Tattoo Removal

On occasion, hypopigmentation (a whitening of the skin) may occur. However, normal skin tone should return within 6-12 months following your last treatment session. Blisters may also occur after treatment. The blisters occur infrequently and when treated appropriately will not have any long term effects. Scarring is also infrequent after treatment. Long term side effects are rare.

Yes, nearly every tattoo can be removed completely, now. With the use of the PicoSure laser and the Q-switch Nd:YAG laser, all colors (except white) can be treated. However, permanent makeup (cosmetic tattoos) and tattoos containing white pigment may actually become darker. Therefore, we recommend test spotting the area prior to treatment. If the pigment does darken, we have a Q-switch Nd:YAG laser that can improve the darkening however it may be refractory to treatment and can be permanent. With any technology, there is a change for residual effects with some tattoo removal cases.

Unfortunately, tattoos are uncomfortable to have placed on the skin and they are just as uncomfortable when they are removed. To minimize the discomfort, the physician will recommend taking Tylenol a few hours before the procedure. Pain medications that thin blood and promote bruising are not recommended. To further decrease the pain, the physician may apply a local anesthetic ointment on the tattoo a few hours before the procedure. In some cases, the physician may inject a local anesthetic into the tattoo before the procedure.

Lasers work by directing energy toward ink in the skin with highly concentrated color filtered light beams. These laser beams break up ink particles into tiny fragments which are later cleared up by the body naturally. This process of fragmenting the ink particles requires several sessions depending on the depth of the ink level. The procedure is bloodless and no incisions are made. The laser selectively targets the pigment of the tattoo without damaging the surrounding skin.

reatments usually do not take more than a few minutes, yet this time frame varies greatly depending on the size and color of the tattoo. However, several sessions are required to remove most tattoos. The sessions are usually split over 4-8 week periods.

Complete removal of a tattoo is based on several factors. The size, location, application, age, and ink color of the tattoo all factor in, as well as the health of the patient and thus their body's ability to heal. Newer tattoos are generally more difficult to remove. Also if the tattoo artist had a heavy hand and caused some scarring during the tattooing process, the scar will still remain after the pigment has disappeared. However, with the PicoSure, the success of removal of tattoos is approaching 100%.

Right after your treatment, you skin will have a white discoloration, and the area around the tattoo may become reddish and could have some swelling. This is normal and will disappear slowly over time. Immediately after treatment, antibacterial ointment and gauze will be applied to the treated area to minimize infection.

Individuals with fair skin and superficially placed tattoos on the arms, chest, buttocks or legs are the best candidates. Tattoos on dark skinned individuals, or tattoos on the ankles or fingers, areas where there is less body fat, are the most difficult to treat and results are more variable. Consulting with a professional and reputable tattoo removal specialist who is experienced and understands the procedure is important to ensure proper treatment and candidacy.