Pico Majesty Laser in Reston, VA: Serving Northern Virginia and Washington DC
Pico Majesty, engineered in Korea by Wontech, is one of the most advanced picosecond lasers available in the United States. At The Naderi Center in Reston, Virginia, we use it to improve melasma, reduce sun spots and other dark pigment, rejuvenate the skin and fade tattoos in nearly every ink color, on every skin tone from fair to deep. Treatments are performed by our licensed medical master aesthetician, Thifany Arce, and board-certified dermatologist Dr. Alexandra Snodgrass.
Pico Majesty fires in pulses of about a quarter of a billionth of a second, among the shortest of any picosecond laser. That speed breaks pigment and ink into fine particles with very little heat, which matters because heat can make melasma worse and leave dark patches in deeper skin tones. Four wavelengths and six specialized handpieces let us match the laser to each concern, from gentle full-face toning to precise spot treatment and fractional rejuvenation. Sessions start at $225.
- Melasma
- Dark Spots
- Skin of Color
- Tattoos
Pico Majesty at a Glance
What does it treat?
Is it for my skin tone?
Who performs it?
Where?
How many sessions?
How much downtime?
How much does it cost?
What Is Pico Majesty, and What Can It Treat?
Pico Majesty, also known as PICOCARE Majesty, is a picosecond Nd:YAG laser made by Wontech in Korea. It fires light in pulses measured in trillionths of a second. Instead of burning pigment away with heat, each pulse sends a pressure wave through the target that breaks pigment and tattoo ink into tiny particles. Your body then clears those particles over the following weeks.
Pico Majesty treats four distinct concerns, each with its own handpiece, wavelength and settings: melasma, sun spots and other hyperpigmentation, skin rejuvenation with special care for medium and deep skin tones, and tattoo removal in nearly every ink color. It is used on every skin tone, from very fair to deep. Its fractional handpieces can also soften acne scars, refine pores and smooth rough texture.
Melasma
Gentle, low-heat pico toning that improves melasma with less risk of the rebound darkening heat can cause.
Learn moreHyperpigmentation
Sun spots, age spots, freckles and the dark marks acne leaves behind.
Learn moreRejuvenation for Darker Skin
Smoother texture, softer acne scars and more even tone in medium to deep skin.
Learn moreTattoo Removal
Black, blue, green, purple, red, orange and yellow inks, often in fewer sessions than older lasers.
Learn more
Why We Chose a Korean Laser
Korea has led the world in skin care for two decades, and pigment is where Korean dermatology shines. Clinics there treat melasma, sun spots and post-acne marks every day, often in skin that darkens easily after heat or injury. A laser built for those patients has to be powerful and gentle at the same time. Pico Majesty was built to that standard, with the precision behind K-beauty’s famously clear skin.
Wontech has made medical lasers since 1999 and is publicly traded on KOSDAQ, Korea’s technology stock exchange. Its devices are sold in more than 50 countries, and more than 70% of its sales come from outside Korea. Wontech builds its own laser sources and power supplies in-house, which the company says sets it apart from most laser makers. Its earlier picosecond laser, PICOCARE, earned FDA clearance in 2017. Pico Majesty, its successor, was approved in Korea in 2021, cleared by the FDA in 2022, and had its FDA clearance expanded in 2024.
“Most people in the U.S. know PicoSure and PicoWay, and both are good lasers. Of the picosecond lasers available today, Pico Majesty stands out for how gently it handles pigment in skin that darkens easily. So many of our patients have exactly that skin, and this laser was built for them.”DR. SHERVIN NADERI, MD, FACS
How Does Pico Majesty Work?
Every laser that treats pigment works on one idea: the pigment absorbs the light and the skin around it mostly doesn’t. What changes from one laser to the next is how long each pulse lasts.
Older Q-switched lasers fire in nanoseconds, or billionths of a second. That is long enough for heat to build, so ink and pigment crack into larger pieces and some heat spreads into the skin around them. Picosecond lasers fire pulses 10 to 20 times shorter. Wontech rates Pico Majesty’s main 1064 nm pulse at about 250 picoseconds and calls it a world first for a picosecond Nd:YAG laser. The shorter the pulse, the more the laser works through a pressure wave instead of heat, and the finer the pigment breaks.
Pico Majesty also delivers up to about 2 gigawatts of peak power through a flat-top beam, which spreads energy evenly across each spot so there are no hot spots in the center of the beam.
Four Wavelengths, Six Handpieces
Pico Majesty fires at two core wavelengths, and its dye handpieces add two more. 1064 nm reaches deeper and passes through much of the skin’s surface pigment. It is the workhorse for melasma, darker skin tones and dark tattoo inks. 532 nm stays near the surface for sun spots, freckles and warm ink colors such as red, orange and yellow. The 595 nm and 660 nm dye handpieces give us more options for stubborn sky-blue and green inks and for redness. The laser recognizes each handpiece as it’s attached and sets spot sizes from 2 to 10 mm.
Pico Majesty for Melasma
Melasma is the blotchy brown or gray-brown patching that shows up on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip and chin. Hormones, sun and heat all drive it, and it is more common in women and in medium to olive skin tones.
Melasma is hard to treat because heat can make it worse. Aggressive lasers and IPL can set off a rebound that leaves it darker than before. Pico Majesty’s low-heat 1064 nm toning reduces the extra pigment a little at a time, with less risk of provoking that rebound.
How we treat it
We use the collimated handpiece at very low energy across the whole face, a technique often called pico toning. There is no peeling, and most people go straight back to their day.
What to expect
Melasma can be controlled, but not cured. Sun, heat and hormones can bring it back, so the laser works best alongside daily mineral sunscreen and a medical-grade pigment routine your provider builds for you with lines such as ZO Skin Health and SkinBetter Science. Toning too hard or too often can leave pale spots, which is why we keep the energy low and space the sessions out. Read more about melasma and hyperpigmentation.
Pico Majesty for Dark Spots and Hyperpigmentation
Most dark spots fall into a few types: sun spots and age spots, freckles, the dark marks left after acne or an injury (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), café-au-lait spots, and deeper blue-gray pigment such as nevus of Ota. Each sits at a different depth in the skin.
Sun spots, age spots and freckles. The 532 nm wavelength targets pigment near the surface. Treated spots turn darker for a few days, then flake off, usually within a week to 10 days.
Dark marks after acne. These fade on their own eventually, but slowly. Low-energy 1064 nm can speed that up while keeping heat low, which lowers the risk of new marks.
Deeper pigment. Birthmarks such as nevus of Ota sit deeper and need 1064 nm and more sessions over a longer time.
Pico Majesty is FDA-cleared for benign pigmented lesions in Fitzpatrick skin types I to IV. Before any spot is treated, it is checked; anything that looks unusual is examined by a physician first. We never laser a spot that could be skin cancer.
Skin Rejuvenation for Darker Skin Tones
For years, patients with brown and Black skin were told to skip lasers, or were offered treatments so light they did little. Heat-heavy lasers and IPL can leave darker skin with new dark patches or light spots, and that risk kept many people from treatments that could help them.
Pico Majesty was designed with that skin in mind. Its 1064 nm wavelength passes through much of the skin’s surface melanin, and its pulse is too short to build up much heat. With the fractional MLA and DOE handpieces, it creates tiny pockets of energy beneath the surface that prompt new collagen while the top layer of skin stays intact. Over a series, this can smooth texture, soften acne scars, make pores look smaller and even out skin tone, with a day or two of redness instead of a week of peeling.
Who it suits: medium to deep skin tones (Fitzpatrick IV to VI) with acne scars, rough texture, enlarged pores, dullness or uneven tone.
Lighter skin benefits too. The same fractional treatment can smooth texture, soften acne scars and refine pores in fair and light skin. Pico Majesty is for every skin tone, and it is also a gentle choice for skin that darkens easily.
Every laser carries some risk of pigment change in darker skin. We lower it with conservative settings, a test spot when it makes sense, sun protection before and after, and skin-prep products when they help. When the goal is deeper resurfacing, UltraClear and 3D Miracle are also good options for darker skin, and we’ll tell you which one fits. See also acne scar reduction.
Tattoo Removal for All Ink Colors
Whether it’s a name you’ve outgrown, an old piece you want covered with new art, or a tattoo you simply don’t want anymore, Pico Majesty breaks ink into particles small enough for your body to clear. It treats black, brown, blue, green and purple inks at 1064 nm in every skin type, and red, orange and yellow inks at 532 nm. Dye handpieces at 595 nm and 660 nm add options for stubborn sky-blue and green inks. Together they cover nearly every color in a typical tattoo.
Picosecond lasers generally fade ink in fewer sessions than older nanosecond lasers, and the low-heat pulse is easier on the skin around the ink.
How many sessions will my tattoo take?
It depends on the ink, how deep it sits, the colors, the age of the tattoo, where it is on your body and your immune system. Professional tattoos usually take 6 to 10 or more sessions, and amateur tattoos often fewer. Sessions are spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart so your body has time to clear the broken-up ink.
Fading for a cover-up
If you’re planning new artwork over an old tattoo, a few sessions may lighten it enough for your artist to work with.
Cosmetic tattoos
Permanent eyebrow, lip liner and other cosmetic tattoos often contain white or flesh-tone pigments that can turn dark when lasered. We always treat a small test area first.
Don’t Choose Your Tattoo Removal on Price Alone
Tattoo removal lasers are not all the same, and an ad rarely tells you which one you’ll get. A low price per session can cost more in the end if the laser needs extra sessions, can’t reach your ink colors, or leaves your skin scarred.
Ask any provider before you book
- Which laser will you use, and is it FDA-cleared for tattoo removal?
- Is it a picosecond laser or an older nanosecond laser?
- Which wavelengths does it have for my ink colors?
- Who performs the treatment, and what is their laser training?
- How many sessions should I expect, and what will the full course cost?
What you get at The Naderi Center
- Pico Majesty, an FDA-cleared picosecond laser for tattoo removal
- Four wavelengths, including dye handpieces for stubborn blue and green ink
- Licensed, experienced providers, and a test spot for tricky inks
- One price for every ink color, with the full plan and cost before you start
Pico Majesty Before & After Photos
Each pair shows the same patient before treatment (left) and after (right).
Dark pigmentation across the cheek in deeper skin.
Sun spots on the back of the hand.
A dark spot on the cheek.
A sun spot on the forehead.
Blue ink tattoo on the back.
Black and pink tattoo on the forearm, with most of the black shading faded.
Clinical photos courtesy of Wontech, the laser’s manufacturer, and one of its distributors. These are not patients of The Naderi Center. Individual results vary.
Pico Majesty vs. PicoSure and PicoWay: How Do They Compare?
PicoSure and PicoWay are the picosecond lasers most people in the U.S. have heard of, and both are excellent devices with long track records. Pico Majesty is Wontech’s latest-generation picosecond laser, engineered in Korea. All three are FDA-cleared for tattoo removal. Here is how they compare on the specifications each maker publishes.
| Pico MajestyWontech, Korea | PicoWayCandela, USA | PicoSure ProCynosure, USA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wavelengths | 1064 and 532 nm, plus 595 and 660 nm dye handpieces | 1064 and 532 nm, plus 785 and 730 nm handpieces | 755 nm, with optional 532 and 1064 nm |
| Published pulse length | About 250 picoseconds at 1064 nm | 250 to 450 picoseconds, depending on wavelength | 500 to 900 picoseconds |
| Texture and acne scars | MLA and DOE fractional handpieces | Resolve fractional handpiece | Focus lens |
| FDA-cleared for tattoos | Yes (2022, expanded 2024) | Yes | Yes |
Figures are the manufacturers’ published specifications: Wontech and its development report (Medical Lasers, 2022); Candela’s PicoWay materials; Cynosure’s PicoSure Pro brochure. Results depend on the provider and settings as much as on the laser.
What about older Q-switched lasers?
Many offices still use Q-switched lasers, which fire in nanoseconds, about 5,000 picoseconds or longer. That is long enough for heat to build, so pigment and ink break into larger pieces and more heat reaches the skin around them. Picosecond lasers like Pico Majesty break pigment finer with less heat, which generally means fewer tattoo sessions and a lower risk of new dark patches in darker skin.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Pico Majesty?
Pico Majesty is used on every skin tone, from very fair to deep. You’re likely a good candidate if you have:
- Melasma that creams alone haven’t controlled
- Sun spots, age spots or freckles you’d like lightened
- Dark marks left behind by acne
- Medium to deep skin and want smoother texture, softer acne scars or a more even tone without a long recovery
- A tattoo you want removed or lightened for a cover-up
Who should wait or skip it
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- An active infection, cold sore, open wound or acne flare in the area
- A fresh tan, sunburn or self-tanner
- Isotretinoin (Accutane) in the last 6 months
- A history of gold therapy, which can cause permanent darkening of the skin with these lasers
- Light-sensitive conditions or medications, a tendency to form keloid scars, or vitiligo in the area
Bring a list of your medications and supplements to your consultation.
Who Performs Pico Majesty at The Naderi Center?
Pico Majesty at our Reston office is performed by Thifany Arce, our licensed medical master aesthetician and certified laser technician, and by Dr. Alexandra Snodgrass, our board-certified dermatologist. Thifany performs most treatments. Laser companies feature our patients’ results.
Thifany Arce
Certified laser technician
Thifany has worked in medical aesthetics for many years and performs most of the laser and skin treatments at our Reston office, including Morpheus8, Sciton BBL, 3D Miracle, laser hair removal, microneedling and chemical peels. She is trained to treat a wide range of skin types and concerns, including hyperpigmentation, acne, aging skin and uneven texture.
- Licensed master aesthetician and certified laser technician
- Many years of experience in medical aesthetics
- Trained to treat a wide range of skin types and tones
- Builds a home skin care routine for each patient to protect and extend results
Dr. Alexandra Snodgrass
Cosmetic dermatology
Dr. Snodgrass is a board-certified dermatologist who focuses on cosmetic dermatology, with a special interest in lasers and non-surgical skin rejuvenation. She also performs Pico Majesty treatments at our Reston office.
- Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology
- Medical school and dermatology residency at the University of Florida
- Member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
- Gold Humanism Honor Society and Phi Beta Kappa
- Author of scientific articles and textbook chapters in dermatology
Your plan is set at your consultation. If Pico Majesty isn’t the right tool for your skin, we’ll tell you.
What Happens at Your Pico Majesty Appointment?
Before Your Treatment
Your provider looks at your skin, reviews your history and medications, and confirms the plan. Pigment spots are checked first. For fractional treatments and tattoos we apply numbing cream and give it time to work; toning usually doesn’t need it. You’ll wear protective eyewear.
During Your Treatment
Pico Majesty feels like quick snaps against the skin, often compared to a rubber band. Toning a full face takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Spot, fractional and tattoo treatments run 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the area.
After Your Treatment
We cool the skin and apply a soothing balm and sunscreen, or a dressing over a tattoo. Most people go back to their normal routine the same day. Your provider gives you aftercare instructions for your treatment.
How Much Does Pico Majesty Cost in Reston?
Pico Majesty at The Naderi Center costs $225 to $750 a session, depending on the treatment and, for tattoos, the size. A series costs less per session, and every ink color is the same price.
Skin treatmentsMelasma, dark spots and skin rejuvenation. 10% off a series of 3, 15% off a series of 6.
| Treatment | Per session | 3 sessions10% off | 6 sessions15% off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melasma (pico toning), full faceMelasma, dull or uneven tone | $700 | $1,890 | $3,570 |
| Dark spots and hyperpigmentation, full faceSun spots, age spots, freckles, dark marks after acne | $750 | $2,025 | $3,825 |
| Skin rejuvenation (pico fractional), full faceTexture, pores, acne scars, skin of color | $750 | $2,025 | $3,825 |
| Dark spots, small areaA few individual spots, usually 1 to 2 sessions | $350 | Priced per session | |
| Add the neck or handsAdded to a full-face skin treatment | $200 | 10% off | 15% off |
| Add the chestAdded to a full-face skin treatment | $250 | 10% off | 15% off |
Tattoo removal, any ink colorPriced by size. 10% off a series of 6, 20% off a series of 12.
| Tattoo size | Per session | 6 sessions10% off | 12 sessions20% off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 square inchA postage stamp | $225 | $1,215 | $2,160 |
| Up to 4 square inches2 × 2 inches | $250 | $1,350 | $2,400 |
| Up to 9 square inches3 × 3 inches, a sticky note | $375 | $2,025 | $3,600 |
| Up to 16 square inches4 × 4 inches, about palm size | $500 | $2,700 | $4,800 |
| Up to 25 square inches5 × 5 inches | $625 | $3,375 | $6,000 |
| Up to 36 square inches6 × 6 inches | $750 | $4,050 | $7,200 |
| Larger than 36 square inchesSleeves, back pieces | From $850 | Quoted at consultation | |
We measure your tattoo at your consultation and tell you how many sessions to expect. The smallest size, $225, is the minimum per session.
How to Prepare for Pico Majesty
Sun and tanning
Retinoids and exfoliants
History of cold sores
Medications
Arrive with clean skin
Shaving
Not sure which treatment fits your skin?
At your consultation we look at your skin or tattoo, tell you which Pico Majesty treatment fits, and how many sessions to plan for.
Book a consultationPico Majesty Recovery and Aftercare
Recovery depends on the treatment. After toning, most people are pink for a few hours and can wear makeup the next morning. Treated dark spots turn darker for a few days, then flake off within a week to 10 days. Fractional treatments leave redness and mild swelling for a day or two. Tattoos turn white for a short time after treatment, then may swell, blister and scab lightly while they heal over 1 to 2 weeks.
Cleansing your skin
Sun protection
Darkened spots and flaking
Tattoo care
Makeup
Exercise and heat
Is Pico Majesty Safe? Risks and Side Effects
Pico Majesty is FDA-cleared for tattoo removal and for benign pigmented lesions, and it is approved in Korea by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Like any laser, it has side effects. Most are temporary:
- Redness, swelling and warmth for a few hours to a few days
- Treated spots turning darker before they flake off
- Pinpoint bleeding, blisters or light scabs after tattoo treatment
- New dark patches (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), more likely in darker skin and with sun exposure, usually fading over time
- Light spots (hypopigmentation), more often with frequent high-energy toning
- Darkening of some cosmetic tattoo inks
- Rarely, scarring or an allergic reaction to released tattoo ink
- A tattoo that fades but doesn’t clear completely
An experienced provider, the right settings for your skin, and careful sun protection keep these risks low.
Where to Get Pico Majesty Near Reston, VA
Reston, Virginia
1850 Town Center Parkway, Pavillion II, Suite 551
Reston, VA 20190
(703) 481-0002
All Pico Majesty treatments are done here. Easy to reach from Herndon, Great Falls, McLean, Vienna, Ashburn, Fairfax and Arlington.
Chevy Chase, Maryland
5454 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1655
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 222-2020
Patients from Bethesda, Potomac and Washington DC can have their consultation here, then their treatments in Reston.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Shervin Naderi, MD, FACS, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon. Last reviewed October 2026.