Laser Tattoo Removal
Decorative tattooing in humans can be traced back thousands of years, and so can the desire to remove them. Today, over 20% of Americans have tattoos, and one in five of those people regret them. What looks good at 18 may seem undesirable 20 years later. Viewed by teenagers as self-expression and identity, tattoos may create barriers to employment and social acceptance at a more mature age. In additions, as their colors fade and skin looses its youthful elasticity, tattoos may become defacements rather than decorations.
Today, the latest advancements in laser technology have completely revolutionized laser tattoo removal. PicoSure laser can target and destroy difficult ink colors, such as blue and green, and previously treated tattoos.
How does tattoo removal work?
Tattoo removal lasers use high powered light to break down the pigment in your tattoo, leaving behind pieces small enough that your body can dispose of them naturally. The new PicoSure system still follows that basic principle, but is able to adjust laser pulses to the trillionth of a second to selectively target only your tattoo, keeping the rest of your skin safe. For the first time in the long history of tattoos, they can be removed with very little chance of permanent scarring.
What kind of tattoos can be treated?
All tattoos can be treated, but the kind of tattoo will change how much treatment you need
- Amateur tattoos, sometimes known as ‘stick and poke’ tattoos are generally the most responsive to laser removal. Most of these tattoos only have the most superficial level of skin inked, and thus require the least treatment
- Professional tattoos are more evenly distributed, and go deeper into the skin with more layers of combined colors. These can still be removed easily, but take more treatments than an amateur tattoo
- Cosmetic tattoos, like permanent eyeliner or lip liner, are placed on particularly sensitive pieces of skin and require a larger number of treatments with a much gentler laser pulse
- Traumatic tattoos occur when substances are accidentally introduced to the skin, like carbon or gunpowder. For instance, you might know someone who’s accidentally been stuck with a pen and had a lingering black dot on their hand because of it. While some materials are more volatile than others, these are generally superficial and very easily removed with very few sessions.
Does it hurt?
- Patients describe the PicoSure laser as feeling like a series of warm static zaps. The general consensus is that these lasers do not hurt nearly as much as the tattoo machine that made them.
- Most patients do not need any anesthetic before undergoing these procedures, although patients can either take an over-the-counter pain medicine like Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen an hour before their procedure, or come in early to have a topical anesthetic applied.
Laser System: PicoSure 523nm & 755nm
currently, we are able to treat tattoos on skin Types I-IV
Animated video courtesy of Cynosure. For educational purposes only.
Contact us today to learn more about your customized PicoSure treatment
Disclaimer: Every patient is unique; therefore cosmetic results can vary between patients. No two laser treatments will get same results – even if performed by same physician on patients with similar conditions.