If you have body ink you no longer like, you are not alone. In 2016, more than 52,000 tattoo removal procedures were performed in the U.S., according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Fortunately, those suffering tattoo regret today have much better options in removal than those seeking to eliminate their body ink in the past. Thanks to the introduction of lasers, tat removal is safer and more effective than ever before. However, before you schedule your laser tattoo removal, there are a few important facts you should know.
Some Tattoos are Easier to Remove than Others
Laser tattoo removal uses laser technology to remove body ink, rather than sanding the tat away or using a graft to cover it. The laser energy breaks up the ink pigment, but not all colors respond to the laser in the same way. Some of the more stubborn ink colors, such as green and blue hues, do not respond as well to some laser treatments, which means some of the ink can linger long after the rest of the tattoo is gone.
Older tattoos and those using a lower quality of ink can also be more challenging to remove, even with the advances in laser technology. It is beneficial to meet with the provider beforehand to determine how easily the tattoo can be eliminated so that you go into your laser tattoo removal with realistic expectations. Some individuals with particularly stubborn tat ink may decide to lighten the current art so it can be covered up with makeup or another tattoo.
You Can’t Remove a Tattoo with One Treatment
Removing a tattoo is a complex process that must be performed in stages. If we used enough laser energy to eliminate the tat in a single session, there would be significant damage to the surrounding skin and tissue, as well as substantial scarring. Instead, we remove a portion of the ink in each session, scheduling as many treatments as necessary until the tattoo is sufficiently gone.
As there is some healing time required after a laser procedure, there must be time between treatments to avoid damaging skin. You may need up to 10 treatments, spaced about four to six weeks apart, to fully remove your tat. If you do the math, you can see it could be a few months before your tattoo is gone. Some laser procedures work more quickly than others so that you may get your results in fewer sessions. However, removal is never an immediate process, and patience and persistence are necessary to achieve the outcome you want.
The Right Laser Makes the Difference
Different laser devices can be used for tattoo removal today, but not all those systems are created equal. At Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics, we utilize the revolutionary PicoSure laser for tattoo removal because it is the fastest and most effective method for this purpose today. The PicoSure features picosecond technology, which means the laser energy is delivered into the treatment area in quicker pulses than any other device currently uses. The rapid pulse action shatters the pigment in the body ink so that it can be eliminated through natural body processes.
PicoSure can remove even the most stubborn ink colors, and usually in fewer sessions than other devices. This means you see your unwanted tattoo disappear in around three to six appointments, rather than the 10 or more often required with other types of laser technology. In addition, tattoos that have not responded well to other laser procedures may see further improvement when the PicoSure laser is used.
Unwanted body art is no longer a problem thanks to the advanced technology presented by the PicoSure laser. To discover more about this procedure, contact Dermacare Laser & Skin Care Clinics today in San Diego at 858-943-2443 or in Carlsbad at 760-472-5088.