavelengths to treat all colors.
These marketing claims have been put to the test by clinics around the world. The claims have been validated in a big way.
The Picosecond laser manufacturers have been marketing their devices as being faster, and more effective. They claim to produce results “100x faster” than nanosecond systems.
What’s the real story?
These marketing claims have been put to the test, and are now under scrutiny in a class action lawsuit against PicoSure/CynoSure.
Source:
Conclusion.
When comparing the Quanta Q Plus C vs PicoSure laser for tattoo removal, it’s fair to say that the Quanta is far superior in more ways than one.
The biggest difference?
The Quanta Q Plus C has the unique ability to treat all colors, while the PicoSure can only treat mostly black (though not as effective) blue and green.