Tattoos have become a growing part of American culture and along with that there sometimes comes tattoo regret. Tattoos can fade or your tastes may change. Maybe you want part of a tattoo removed or even reinked. All of this can be accomplished with the most painless and efficient laser system available: the PicoWay laser. PicoWay delivers ultra-short pulses of energy to shatter tattoo ink, resulting in greater clearance, faster and fewer treatments, and an improved recovery time.
There are many factors to consider prior to starting a successful tattoo removal series. Color, location and type of ink are all important factors. These are all considered by our physician before proceeding with tattoo removal or tattoo fading.
Traditional tattoo removal is very painful, time consuming, and costly when performed with what has been the current standard, the Q-switched lasers. There have also been limitations as not all ink colors could be successfully treated. In addition, Q-switched lasers have been known to leave a "ghost" of the tattoo on the skin afterwards.
None of these issues are present when you use the PicoWay laser. Therefore, the number of treatments, pain, and cost to treat the tattoo are markedly reduced. Furthermore, the total time to remove the tattoo is reduced from approximately three years to around one!
Laser tattoo removal is designed to get rid of the ink in the skin. Ideally, it will remove all the colors of the tattoo without harming the skin. It should also not leave an outline of the tattoo, known as "ghosting". Most Q-switched lasers cannot do this. The PicoWay tattoo removal laser, the most revolutionary laser available, is able to achieve this for most people. Also, it will condition the skin while it is removing the tattoo. Many people have had their skin damaged by their tattoos or previous attempts to remove them. The PicoWay laser will actually recondition the skin while removing the tattoo! The end result is no tattoo and healthier skin.
Most patients are candidates for laser tattoo removal. The first consideration is your skin color. Except for the darkest skin colors, the PicoWay can treat the tattoo. However, the best results occur when there is more contrast between the tattoo ink and your skin tone. In other words, black ink in a tattoo on a fair-skinned person will have better results than green ink on a dark-skinned person. Also, if a person is in poor health, they may not be a candidate for laser tattoo removal. That is why we ask you for a full and honest medical history, and a listing of your current medications. This will help ensure you get the best results.
The PicoWay laser is very unique in how it removes tattoo ink. Most lasers heat the ink, which leads to blistering and pain, but the PicoWay creates a sonic shock wave that shatters the ink. Once the ink is shattered, your body's immune system will scavenge the loose ink and remove it from your skin! This process takes time and it is optimal to wait 2 months between treatments. If treatments are performed too soon, they will not be any more effective and you may end up paying for treatments you didn’t actually need. You need to be patient and wait for the reabsorption process to complete.
The most important thing is to not expose the area being treated to the sun. If you are too dark from tanning, you will not have as effective a treatment and may increase the risk of skin blistering. Therefore, we recommend covering the area for 2 weeks prior to your treatment. Avoiding sun exposure is critical to the success of removing your tattoo. We also want the area clean shaven the day before the treatment. Some patients may have some bruising, especially if they are on blood thinners. Therefore, you must stop blood thinners at least a week before your treatment.
When you arrive the nurses will take you to the laser room. They will check the area to be treated, answer any questions you may have, and go over a consent form. The machine will be on and may make various funny noises. The doctor will also come in, answer any questions, and finalize your laser settings. You will be positioned on the bed and the area to be treated will be cleaned. The nurse will blow cold air on the tattoo to help minimize the discomfort. The doctor will then treat your tattoo with the laser. There will be some mild to moderate discomfort similar to a rubber band snap. The inked area will then turn white. This is known as "frosting" and is most noticeable the first few treatments. Frosting may not be present with subsequent treatments as the amount of ink fades from the tattoo. Mild bruising can occur, but will resolve on its own. The nurses will complete your visit by dressing the area with Aquaphor ointment and gauze. You will then be able to go about your normal day.
After you leave, you will need to stay well hydrated. It is mandatory that you avoid exposing the treated area to the sun; this area is more likely to develop a sunburn and possibly blister. You may resume any activities you feel up to. Bathing is not restricted, including immersing the tattoo under water. However, if the water is very hot, such as a hot tub, the treated area may become very red and you may have some discomfort. You will need to apply the Aquaphor ointment twice a day to the treated area and cover it with a dressing for 2 weeks. Some patients may experience flu-like symptoms within 48 hours of treatment. Staying well hydrated and using Tylenol or ibuprofen will minimize this possiblity.
Multiple treatments are needed to fully remove a tattoo. With the PicoWay laser, the number has been cut to a third of what was previously needed with a Q-switched laser. If you are interested in fading a tattoo, we can do only the number of treatments needed to achieve the desired amount of fading.
Tattoo removal is considered a cosmetic procedure and therefore will not be covered by most insurance companies. We do offer CareCredit to finance the cost of removal. Just ask our staff and they will be glad to assist you.
We will be happy to schedule a free consultation on tattoo removal at Genesis Medspa at your convenience. We value the opportunity to educate you on your treatment options! You can also go to picowaylaser.com for additional information online.
Before & After Photos
After 5 treatments of PicoWay. Photos courtesy of Eric Bernstein, MD.
After 1 treatment of PicoWay. Photos courtesy of David Friedman, MD.
After 5 treatments of PicoWay. Photos courtesy of Eric Bernstein, MD.
After 6 treatments of PicoWay.
Videos
Introducing PicoWay
Learn about how PicoWay works and its advantages over traditional laser tattoo removal.
PicoWay Treatment in Action
Watch a PicoWay treatment being performed to remove tattoos on a patient's foot and arm.
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