Category Archives: My friends

Yellow Tattoo Ink Is Made From Cadmium Sulfide – A Tough Metal & Known Carcinogen

My friends, ,

I recently wrote a blog post stating that I think it’s time to amend the definition of ‘recalcitrant’ when it comes to laser tattoo removal. The basis for this belief is that modern inks are much different than their older cousins; the India inks that Q-switched lasers were developed to remove.  (Modern tattoo inks require removal with a PicoSure laser with Boost and a 532nm handpiece.)  We know that some of the earliest tattoo pigments were simply made of ashes mixed with water.  Reportedly, Samoans used nut soot and sea water for their elaborate tattoos.  Dry pigments have also been dissolved into a number of liquids including rose water, glycerin, alcohol and the list goes on and on.  There are literally hundreds if not thousands of ways to make a tattoo.  I once had to remove a tattoo that was made from the soot of a melted blue razor handle mixed with water.  But modern inks don’t breakdown very easily because they’ve been designed to hold up over the years by adding proprietary metals and exotic ingredients like those listed below.

Click the chart to see the most common ink ingredients in your tattoo:

Ink Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Besides new inks being tough to remove, sometimes patients will also have reactions to a particular ink ingredient following the tattooing process itself.  Additionally, photo-aggravated reactions can be seen following exposure of a brand new tattoo to sunlight.  The area will become swollen and raised.  Yellow pigment created from cadmium sulfide is one of the primary offenders but this can also be seen in red inks where trace amounts of cadmium are added to brighten the color.  Fortunately, I’m one of the few PicoSure laser tattoo removal providers in the U.S. who has the 532nm handpiece that RAPIDLY & SAFELY removes red and yellow pigments, including their variants such as orange ink.

Although most tattoo inks were once considered safe and relatively inert, each patient is different and can have a variety of reactions to the myriad of exotic chemical compounds found in the pigments.  Occasionally a patient will tell me that they want their tattoo removed due to an adverse reaction to the ink following the tattooing process.  If you have an irritated, recalcitrant or tough tattoo ink you would like to safely and successfully remove with the state-of-the-art PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Settings Require Experience And Education

My friends, , , ,

For those of us in the rejuvenation business, whether it be eyebrow tattoo removal, or unwanted facial pigment (hyperpigmentation), the PicoSure laser settings are critical. Many practitioners focus solely on the energy level (Joules), expressed as J/cm2. We can think of the Joules as being similar to the milligrams of a given medication, e.g. 325mg in an aspirin. But just as in medication, the dose, is more critical. Would a single aspirin at 325mg cure a migraine? No it would not.

So how do we measure the dose when using a laser? We use the pulse count. The pulse count reveals how many times we applied the energy to a given area. If you’re one of the millions of clients who’s had unsuccessful tattoo removal it’s more than likely that your pulse count was too low. I’ve watched providers move too quickly over a tattoo and subsequently the number of pulses delivered was too low for effective and complete removal. Treatment = J/cm2 x pulses delivered. The same is true for melasma, acne scarring and skin rejuvenation.

We’ve discussed just two of the many factors that go into a great treatment. If you’re tired of poor or less than desired results please stop by Austin Medspa for a free consultation.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Expert Settings For PicoSure Laser Treatment

My friends, , , ,

The world’s first and ONLY PicoSure laser workstation has revolutionized the areas of tattoo removal and skin rejuvenation. Tattoos, once thought impossible to remove, can now be removed quite easily. Facial rejuvenation that once required CO2 ablation (burning off the affected tissue) can now be accomplished with a fractionated “Focus Lens” with zero downtime. Thank you Cynosure engineers!

I’m often asked what settings to use on the PicoSure laser for various skin conditions. And if you’re an operator seeking help feel free to reach out to me with questions. The short answer is that there’s a set of “rules” to be followed for effective treatment and I wrote many of them myself. For example, the spot size, which is the diameter of the beam, is crucial because this determines the focal point of the energy. But the pulse count, meaning the number of times the laser fires, is even more critical.

We can think of the Joules/cm2 as the strength of the treatment – similar to an aspirin having 325mg, which is the strength of the tablet. Now think of the number of pulses as the dosage. For example, a single treatment might be: 4.25 J/cm2 x 4,000 pulses. The energy multiplied by the dose gives us a therapeutic range known to be beneficial to the condition. Anything less than therapeutic will result in little change to the condition, like taking a baby aspirin for a massive migraine – the result would be ineffective.

If you’re not getting the results you want with your PicoSure, chances are you’re using the wrong strength and the wrong dosage. For help with this, I can be reached at brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com or you can call my office at Austin Medspa 512-479-9997

Brendan Leigh, MS, RN

The Best Settings For Tattoo Removal

My friends, , ,

You’ve probably heard that the revolutionary PicoSure Laser is the finest tattoo-removal system on the planet.  That’s definitely true, when used correctly.  There are a number of variables that affect the laser energy and how well it’s applied.  The settings on the laser are adjusted based upon the following tattoo factors:

Age of tattoo, age of patient, tattoo size, location, depth of ink, colors, cover-up vs. original, home-made vs. professional, health of client, skin type and color, and several others.

Once the skilled professional assesses the tattoo, they can make the following adjustments to the laser:

Spot size (of the beam), wavelength (532nm, 755nm, 1064nm), speed of the pulse (550-750ps), pulses per second (hertz), pulses per cm2, Jules per cm2, and several others.

If you’re a patient with a tattoo you want completely and safely removed with PicoSure, please give me a call at Austin Medspa (512.479.9997) and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.

If you’re a PicoSure provider and you’re in need of some coaching on how to best remove tattoos you can call Cynosure (844.365.5060) and request to have me sent to your location for a small fee.  We can review all of the PicoSure parameters and settings, as well as treat your most difficult removals.  If you decide to have me train your office, I look forward to working with you!

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Can Menopausal Hot Flashes Make Melasma Worse?

My friends, , , , ,

As women go through pre-menopause they begin to experience hot flashes caused by hormone imbalances. Incidentally, researchers have shown that heat, among other factors, can exacerbate melasma, which leads to the unwanted production and deposit of the pigment melanin into the affected dermal and/or epidermal tissues of the face. I treat many melasma patients with the revolutionary PicoSure alexandrite laser and the results are amazing. Why alexandrite? Because the 755nm wavelength produced by this crystal has the greatest affinity for melanin, which means the PicoSure can easily remove excess pigment from the dermis and/or epidermis of skin. And not just the face, I also treat the neck and chest and arms. In reality, benign pigment can be removed from any body part, even intimate areas.

One of the side benefits of using the PicoSure for melanin removal, as seen in melasma and just plain old sun damage, is that its rejuvenation properties are incredible. Not only does it remove the unwanted pigmentation but it also causes the skin to rejuvenate by building tons of new collagen and elastin. If you suffer from melasma, sun damage or unwanted pigment in the form of freckles, lentigines, lentigos or lesions, and you would like those areas gently and effectively treated with the world’s first and only PicoSure laser, please give me a call at Austin Medspa and let’s get started.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com (512) 479 – 9997

PicoSure Laser Test Spot For Eyebrow Tattoo Removal

My friends, , , , ,

I’m one of the few practitioners who perform PicoSure laser tattooed eyebrow removal. The PicoSure is extremely safe and very effective for removing or modifying both traditional and microbladed eyebrow tattoos. The picosecond pulse prevents heating, which preserves the hair follicles. POS q-switched lasers rely on heat (photothermal) ink removal, which can damage or destroy hair follicles, resulting in eyebrow hair loss and burns.

Occasionally an eyebrow tattoo will contain mixed ink and require a test spot to determine efficacy of treatment and underlying red or yellow ink. In the example below, I used the 755nm wavelength for a test spot. The black ink was removed and the residual red ink remained. Fortunately, I’ve got the PicoSure 532nm handpiece which easily removes the red and/or yellow residual ink.

PicoSure test spot of mixed ink eyebrow tattoo

If you have tattooed eyebrows you’d like removed or modified with the world’s safest, most effective tattoo removal laser, I can be reached at Austin Medspa on West 6th St. (512) 479-9997

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Aftercare Is Your Responsibility

My friends, , ,

The aftercare following PicoSure laser tattoo removal is very specific and it’s important for patients to follow the directions carefully.  Although the PicoSure laser is very gentle on the skin, the superficial blisters and overall treatment area must be supported with proper care to ensure that the maximum amount of ink is removed and that the skin itself remains healthy and resilient throughout the series of treatments.

The most important things you need to do:

  1. Wash the treated tattoo everyday with soap and water!
  2. Do not let it dry out! Use cortisone ointment or Aquaphor!

If you do not wash off the exudate (the cells and fluid coming out of the treated area) they will build up and form a barrier to healing and increase bacterial growth. And if you let it dry out, the skin can’t heal correctly. Cleanliness and moist skin are two of the unbreakable rules in healing.

We must remember that the blistering, which follows PicoSure laser tattoo removal sessions is NOT thermal in nature.  Rather, the PressureWave with Boost causes minor blistering by vibrating and disrupting the superficial outer layer of skin cells called the stratum corneum.  When this occurs, clear fluid will pop out a blister.  Do not confuse minor blistering with a burn or infection.

Aquaphor Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

I have all of my PicoSure laser tattoo removal patients wash the treated area with a mild soap each day, apply a liberal amount of Cortisone or Aquaphor ointment and cover it with a protective dressing until the blisters have subsided.  This supports the skin, protects it and prevents any blisters from being torn off during routine daily activities.  By carefully cleansing and protecting the treatment area, we ensure that the skin is ready for the next treatment.  Eventually, the area will look as though it had never even been tattooed.  If you have a tattoo you want removed professionally, safely and effectively, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Carbon Laser Peel Now Available In Austin!

My friends, , , ,

It’s all the rage in Hollywood and now Austin Medspa has brought it to beautiful ATX! Why is the carbon peel desperately needed here? Because lighter skin (Types I-IV) lacks the necessary chromophore saturation needed for laser rejuvenation – basically, the laser has little to no color to focus on. But with the advent of the carbon peel, fairer skin types can significantly multiply the results of laser rejuvenation without ANY downtime! At Austin Medspa we compound a proprietary activated carbon mixture that is applied to the face and allowed to dry, which provides an ideal laser target. Pure activated carbon particles absorb dirt, oil, dead cells, sebum and other unwanted contaminants, like leftover makeup, sunscreen & skincare products. Additionally, the carbon particles fill every crevice of the skin and attach to anything that’s causing clogging of the pores.

After the mixture is allowed to dry, it is targeted by the revolutionary picosecond pulse from the first and only PicoSure laser. As the laser’s energy instantaneously vaporizes the carbon-mask particles, the engulfed contaminants are also destroyed and removed. Additionally, a Powerful PressureWave forms within the pores as the carbon is vaporized, resulting in controlled dermal inflammation, which leads to the formation of new collagen and elastin. The resulting new tissues tighten skin and diminish pore size. Additionally, unwanted epidermal pigment is destroyed via the brilliant flash of the vaporization.

Brendan Performing A PicoSure Carbon Laser Peel Facial

The result is tighter, brighter skin that looks, feels and is completely refreshed. There’s virtually no pain so no numbing cream is required. The results are instantaneous and improve over the next 4-8 weeks as the skin undergoes rejuvenation.

Before & After 24 hours

Please call Austin Medspa at (512) 479-9997 to schedule a no-cost skincare evaluation to see if PicoSure Carbon Laser Peel/Facial is right for you.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Photo-shopping Away Your Tattoos Reveals A Different Person

My friends, , , ,

Have you ever wondered what you would look like without your tattoos? If you’ve only got one or two, it’s probably not too hard to imagine. But if they cover most of your body, you may have forgotten what you looked like without them. Well, a talented author decided to show heavily tatted former gang members what they would look like if they had their homemade ink removed (with a technology like PicoSure) and the results were astounding.

You can view the amazing pics here: https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/9kpbb8/portraits-of-gang-members-with-their-tattoos-digitally-removed

I was struck by these tattoos, both for the apparent meaning, and by the ease of which they could be removed with PicoSure. These shaded tattoos are generally weak inks that shatter under the PressureWave of the picosecond pulse created by the best laser for tattoo removal, PicoSure.

Homemade tattoos near the eye

If you’ve got tattoos you’d like safely and completely  removed with PicoSure, by Texas’ most experienced tattoo removal specialist, please call Austin Medspa at
(512) 479-9997 or stop by for a free consultation –
1611 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Cosmetic Tattoo Artistry

My friends, , , , ,

Let’s face it, some tattooists are definitely not artists, but there are some crazy-talented artists who make a living tattooing. Please check out this link to a wonderful story about how tattoo artists are ingeniously covering up and/or disguising disfiguring scars, birthmarks and more. The pictures are amazing!


https://www.boredpanda.com/scar-birthmark-tattoo-cover-ups/

Some of the most common aesthetic tattoos include: tattooed eyebrows, for women who have lost their hair, camouflaging hypopigmented scars caused by motor vehicle accidents and tattooing new nipples on women who have lost their breasts to mastectomy. I often remove botched eyebrow tattoos with the PicoSure laser. In fact I did a challenging case today.

If you have a tattoo you’d like for us all to celebrate (cover up, aesthetic, or anything in between) please email it to brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com. If you have a tattoo you want faded for cover up art, or completely removed, safely and effectively, with the world’s greatest tattoo-removal system, PicoSure, I can be reached at 512.479.9997 or simply stop by Austin Medspa at 1611 W. 6th St. Austin, TX for an expert no-cost evaluation and consultation.

Skin Types & Tattoo Removal

My friends, , , , ,

The color of your skin helps determine the settings required for tattoo removal. Skin color can be categorized using the Fitzpatrick skin type standard, which was developed in the 1970’s. It measures the amount of pigment in your skin and your skin’s reaction to sun exposure.

The biggest risk in tattoo removal is PERMANENT hypopigmentation (a lightening of the skin caused by the destruction of melanocytes). The darker your skin, the higher the risk. Africans and other people with skin types V & VI are at the greatest risk, which I would estimate to be higher than 50% probability. Skin types III & IV are at medium risk but if they’re actively tanning the risk is significantly increased. Skin types I & II have the lowest risk because there’s not much melanin for the laser to interact with.

The number of treatments required to remove your tattoo directly correlates with permanent hypopigmentation risk as well. Patients who have undergone more than ten treatments, especially if they’re using a POS q-switched laser, will undoubtedly have some level of permanent hypopigmentation.

Here’s what you can do to minimize your risk:

  • Keep your skin as light as possible with sunblock
  • No self-tanning creams or spray
  • Find a PicoSure provider to reduce your number of treatments required
  • If you’re skin type V-VI, seriously consider your risk of permanent hypopigmentation before deciding to undertake laser tattoo removal

If you’re unsure and want an expert opinion, call
(512) 479-9997 or stop by Austin Medspa:
1611 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Stop Using Hydrogen Peroxide On Your Tattoo Removal Site!

My friends, , , , ,

I get emails from all over the world about PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal.  Sometimes they’re from providers and sometimes from patients.  I’ve had three in the last month where patients were experiencing an adverse reaction because they were treating their tattoo removal site with H2O2 (aka: hydrogen peroxide). 

If you’re using H2O2 on your treatment site, please STOP immediately.  Hydrogen peroxide is so cytotoxic, meaning it KILLS skin cells, that it’s been considered for use as a chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells and tumors.

All you need following PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal treatment is OTC (over the counter) strength cortisone ointment.  The ointment acts as a skin barrier and protectant, while the cortisone calms the skin, which may reduce post-treatment inflammatory pigmentation issues.  On the rare occasion, usually due to poor post-treatment care by the patient, a topical infection does occur, clindamycin can clear it up quickly.  It’s extremely important for patients to follow their post-treatment instructions.  And stay away from the H2O2.

If you need expert advice on your tattoo removal, I can be reached at Austin Medspa: 
(512) 479-9997 or stop by our office at:  1611 W 6th St, Austin, TX 78703

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Laser Therapy Chrysiasis Risk For Patients Taking Gold Therapy

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chrysiasis

Chrysiasis is the phenomenon of bluish to slate-gray discoloration of the skin induced by prolonged treatment with “gold salt” medications.  Chrysiasis, caused by gold-therapy, is similar to argyria, caused by colloidal or topical silver-therapy.  The most common cause of chrysiasis is the administration of gold salts to patients with rheumatoid arthritis.  Gold therapy is given either orally or by injection, and like most metals, it stays in the body once administered.

Laser energy, such as PicoSure for skin revitalization, may cause a chemical reaction with the gold salts in a patient’s skin, which could result in the permanent bluish/gray skin discoloration known as chrysiasis.  A client with a past or present history of gold therapy is contraindicated for treatment with PicoSure and should be cautious when seeking any laser treatment.  PicoSure is considered the world’s premiere skin revitalization laser with little or no downtime and phenomenal results.

When in doubt, test spots should be administered in an inconspicuous place on a patient’s skin to determine if any adverse reaction happens.  If there’s a color change, then the patient is not a candidate for laser therapy.  Fortunately, the incidence of patients seeking PicoSure rejuvenation procedures who have taken gold therapy is low.

If you would like more information on PicoSure laser skin revitalization, I can be reached at Austin Medspa @ 512-479-9997 or just stop by 1611 W. 6th St.  Austin, TX.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure PressureWave Destroys Tattoos & Pushes Ink Out

My friends, , , , , , ,

Cynosure, maker of the first and only revolutionary PicoSure laser, knew that a pulse width in the picosecond range would produce a Powerful pressure wave.  Millions of R&D dollars and years later, Cynosure achieved the impossible: a picosecond aesthetic laser they dubbed PicoSure.

The resulting patented PressureWave can be felt by the operator on the client’s skin during a treatment, as it smashes tattoo ink particles into the smallest of pieces, which can  easily be cleared by the body.  But how does the body remove those tiny pieces of brightly colored ink?  Is it absorption?  Or phagocytosis?  Lymph flow?

Answer:  All of the above.  But here’s the really interesting caveat:  the PressureWave itself makes it all possible.  When the PicoSure laser is pulsing at its absolute fastest, around 550ps, the resulting PressureWave causes the individual cells of the skin to vibrate at an incredible rate of speed.  This vibration causes extracellular disruption, often seen in the form of a bruise or blisters, which frees the fractured particles of ink.

The disruption of tissues does not permanently damage them, in fact, it causes integumentary tissue to rejuvenate, often leaving the treated skin looking as though it had never even been tattooed.

If you would like to experience this life-changing tattoo-removal procedure yourself, you can reach me at my newest location on West 6th Street in Austin, TX at Austin Medspa.  Please call or stop by for a free consultation on your tattoo removal.  Even if you’ve tried tattoo removal with some POS q-switched laser elsewhere, PicoSure can make it gone forever.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com  512-479-9997

Red, Yellow & Orange Tattoos Require A 532nm Wavelength

My friends, , , , , , ,

I was the first practitioner in Texas and all of the great Southwest to receive the  532nm handpiece for the PicoSure laser, which is used specifically to remove red, yellow and orange tattoos.  I acquired this somewhat costly new attachment in order to provide patients’ with the best technology available as part of my commitment to quality laser tattoo removal. The PicoSure laser 532nm handpiece emits a powerful green laser light in picosecond pulse widths, which is highly absorbed by red & yellow inks, and their variations like pink and orange.  It’s interesting to note that red appears red because it absorbs green and reflects red light.  This means that the green-colored laser beam  produced by the 532nm handpiece will be absorbed by red tattoo pigments and cause them to fragment.  Then the PicoSure PressureWave will further destroy the ink by shattering it into the smallest of particles which can be easily removed by the body.

 

I have personally performed numerous PicoSure 532nm trainings and I’m highly qualified to operate the 532nm handpiece and understand its various settings and technical specifications.  Proper education, training and experience are paramount within the healthcare setting because I believe that patients deserve the finest care possible.  If you have a tattoo removal that requires destroying red or yellow ink, or one of their colorful variations, and you would like it safely, quickly and professionally removed with the world’s first and only state-of-the-art 532nm PicoSure handpiece, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Professional PicoSure Training Provides Excellent Clinical Knowledge

My friends, , , , , ,

As a professional laser trainer, I travel all over the United States and Canada training the world’s finest clinicians on the proper operation of the world’s best aesthetic laser:  the revolutionary PicoSure workstation.  Proper training ensures that practitioners are given the finest clinical advice available.

There are a number of techniques, clinical pearls, strategies, tactics and methods used to provide excellent clinical results to the most discerning of patients and clients.  Only an experienced PicoSure owner/operator is capable of providing this type of specialized clinical training.

I love teaching all across North America, and with more and more physicians deciding to utilize PicoSure in their practice, I won’t be slowing down anytime soon.  Here’s a list of my most recent trainings:

Toronto, Canada
Kansas City, Kansas
Vancouver, British Columbia
Gainesville, Florida
Los Angeles, California
London, Ontario
Calgary, Alberta
Dallas, Texas
Pleasanton, California
West Palm Beach, Florida

I have many more trainings upcoming because discerning healthcare professionals realize that the state-of-the-art PicoSure laser for tattoo removal and skin revitalization has no equal.  To find a highly trained and experienced PicoSure provider near you, click on this link:  http://cynosure-locator.com/patients/

If you want your tattoo completely and professionally removed by Texas’ most experienced PicoSure provider, or if you’re interested in facial rejuvenation with the PicoSure Focus Lens Array, give me a call at Austin Medspa @ 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

 

PicoSure Fading Of A Tattoo Prior To Cover-Up

My friends, , , , , , ,

Fading an unwanted tattoo with the powerful PicoSure laser to facilitate a new cover-up design has become increasingly popular.  A professionally-faded tattoo increases the choice of cover-up art work options significantly.  For example, the light bright colors and fine lines associated with today’s tattoo designs will not effectively cover an older existing dark outline and ink.  Most dark outlines and deeply-saturated tattoos can be sufficiently faded in just one or two treatments with PicoSure but the same isn’t true of a POS Q-switched laser.

Once the majority of the undesirable ink has been removed, a professional artist can easily apply a new tattoo using lighter strokes and delicate colors.  I have faded a significant number of tattoos successfully which allowed for the placement of beautiful cover-up artwork – click on the example below.

austin-picosure-laser-tattoo-removal-fade

If you’ve got a tattoo you want faded or safely, effectively and COMPLETELY removed with the revolutionary PicoSure laser workstation, I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Top 10 Reasons For PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

My friends, , , , ,

I read an article this morning about when consumers are less likely to buy a cheap product.  Getting a tattoo was right there at the top.  I guess people figure if an artist is cheap, they’re not very good.  I see that all the time – clients come in with a drawing that looks like it was inked by a no-talent clown.

“It’s not what I wanted,” they say.  “It didn’t turn out right.”

In my practice as a Registered Nurse, I’ve performed thousands of tattoo removal treatments and completely removed many, many tattoos – I do it every day with the revolutionary PicoSure laser.  I also teach other nurses and doctors how to do it.  There are millions of unwanted tattoos in the U.S. and millions more across the globe.  So, I decided to write a Top 10 list of reasons why my clients/patients tell me they want their ink gone.

#10.       “Got it on my 18th birthday – huge mistake.”

#9.         “The picture’s okay but the font sucks.”

#8.         “People look down on me because I’m inked up.”

#7.         “Can’t wear a swimsuit or the clothes that I want.”

#6.         “Supposed to be photorealism and it looks like a cartoon.”

#5.         “I don’t want my new baby daughter to see it.”

#4.         “My new job doesn’t allow tat’s.”

#3.         “That’s my ex’s name.”

#2.         “It’s not what I asked for.”

#1.         “It looks like s**t.”

I’ve heard many other reasons besides those listed, and listened to numerous bizarre stories from my clients, some of which are heart wrenching.  Whatever the reason, I don’t judge.  Thanks to Cynosure, the makers of the PicoSure laser, no one has to live with unwanted ink.

If you’ve got a tattoo you’d like COMPLETELY and safely removed by Texas’ most experienced PicoSure nurse, please give me a call (512.479.9997) at Austin Medspa on West 6th and let’s get started.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Fall & Winter Are A Great Time For PicoSure Tattoo Removal

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Be ready for the pool next summer by getting PicoSure laser tattoo removal over the winter!  I have heard several patients’ state that they want to be able to wear a bathing suit in the summer without feeling self-conscious about their unsightly or unwanted tattoos. Now’s the time to start or continue treatments!

Bikini Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

In the fall and winter, our skin lightens, which optimizes the conditions for PicoSure laser tattoo removals.  The reason?  Well, the lighter our skin is, the better the laser penetrates it.  Remember, melanin is the skin’s natural defense against all forms of UV radiation, including a laser.  Lighter skin allows for maximum penetration and absorption of the laser’s energy.

Calendar v2 - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

PicoSure laser tattoo removal can be performed every 4-8 weeks depending upon several factors.  That means the patients who start or continue treatments now can get in up to 8 treatments by the Fourth of July.  With the average tattoo requiring about 4-5 treatments, the majority of people reading this can be bikini ready by Independence Day!  If you have a tattoo you would like safely and effectively cleared with the PicoSure laser, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Focus Lens Array – Mechanism Of Action

My friends, , , , , , , , , , ,

The revolutionary PicoSure Laser has a Focus Lens Array which is used for skin revitalization.  The appropriate indications include, but are not limited to:  Sun damage, acne scars, sun spots, benign pigment, like melasma and freckles, and a whole host of other skin conditions.

Why is the PicoSure, clearly the world’s best tattoo removal laser, focused on skin?  Because its 755nm Alexandrite wavelength has the greatest affinity to melanin (meaning it destroys unwanted pigment) and its Focus Lens delivers the energy in a highly effective manner with zero downtime.  The results are nothing short of amazing!  Additionally, the PicoSure Focus Lens Array for skin revitalization is not a painful procedure like Fraxel and Co2 ablation and again, there’s NO downtime.

If you would like to treat your unwanted sun damage, scars, melasma, lines and wrinkles, I can be reached @ Austin Medspa on West 6th.  Consultations are very informative and free of charge.  Please call me @ 512.479.9997

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Has Replaced Nd:YAG As The Gold Standard In Tattoo Removal

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What’s an Nd:YAG laser and what does the acronym stand for?  Well here’s your answer: neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet.  Wow, no wonder someone came up with an acronym, right?  Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) is a synthetic crystalline material of the garnet group (see photo below). YAG is commonly used as a host material in various solid-state lasers. Rare earth elements such as neodymium can be doped into YAG as active laser ions, yielding Nd:YAG.  So now that we know what it stands for, what do all those words really mean?  Here you go:

  • Neodymium: A shiny, silvery metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used to make glass for welders’ goggles and purple glass for lasers.
  • Yttrium: A silvery metallic element used to strengthen magnesium and aluminum alloys, and as a component of various optical and electronic devices.
  • Aluminum: A lightweight, silvery-white metallic element that is ductile, is found chiefly in bauxite, and is a good conductor of electricity. It is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust and makes a great beer can.
  • Garnet: Natural garnet crystals are dodecahedral (12 sided polyhedron) in shape, transparent to semitransparent, and have a vitreous luster.  YAG lasers utilize synthetic garnets like those shown below.

 

POS Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers also contain a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) crystal in addition to the Nd:YAG crystal, which doubles the frequency of the 1064nm laser light.  The result is both a 1064nm and 532nm wavelength at the relatively slow pulse speed (for lasers) of a nanosecond.  This allows for the photothermal (burning out the ink) clearance of some pigments and fires so slowly that often times the tissue is permanently damaged (scarred).  At one time, this was the only possible way to remove a tattoo besides excision.  A significant percentage of patients were left scarred and/or permanently hypopigmented, with lots of residual tattoo ink of previously untreatable colors such as blue, green, purple and recalcitrant black.

PicoSure lasers pulse 100 times faster than their POS Q-switched cousins and deliver both the 755nm and 532nm wavelengths to remove all colors effectively without damaging the skin.  The picosecond pulse creates a PressureWave that courses through the skin and literally dislodges and shatters ink pigments in to the smallest of fragments which can be readily absorbed and removed by the body.  If you have a colorful tattoo you would like to remove completely or simply fade for a fresh new cover up, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Dedication To PicoSure Tattoo Removal & Skin Rejuvenation

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As a Registered Nurse, I was formally taught to be dedicated to the well-being of my patients.  In addition, passion for helping people achieve their healthcare goals has been critical to my success.  I truly care about each and every patient I meet.

To be the best requires education and experience.  I began in healthcare as a Combat Medic in the U.S. Army stationed in Texas.  After college I worked in a variety of hospital specialty areas before gaining my Certification in Hyperbaric Nursing at Hyperbarics International in Key Largo, FL.  Hyperbaric chambers are used to heal ischemic wounds and compromised skin, bone and other tissue.  Over these past 25 years, my experience and understanding of the body’s largest organ, the skin, has grown significantly.

Whether you’re interested in complete and beautiful tattoo removal or simply in looking your best through PicoSure Focus Lens skin rejuvenation, I can help.  The PicoSure is the finest aesthetic laser available and I’m one of the most skilled practitioners in the country, having owned and operated one daily for over five years.   Please give me a call at my new location:  Austin Medspa on West 6th @ 512-479-9997.

 

PicoSure Erases Tattoo Regret

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Tattoo regret is a real phenomenon.  I can’t tell you how many people call me the day after they receive their tattoo.  Immediate remorse.  What’s interesting though is not that they regret getting a tattoo, rather they regret getting a bad tattoo.

I had one such patient call me today expressing horrible regret over the tattoo she received yesterday.  While we were discussing state of the art laser tattoo removal with PicoSure laser she texted me both the example picture she had provided the artist and the tattoo she had received.  Now I’m no art critic but wow, what a bad tattoo.  It didn’t look anything like the desired design – see below.

My advice is:  THINK BEFORE YOU INK! 

  • Even though it might cost more, go to a reputable artist with a proven track record. Make sure they haven’t cut and pasted their portfolio off the internet.
  • Carefully consider the size of your potential cover-up tattoo. They’re usually bigger than expected.
  • Give yourself time to imagine the tattoo on your skin. Consider that it will be there for life.
  • Location, location, location. Will this tattoo be seen by others at work? Can you wear a dress or shorts or a tee shirt without your ink showing?
  • What will your potential employer say? Do they have a policy banning visible tattoos? Many companies are moving that direction.
  • How will a future significant other feel about your ink if it’s someone else’s name or a tribute to another person?

My plainspoken advice is given from the point of view as an RN who provides PicoSure laser tattoo removal on a daily basis and has heard many different stories of regret.  Sometimes the patients feel as though they made a mistake even getting a single tattoo.  If you are having tattoo regret or simply would like to fade your design for a fresh new image, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Numerous PicoSure “Settings” Are Adjusted To The Patient’s Condition

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Did YOU know?  The PicoSure laser for tattoo removal & skin rejuvenation has a “rep rate” or repeat rate that ranges from 1-10 pulses per second depending upon the area being treated?  The rate is measured in Hertz.  Treating a large back piece tattoo would require 10 Hertz but a traumatic tattoo near the eye might necessitate a rate of only 1 Hertz.  Unfortunately, many laser “technicians” do not understand the pulse count as it pertains to effective treatments.

A skilled operator recognizes the need for laser adjustments based upon a large array of medical variables.  At the end of a procedure, the PicoSure laser will report how many times it pulsed and this number becomes part of the patient’s medical record which can be evaluated later if adjustments are required.  I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Did you know - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Cynosure Manufactures The First & Only PicoSure Laser

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The PicoSure laser for tattoo removal & skin rejuvenation (Melasma, sun damage, acne scars, wrinkles) was the world’s first picosecond medical laser, which is no small feat.  There are a couple of cheap “pico” knockoffs out there that try to emulate what the PicoSure does but they can’t quite figure out how.  That’s because the first and only PicoSure utilizes patented whizzbang technology from Cynosure (the makers of PicoSure).  It starts with a lab-grown synthetic alexandrite crystal, which is the heart of the laser itself.  Flash-lamps pump photons into the crystal, which are then concentrated and emitted out one end to form the invisible 755nm wavelength laser beam.  The 532nm handpiece for red and yellow inks emits a green laser beam. By adding Cynosure’s proprietary Focus Lens Array, I’m able to easily remove excess pigment, sun damage, acne scars & fine lines and wrinkles, creating a beautiful, lasting improvement to the skin of the face, neck, chest, arms, legs & hands.

Remember what the acronym laser stands for? Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.  Take a look under the hood of my PicoSure laser for tattoo removal & skin rejuvenation and you can see the world’s most complex, fascinating and effective medical laser available.

Alexandrite Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal v2 Alexandrite Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you would like your tattoo or sun damage cleared easily & quickly, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Clears Most Professional Tattoos In 4-7 Treatments

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Why does the PicoSure laser require multiple treatments? Take a look at the image below; see all those tattoo ink particles mixed into the matrix of the skin cells?  The ratio of ink to cells is much greater than 1:1.  In fact, if there were only one particle of pigment to every skin cell, we wouldn’t even be able to see the tattoo.  In other words, the pigment particles vastly outnumber the cells in order for us to see and appreciate the incredible beauty (or not) of your tattoo.  If we consider the fact that the skin contains roughly 10 million cells per square inch, then we can estimate the tattoo itself is comprised of a billion particles per square inch, which is what it takes to produce a clear design.

Ink Particles In Skin

Each time the PicoSure laser fires it vaporizes a given number of the particles; we shoot a lot of pigment and it takes your body (lymphocytes) time to remove it.  It’s a physical removal process requiring each individual white blood cell to remove a single grain of ink.  After repeated treatments the tattoo will eventually be cleared – like it never even happened.  If you have a tattoo you want removed safely and effectively with the best tattoo removal laser available, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Hydrocortisone Ointment Reduces Post-Treament Inflammation

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The aftercare following PicoSure laser tattoo removal is very specific and it’s important for patients to follow the directions carefully.  Although the PicoSure laser is very gentle on the skin, the superficial blisters and overall treatment area must be supported with proper care to ensure that the maximum amount of ink is removed and that the skin itself remains healthy and resilient throughout the series of treatments.

Occasionally I have patients who take their aftercare into their own hands and disregard my advice.  Some worry that the site will become infected and they proactively apply the topical antibiotic Neosporin which is a known irritant.  Topical antibiotics may cause either allergic contact dermatitis or irritant contact dermatitis.  Neosporin may actually cause a worsening of the original condition which can be misdiagnosed as an infection.  In fact, the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) named neomycin the 2010 Allergen of the Year!  Once the ointment is discontinued the skin can resume healing normally but residual discoloration or redness may last for some time.

I’ve also had patients soak in Epsom salts (not recommended) or apply hydrogen peroxide (definitely not recommended!).  Some others will ask me if they can use a specific product other than what I recommend.  I had one such request recently for Silvadene which is a prescription-only topical cream that’s used to prevent infection in third degree burns.  My answer: your treatment area is neither infected nor burned so there’s no reason to apply a powerful medication such as Silvadene.  All medications have side effects and in fact the silver in Silvadene can even leave a permanent blue discoloration of the skin called argyria or delay healing.

Neosporin Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

We must remember that the blistering which follows PicoSure laser tattoo removal sessions is not thermal in nature.  Rather, the PressureWave with Boost causes minor blistering by vibrating and disrupting the superficial outer layer of skin cells called the stratum corneum.  When this occurs, clear fluid will pop out a blister.  Do not confuse minor blistering with a burn or infection.

I have all of my PicoSure laser tattoo removal patients wash the treated area with a mild soap each day, apply a liberal amount of Cortisone ointment and cover it with a protective dressing until the blisters have subsided.  This supports the skin, protects it and prevents any blisters from being torn off during routine daily activities.  Additionally, the cortisone in the ointment controls post-treatment inflammation which may reduce unwanted pigmentation changes. By carefully cleansing and protecting the treatment area, we ensure that the skin is ready for the next treatment.  Eventually, the area will look as though it had never even been tattooed.  If you have a tattoo you want removed professionally, safely and effectively, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

 

Recalcitrant Tattoos No Match For PicoSure!

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We often hear the word “recalcitrant” when speaking of a hard-to-remove tattoo. Technically, a recalcitrant tattoo is one that has visible pigment after 10 laser treatments. If you consider the fact that most laser treatments are roughly 6 weeks apart, this means a patient has undergone at least 10 treatments which have taken over a year to complete.

I have had many patients who lost count of the number of their treatments. Many times these recalcitrant tattoos are scarred and visibly hypopigmented or discolored. One reason for the existence of tattoo “remnants” and recalcitrant tattoos is the inability of Q-switched lasers to remove tough or colored inks. Additionally, POS Q-switched lasers use a higher fluence (energy measured in J/cm2) which increases the risk of thermal injury to the skin. Fortunately, recalcitrant tattoos can be effectively treated with PicoSure lasers to remove the residual ink and hopefully diminish the appearance of the scarring.  Want to talk about it?  I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

How Many Pulses Does It Take To Remove One Gram of Ink?

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Patients ask, “How many treatments will I need?”  The short answer is: “A lot less now that you’re using PicoSure and a skilled operator.”  You see cheap knock-off wannabe-pico lasers can’t deliver the energy correctly and POS Q-switched lasers are just as bad.  Cynosure’s PicoSure lasers cost more, but they’re worth it.

Now let’s say you’ve got 10 grams of pigment (ink) in your medium-large tattoo.  Six grams of black, one of blue, one of green and two of purple.  If we could gather it up and dump it on a sheet of paper and weigh it with a scale it would total 10 grams.  Once the liquid in the ink (usually alcohol) dissolves in your skin, the dry pigments of color remain.  Your body wraps protein fibers of collagen around the grains of pigment and holds them securely, which is why tattoos never go away on their own.

I’ve measured how much pigment (X) a single pulse of PicoSure vaporizes; represented as 1 pulse=X.  If X is removed from a 10 gram tattoo with each pulse then:  Y(total removal)=10 grams/X.  Because each pulse removes X micrograms, then a given number of pulses will vaporize the entire tattoo.

Problem is, few people in the world understand this principle, nor do they know how to effectively apply the pulses in a timely manner.  It’s something that can be taught but few trainers have the experience or the know-how to do it.

If you have a tattoo that you want COMPLETELY removed, regardless of whether you’ve been treated before, call me at Austin Medspa and let’s get started.  #512.479.9997

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Removal Of Tattooed Eyebrows

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Permanent makeup tattoos are quite popular; especially for the eyebrows.  Permanent makeup consists of tattoos that are usually applied by a skilled esthetician who has received special training.  The most common procedures include eyebrows, eyeliner and lips with eyebrows being numero uno.  The latest technique for application is called microblading which looks more natural because it mimics the look of hair.  But what happens when the artist gets it wrong?  You can come to me and I’ll easily erase or modify it using the PicoSure laser workstation for permanent eyebrow removal.

I’ve successfully treated a number of ladies with permanent eyebrows because their artist didn’t quite achieve perfection.  Sometimes eyebrow tattoos appear too stark or too dark.  The shape may not match the patient’s face or there’s not enough symmetry.  Whatever the reason, PicoSure laser tattoo removal can help.  If you have permanent eyebrows you would like to soften, lighten or remove I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

How Long Does PicoSure Tattoo Removal Take?

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Have you ever heard the old expression, “How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.”  So what does it mean?  Simply put, when you’re doing something big and difficult, do it methodically and have a strategy.  The same can be said for large-scale laser tattoo removal with PicoSure.  I have a number of patients with HUGE tattoos that I’m either in the process of removing or have completed, and the results are truly incredible.  But there’s a reason for my success, besides the fact that I’m using the world’s BEST tattoo removal laser, the revolutionary PicoSure; I work at it carefully and meticulously.  I like to describe the process as an “extremely thorough treatment”. Take a look at this example of some “laser operator” who left an ugly tattoo remnant on the patient because they were not being deliberate and thorough.  What a freakin’ mess.

BA B&A 2-10-15

This patient had undergone numerous treatments to his sleeve tattoo with some POS Q-switched laser which left him scarred and covered in residual ink.  His poor arm looked horrible and had for many years.

But take a look at what just 2 PicoSure treatments were able to accomplish!  It looks as though the area had never even been tattooed.  I carefully treated each stray mark and voila! No more tattoo!  Anyone might buy a laser but that doesn’t make them an experienced, dedicated tattoo removal expert.  Exceptional tattoo removal is a precise and exacting process.  It’s not like simply performing a photofacial or laser hair removal.  And as I have said before, both the patient and their provider must be committed.  Only then can a tattoo come off well; like it never even happened.  If you have a tattoo that’s been previously treated and you would like a second opinion, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

POS Q-switched Lasers Scar Tattoo Removal Patients

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I often see patients who have undergone numerous POS Q-switched laser tattoo treatments only to be left with a lot of colorful ink remaining in the form of an ugly blue, green or purple remnant.  The remnants are often scarred, hypopigmented or both.  This phenomenon is due to the fact that prior to the advent of the revolutionary PicoSure laser, these colors were nearly impossible to remove with the existing POS Q-switched lasers that have been in use for decades.  Why?  Because POS Q-Switched lasers burn the ink and unfortunately the surrounding skin.  This leaves the patient with an incomplete removal and scarring.  The PicoSure laser uses a patented PressureWave to destroy ink photomechanically.

Remnant B&A

Unfortunately, patients and their practitioners continued treatment even though no further fading was evident or even possible.  This leaves the skin in poor condition and increases the risk of permanent unwanted side effects.  Fortunately, the PicoSure laser is able to remove this residual ink even when it is bound by scar tissue.  In the process, the scars themselves may flatten out and soften.  The ability of the PicoSure laser to improve skin appearance (rejuvenation) has many practitioners using it for this purpose in addition to tattoo removal.  Not only can it remove unsightly pigments but it can significantly improve the texture and appearance of the skin.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com
512-479-9997

PicoSure Laser Removal Of A Recalcitrant Tattoo

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We often hear the word “recalcitrant” when speaking of a hard-to-remove tattoo. Technically, a recalcitrant tattoo is one that has visible pigment after 10 laser treatments. If you consider the fact that most laser treatments are roughly 6 weeks apart, this means a patient has undergone at least 10 treatments over the course of a year.

I have had many patients come to me who had lost count of the number of their treatments with some POS Q-switched laser. Many times these recalcitrant tattoos are scarred from the heat POS Q-switched lasers produce and visibly hypopigmented or discolored. One reason for the existence of tattoo “remnants” and recalcitrant tattoos is the inability of Q-switched lasers to remove tough or colored inks. Additionally, POS Q-switched lasers use a higher fluence (energy measured in J/cm2) which increases the risk of thermal injury to the skin. Fortunately, recalcitrant tattoos can be effectively treated with PicoSure lasers to remove the residual ink and likely diminish the appearance of the scarring.  Want to talk about it?  I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Laser Tattoo Removal And Hypopigmentation

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Post laser treatment hypopigmentation can happen when a patient’s skin’s inflammatory response impedes production of melanin.  The result is lighter skin in the affected area.  One example of severe hypopigmentation is vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that leaves the skin notably bleached.  Hypopigmentation can be frustrating to treat even for a skilled dermatologist.  I’ve recently read studies on the subject and found a promising treatment that doesn’t require a prescription:  Nigella Sativa commonly referred to as Black Seed Oil.  The oil is used for cooking throughout the Middle East and costs roughly the same as Olive Oil. It’s been used as a homeopathic remedy for hundreds of years and studies continue on its ability to heal a variety of ailments.

Black Seed Oil contains the phytochemical Thymoquinone. Phytochemicals help plants thrive or thwart competitors, predators, or pathogens.  Applied topically daily, Black Seed Oil was shown to significantly reduce severe hypopigmentation in vitiligo over a six month period.  When applying, use a dermal roller, like the one pictured above, to increase absorbtion.

Black Seed Studies:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25068060

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21492177

 

As a Registered Nurse, I am not qualified to prescribe medication so if you’ve been left hypopigmented from laser tattoo removal, please see a board certified dermatologist.  They might prescribe bimatoprost (Latisse) topical.  Meanwhile, homeopathic treatment with Black Seed oil daily may help alleviate the severity of your laser-induced hypopigmentation.

I remove tattoos every day with the revolutionary PicoSure workstation. Its effectiveness means fewer treatments, which decreases the possible severity of certain side effects, including hypopigmentation.  If you’ve got a tattoo you would like safely & effectively removed with PicoSure I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Visible Tattoos Can Be Taboo

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I just read that Japanese hotels do not allow people with visible tattoos in their swimming pools, spas and fitness centers.  The Japanese culture frowns on inked skin and has even attempted to outlaw getting a tattoo!  You might want to remember that before you book your next trip to Asia.

All kinds of people discriminate against tattoos in the workplace.  For a list of them, please see my earlier blog on the subject.  It even happens in Hollywood – a body double was used in 50 Shades of Grey because one actress had a “tramp stamp” the director didn’t like.  Maybe your tattoos are not a problem in your current position but what if you change jobs or seek a promotion?  One of my patients lived in fear of having to golf with his boss because he wouldn’t be able to cover his forearm tat.  If you’ve got a tattoo that’s showing and you want it off completely, safely and quickly with the PicoSure laser, give me a call at Austin Medspa (512.479.9997) and let’s get started.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PS:  Just for the record, “tramp stamp” is a derogatory term that should not be used to describe a lower back tat.

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal – Multicolored – Case Study

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Many patients have been told that their tattoos are impossible to remove.  The following case study is an example of just that kind of misinformation.  After numerous attempts at removal the patient was told the ink could not come out.  The truth is that with the right equipment (state of the art PicoSure laser workstation) and a skilled professional operator (registered nurse or licensed physician) almost any tattoo can come off cleanly.  Take a look at my before and after photos and see for yourself.

Case Study:

History:  Young woman, lower back, modern ink
Previous Treatment: 6 treatments with the POS q-switched laser you’re probably using
Result: Zero fading or clearance of ink
Solution: PicoSure 755nm for blue and black ink, 532nm for red ink
Post Treatment: OTC cortisone ointment to reduce post treatment inflammation
Interval: 6-8 weeks between treatments
Adjunct: Cupping therapy 1-2 times between PicoSure treatments
Finishing: PicoSure Focus Lens Array to rejuvenate and smooth the treatment area
Spot Size: Proprietary information
Pulses per cm²: Proprietary information
Application Technique: Proprietary information
Boost Application: Proprietary information
Manual Application: Proprietary information

If you’ve got a tattoo that won’t seem to come off and you’ve given up, please give me a call and I’ll rid you of your unwanted ink once and for all.  Austin Medspa:  512-479-9997

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Tattoo Removal Transitions

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If you’re considering tattoo removal, you may wonder what the process looks like.  The photos below show the midpoint of a removal and the endpoint.  Throughout the series of treatments, the ink clears and becomes lighter as the PicoSure PressureWave shatters it and allows the body to absorb the fragments.

The skin itself is left unharmed because of the revolutionary speed of the picosecond pulse.  The PicoSure uses photomechanical impact stress instead of photothermal heat.  It’s obliterating and vaporizing the ink rather than burning it out like some POS Q-switched laser.

If you’ve got a tattoo you would like safely and completely cleared with PicoSure, give me a call at Austin Medspa and let’s get started:  512-479-9997

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Removal Of Modern Black Ink Line Drawing Tattoos

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If you’ve ever seen someone with a horrendous scar and residual ink following a POS q-switched laser tattoo removal attempt, then you know just how tough black inks can be to clear.  These two examples of PicoSure removal (pics below) highlight just how thoroughly the patented PressureWave can shatter even the toughest of modern black glossy inks.

This patient is muscular and the tattoos were full-thickness, meaning the needle went completely through the dermis and delivered the ink throughout the deepest regions of the skin.  Most POS q-switched laser “operators” simply turn up the power to tackle tough ink, which will often burn, scar and produce less than desirable results.  PicoSure doesn’t require heat to remove a tattoo, so this gentleman  was very happy with his results and the skin was left unharmed.

If you have a tough tattoo you’d like to remove, give me a call at Austin Medspa: 512.479.9997 or email me: brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

 

PicoSure Strategies For Recalcitrant Tattoos

My friends

Case Study:

  • 15 year old multi-colored tattoo
  • Location:  Right deltoid
  • Ink:  Tough black outlines and shading, red, yellow, blue, purple, white
  • Previous treatments:  20 treatments with 2 different POS q-switched lasers
  • Result:  Hideous tattoo remnant – photo on the left
  • Removal strategy:  PicoSure 755nm & 532nm wavelengths
  • Adjunct therapy:  Cupping to affected area in between PicoSure sessions
  • Final result – COMPLETE removal

Discussion:
There are a great many “practitioners” out there who can ALMOST remove a tattoo. Perhaps you’ve used one and know exactly what I mean.  Now you’re left with a horrible, unsightly tattoo remnant.  If so, you’re not alone.  My estimation is that for every removal there are at least 100 partial removals.  Many of my patients come to me, show me their scarred tattoo remnants, and ask, “Can you fix this?”  The short answer is “Yes!”  But the removal itself is complex and requires a number of tactics, applications and of course, the world’s finest tattoo removal platform:  The revolutionary PicoSure.

Everybody asks me how I do these incredible removals.  If you have a new, old or remnant tattoo you would like COMPLETELY removed, I can be reached @ Austin Medspa on West 6th.  Please call 512.479.9997 to schedule a no-cost consultation.  If you want to do it by email please send me a pic here:  brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

 

Treating Melasma With PicoSure Focus Lens Array

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Great news:  Treating Melasma just got easier thanks to the folks at Cynosure, makers of the revolutionary PicoSure laser workstation.  Although there is no cure for Melasma, patients can achieve total clearance through a combination of therapies including PicoSure Focus Lens Array, medications like hydroquinone, and regular use of physical sunscreens, like zinc oxide.

Melasma, also called the mask of pregnancy, is diffuse, prominent facial pigment caused by overproduction of melanin in response to hormonal changes.  Although it can sometimes spontaneously resolve on its own, most Melasma occurs over a period of years and requires stringent regimens to manage.

To remove unwanted pigment, the PicoSure Focus Lens Array, which consists of >100 super-powerful micro-beams, uses a 755nm wavelength & picosecond pulse width that travels deep into the skin to shatter melanin in the dermis & epidermis.  A secondary benefit of the PicoSure’s unique picosecond pulse is “cell-signaling” that produces significant rejuvenation of the treatment area resulting in tighter, brighter skin with an improvement in texture and tone.  All that with absolutely NO downtime; the kind that is seen with ablative Fraxel and CO2 lasers.  PicoSure doesn’t ‘burn’ the pigment, it shatters it!

The treatment is generally 15 minutes in length and virtually painless when numbing cream is used prior to application.  The pigment may appear initially darker and then fades over the next 2 weeks.  I generally recommend an initial series of 3 treatments for Melasma and 2 treatments for those with unwanted pigment.  Best of all, the Focus Lens Array can be used on virtually any part of the body, with the most common being the face, neck, chest & hands.

If you’ve got unwanted pigment that you would like to have professionally removed with PicoSure’s Focus Lens Array, I can be reached in Austin, TX @ 512.479.9997

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Dark-Tanned Skin Should Be Lightened Before Treatment With PicoSure

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PicoSure laser tattoo removal is the safest most-effective method to successfully remove a tattoo.  The goal is to make the area look as though it had never even been inked and believe me it’s possible – I do it all the time.  One secret to beautiful results is keeping the skin as light as possible in between treatments.  Why?  Because the melanin in your tan impedes the laser beam – which is what nature intended.  Our tans protect us from UV radiation (sunlight) in order to prevent skin cancer.  When being treated with a laser, some of the energy is blocked by the melanin which decreases the effectiveness of the treatment and also can lead to hypopigmentation (a lightening of the skin).  Although most hypopigmentation is temporary, the slight risk still exists that it may become permanent. Because of this risk, I’ve had to turn away several patients this summer because their skin was just too dark to treat.  When that happens I advise them to wear sunblock daily over their tattoo and try to avoid the sun for 6-8 weeks.  Then they’ll be ready to treat again.

If you have a tattoo you would like COMPLETELY and safely removed with the revolutionary PicoSure Laser I can be reached in Austin, TX @ 512.479.9997 or if you just want to discuss your tattoo and treatment options you can call my cell @ 512.808.6712.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Focus Lens Array – Pigment – Melasma – Wrinkles

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Freckles, Melasma, Sun Damage, Lines & Wrinkles?  Inside your cells is newer skin just waiting to get out.  Focus Lens treatments with the PicoSure laser activate your body’s natural skin cell processes for healthy, more youthful looking skin.  Only Focus treatments lighten unwanted pigment AND uniquely stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin—keys to younger-looking skin—without the pain or downtime of other laser treatments.

  • Skin Cell Activation initiates dermal remodeling, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars
  • High and low intensity energy lightens unwanted pigment such as freckles and age spots
  • Convenient 10–15 minute treatments
  • A few hours of mild redness vs. 2–6 days of downtime with other laser procedures

If you have sun damage on your face, neck, décolleté or hands and arms that you’d like to repair with the revolutionary PicoSure Focus Lens Array I can be reached in Austin, TX  at my new location inside Austin Medspa @ 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Austin PicoSure Is Moving Downtown!

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After 4 fantastic years in my current location on Austin’s West-side, I’m moving my PicoSure practice to Downtown Austin, TX on JUNE 19th (Juneteenth for you history buffs) in order to serve you better.  I will now be located inside Austin’s finest laser treatment facility:  Austin Medspa.  Super excited!

If you currently have an appointment scheduled with me before the move I’ll see you at my existing location.  If your appointment is after June 19th I will be contacting you to make sure you know where to come, etc.  You can also call my new office number @ (512) 479-9997 or call my cell @  (512) 808-6712 if you have any questions.

As many of you know, Cynosure initially built only  15 PicoSure lasers for tattoo removal and I bought #15.  But did you know the revolutionary PicoSure also treats unwanted pigment, like melasma?  It’s the finest choice available for facial rejuvenation, including acne scars, sun damage and premature aging.  I’m Texas’ most experienced PicoSure laser nurse and fortunately for you I love my job!  If you have unwanted ink or just want to improve your skin’s appearance and texture, I’ll see you on 6th street!

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Where to find me:

  Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

1611 W 6th Street
Web: https://austinmedspa.com

Phone (512) 479-9997

Email: austinmedspa@gmail.com

PicoSure Training Ensures Professional Laser Tattoo Removal Results

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Have you ever wondered who manufactures the World’s finest, most advanced picosecond tattoo removal laser?  Answer:  Cynosure, a Hologic company.  I spent the entire week at Cynosure’s corporate headquarters in Westford, MA learning from other industry professionals and sharing best practices and I’m more convinced than ever that if you have unwanted ink the PicoSure laser workstation is the laser for your treatment.  Numerous peer-reviewed papers have shown PicoSure’s superiority over POS antiquated Q-switched lasers.

Cynosure is dedicated to the tattoo removal patient as well as their practitioners and has spent a fortune developing and creating the finest state-of-the-art tattoo removal workstations.  Regardless of ink color, location or age of your tattoo, the PicoSure can effectively treat it.  Please take a second to look at my before and after images and I’m sure you’ll agree the results are nothing short of amazing.  If you have an unwanted tattoo I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

AUSTIN PICOSURE LASER TATTOO REMOVAL, AUSTIN MEDSPA

Introducing The T-cup Method Adjunct Therapy For PicoSure Tattoo Removal

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T-cup (tattoo cupping) method, developed by Brendan Leigh, RN, MS in Austin, TX, improves clearance when used in conjunction with PicoSure laser tattoo removal.  The T-cup method consists of using standard cupping therapy between PicoSure laser treatments to dislodge deep tattoo pigments to allow for better removal by the body via the lymph system and mechanical action.

 

Background:  Cupping has been used for centuries to heal tissues and remove contaminants, both of which are critical elements of PicoSure laser tattoo removal therapy.  Cupping involves the use of negative pressure which causes the tissue to draw into a glass cup.  The result often leaves a noticeable bruise.  Deep ink is dislodged from its fixed position and allowed to mix with coagulated red blood cells.  As the body scavenges the area to clear the bruise, ink particles are also removed.  The blood and serous fluid and plasma contain a myriad of healing factors which improve the treated skin and deeper tissues.

I developed the T-cup method as an adjunct therapy to speed the ink clearance when used with the revolutionary PicoSure laser workstation.  If you have a recalcitrant tattoo or would like to improve your rate of clearance I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Removing Tattooed Eyebrows With PicoSure Laser

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Permanent makeup tattoos are quite popular; especially for the eyebrows.  Permanent makeup consists of tattoos that are usually applied by a skilled esthetician who has received special training.  The most common procedures include eyebrows, eyeliner and lips with eyebrows being numero uno.  The latest technique for application is called microblading which looks more natural because it mimics the look of hair.  But what happens when the artist gets it wrong?  You can come to me and I’ll easily erase or modify it using the PicoSure laser workstation for permanent eyebrow removal.

I’ve successfully treated a number of ladies with permanent eyebrows because their artist didn’t quite achieve perfection.  Sometimes eyebrow tattoos appear too stark or too dark.  The shape may not match the patient’s face or there’s not enough symmetry.  Whatever the reason, PicoSure laser tattoo removal can help.  If you have permanent eyebrows you would like to soften, lighten or remove I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Hypopigmentation Following Laser Tattoo Removal

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Post laser treatment hypopigmentation can happen when a patient’s skin’s inflammatory response impedes production of melanin.  The result is lighter skin in the affected area.  I recommend a board certified dermatologist who can effectively treat hypopigmentation with topical steroids, lasers and other medications.  However, hypopigmentation can be frustrating even for a skilled dermatologist.  One example of severe hypopigmentation is vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that leaves the skin notably bleached.  I’ve recently read studies on the subject and found a promising treatment that doesn’t require a prescription:  Nigella Sativa commonly referred to as Black Seed Oil.  The oil is used for cooking throughout the Middle East and costs roughly the same as Olive Oil. It has been used as a homeopathic remedy for hundreds of years and studies continue on its ability to heal a variety of ailments.

Black Seed Oil contains the phytochemical Thymoquinone. Phytochemicals help plants thrive or thwart competitors, predators, or pathogens.  Applied topically daily, Black Seed Oil was shown to significantly reduce severe hypopigmentation in vitiligo over a six month period.

Black Seed Studies:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25068060

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21492177

Believe it or not, even Ginkgo Biloba might help.

Ginkgo Biloba Study:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21406109?dopt=Abstract

As a Registered Nurse, I am not qualified to prescribe medication so if you’ve been left hypopigmented from laser tattoo removal, please see a board certified dermatologist. Meanwhile, homeopathic treatment with Black Seed oil daily may help alleviate the severity of your laser-induced hypopigmentation.

I remove tattoos every day with the revolutionary PicoSure workstation. Its effectiveness means fewer treatments and that decreases the possible severity of certain side effects, including hypopigmentation.  If you’ve got a tattoo you would like safely & effectively removed with PicoSure I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Professional Multicolored Tattoo Removal With PicoSure

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Here’s yet another example of a patient who went to some cheapo “clinic” for laser tattoo removal with the “latest & greatest” POS Q-switched nano-slow laser and got burned – literally & figuratively.  First they burned her on some “package deal” rip-off, then they burned her skin.  If you look closely there’s a half inch scar in her ‘before image’.

Like many patients, she sought me out, desperate to remove her unwanted ink.  In very few treatments with both a PicoSure 755nm (blacks, blues, greens, purples) and 532nm (reds, yellows, oranges, pinks) wavelength I was able to cleanly remove her tattoo.  Now all she needs is a swimsuit and a pool to get her color back.

If you’ve been scarred and left with tons of ink because you tried unsuccessfully to remove your tattoo with some Groupon wannabe laser “clinic” then give me a shout in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997, and I’ll get your unwanted ink out quickly, safely & beautifully with the revolutionary PicoSure laser workstation.

WARNING: It’s all about the operator – renting a PicoSure laser doesn’t make you an expert – it takes dedication, education & experience.  I’m Texas’ most experienced PicoSure nurse and I use a proprietary set of tactics, strategies & applications to produce the most striking before & after images.  Many PicoSure providers actually use MY IMAGES to hawk their services!

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Handpiece For Beautiful Results

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The 755nm Alexandrite PicoSure laser beam used to perform tattoo removal is invisible to the naked eye. Because of that, the PicoSure laser has a built in red laser ‘gun sight’ that I use to target tattoo ink.  When I point that red dot at a given spot on a tattoo and hit the switch the PicoSure fires its invisible 755nm beam deep into the dermis.  The picosecond energy pulses pass harmlessly through the skin and destroy only the tattoo ink itself, which means not only is the PicoSure more effective when compared to ANY POS Q-switched nano-slow laser, but the chance of side effects like burns or scars are virtually eliminated.

Interestingly, the new PicoSure laser 532nm handpiece for red, yellow and orange inks does emit a visible beam of intense green light.  This is because certain pigments are in fact red because they absorb green light and reflect red light.  The 532nm laser handpiece fires at a picosecond pulse interval which produces a powerful photomechanical PressureWave.  This combination of energy and pressure destroys red and yellow pigment but is harmless to the skin, leaving the area as though it had never been tattooed.  If you have a red, black, yellow, orange or multicolored tattoo, or previously treated unsightly tattoo remnant, you would like removed with the revolutionary PicoSure laser I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal of a Recalcitrant Tattoo

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Here’s yet another example of the amazing power of a state-of-the-art PicoSure laser in recalcitrant tattoo remnant removal.  This unsightly tattoo had been previously treated numerous times (>10) with a POS q-switched laser, which left a hideous tattoo remnant on the patient’s back.

After just one treatment the remnant was virtually gone.  One blue dot of ink that remained was summarily executed with a single shot of the PicoSure laser with Boost and its resultant PressureWave.  If you are living with an unsightly tattoo remnant that you would like to finally erase completely, I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Requires A Prescription

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Who’s performing your laser tattoo removal?  Only a qualified doctor, preferably board-certified in plastic surgery, can prescribe cosmetic laser treatments. Your doctor may delegate the application to an experienced professional, such as a Registered Nurse, who’s been specially trained in the use of a state-of-the-art laser workstation.  The FDA requires a physician’s order for PicoSure laser tattoo removal treatments because it takes years of training and experience to provide quality services to a patient and a laser in the wrong hands can cause immense damage, including scars, burns and unsightly tattoo remnants.

I’ve had numerous patients come to me, after they received improper treatment at the hands of some inexperienced “laser technician”, asking me to fix their less than esthetic results.  Luckily the PicoSure laser is also FDA cleared for scar rejuvenation but it takes experience and know-how to achieve success.  With PicoSure, I’m able to remove the remaining ink blots and improve the appearance of the scar tissue.  Unfortunately, the proliferation and limitations of POS nanosecond (slow) q-switched lasers often have providers applying too much energy in an attempt to remove a blue, green or recalcitrant ink that they’re incapable of treating.  If you’re living with an unsightly blotch of ink after having POS q-switched laser tattoo removal you know just what I’m talking about. Fortunately, the PicoSure laser minimizes the potential for side effects by pulsing so fast that the ink is shattered with a PressureWave leaving the surrounding skin undamaged.

Q:  Are you using the PicoSure laser or some POS with ancient q-switched technology packaged as “The Latest & Greatest!”  If you’ve been injured by a q-switched laser or want to remove your residual ink from previous treatments, I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.  I’ll be glad to finally rid you of your unwanted ink once and for all.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Transient Hypopigmentation Following PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

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Occasionally patients refer to post-treatment hypopigmentation following laser tattoo removal and call it a “scar”.  This is a common misconception so I’d like to discuss it.  Regardless of whether a patient receives treatment with some POS nano (SLOW) Q-switched laser, or is lucky enough to find a good PicoSure laser provider for tattoo removal, mild hypopigmentation is usually present throughout the series of treatments.  This is due to the pigment (melanin) being removed via the same mechanism as the tattoo ink itself.  However, once the tattoo is gone and treatments are discontinued, the cells that make melanin  are usually able to repigment the affected skin. The repigmentation process can take months, and in some cases years, depending on skin type, number of treatments received, type of laser used and other factors. A board certified dermatologist can prescribe topical steroid creams and other treatments to speed up the process once the ink is gone.  Hypopigmentation is also often camouflaged with semi-permanent flesh-tone tattoo inks by an experienced esthetician.

So why do patients sometimes confuse hypopigmentation with scarring?  It’s probably because scars are often hypopigmented so there’s a visual association present.   Scar tissue that forms after an injury may not contain enough melanocytes to repigment the area, which leaves it white in appearance.  White scars, such as those from a surgical procedure, may be permanent whereas transient hypopigmentation, caused by a PicoSure laser is temporary in the vast majority of cases.

Fortunately, the PicoSure laser pulses so quickly (picosecond = trillionth of a second) that it is considered extremely gentle on the skin and unlikely to cause an injury that would result in scar formation even if hypopigmentation is present.  If you would like to discuss your tattoo removal options, or have already decided you want your ink safely and completely removed by Texas most experienced PicoSure laser provider, I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Surgical Removal Of A Tattoo Vs. PicoSure Laser Treatment

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PicoSure laser tattoo removal is by far the easiest, safest and most effective way to rid the skin of unwanted ink but there’s also another option: Excision (surgical removal) of your tattoo.  An experienced plastic surgeon can easily cut out minor tattoos, depending upon location, and leave a small, discrete  scar.  This is an excellent option for patients who require immediate removal. But as with any scar, be prepared to hear the question, “What happened there?” for the rest of your life.  Removing a large tattoo this way is impractical because the scars are longer than the tattoo and sewing the skin back together would be too difficult.  The stress on the incision site may cause a less than perfect appearance (see example below).  Scars that don’t heal quite right will require surgical revision later to reduce their appearance.

If you want to have your beautiful skin back, like you were never even tattooed in the first place, then PicoSure laser tattoo removal is the best option. Even tough ink or large tattoos, are no match for the picosecond pulse and resultant PressureWave which will easily and cost-effectively restore your skin to its original condition.  If you have a tattoo you want removed safely and effectively with PicoSure I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Timing Intervals

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Occasionally I’ll get a patient who is up against a deadline for their PicoSure laser tattoo removal.  Maybe they’ve got an upcoming wedding and their wedding dress would reveal some unwanted artwork.  Or perhaps, they would like to permanently remove that “old flame’s” name before the planned nuptials.  Perhaps they have a job interview with a company that doesn’t allow visible tattoos while on the job – think military or stuffy office.

So how often can we treat a tattoo with PicoSure?  There’s normally 4-8 weeks in between treatments depending upon tattoo size, patient age and other factors.  However, if a tattoo has been previously treated and proven recalcitrant, I generally recommend 8 weeks between treatments to ensure the maximum amount of fading.  If a tattoo is small, it’s generally okay to treat it every 4 weeks if you’re in a hurry to get it off.  Everyone else falls somewhere in between.

Some studies show that the longer we wait between treatments, the better the removal goes.  This is probably true with POS (Nano-Slow) Q-switched lasers since they tend to damage the skin considerably and require a lengthy healing time.  When using the PicoSure laser, the skin is left intact and this shortens the time between treatments.  Additionally, since the skin itself cannot absorb the picosecond pulse, the majority of the energy is used to create a powerful PressureWave to fracture and destroy the unwanted pigment via photomechanical impact.  Ultimately, this leads to better clearance and fewer treatments with PicoSure versus old-technology Nano-Slow POS Q-switched lasers.

Note: Some laser manufacturers repackage the slow (nano = slow) Q-switched technology and say things like “It’s the latest & greatest laser” but the insides are still a throwback to the seventies when everyone was removing blue India ink tattoos – that’s all they could do.

Each tattoo removal regimen should be unique (to you) and customized upon your individual requirements, situation and ink.  A skilled PicoSure provider can tailor various treatment strategies to optimize your tattoo removal whether you’re in a time crunch or not.  If you have a question regarding the speed of your removal, I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Compared To Nano-SLOW Q-Switched Technology

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What are the main differences between the revolutionary PicoSure laser tattoo removal workstation and POS q-switched (nano-slow) tattoo removal lasers?  Well for starters, the PicoSure achieves better clearance in fewer treatments.  Fewer treatments equates to:

  1. Faster clearance!
  2. Less cost!
  3. Better clinical outcomes!
  4. Less risk of dermal injury and scarring!
  5. Fewer appointments!

Take a look at one of the clinical trial photos where the PicoSure laser went head to head with the best POS q-switched (nano-slow) laser available.  Both sides of the same tattoo were treated; one with PicoSure and the other with a POS q-switched laser.  The results are astonishing and speak for themselves.

One other important distinction between the PicoSure and nanosecond (nano-SLOW) POS q-switched lasers is the speed of the pulse.  This unparalleled breakthrough in laser technology delivers ultra-short pulse bursts of energy to the skin in trillionths of a second.  A picosecond pulse width is 100 times faster than nanosecond technology, enabling unmatched photomechanical impact for better clearance with fewer treatments and less fluence (energy).  Less energy means less damage to the skin.  If you are interested in safe, effective tattoo removal for less money and faster results by Texas most experienced PicoSure tattoo removal professional I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Old Tattoo Succumbs To PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Techniques

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We’re never too old to change.  The oldest patient I have treated with the revolutionary PicoSure laser for tattoo removal was also the youngest when she got her tattoo.  She was only 12 years old when she first got inked and 82 years old when I removed the tattoo.  It was homemade, done in India ink and located on her right shoulder.  It was the initials of someone’s name and she couldn’t even remember whose initials they were, but she was 82 so that’s a pretty good excuse.

Let’s face it, we can forget a lot in 70 years.  One thing she hadn’t forgotten was the beating she got when her father saw that tattoo the next morning.  She told me she remembered that quite clearly.  The artist was her brother; he also got a beating.

I noticed the skin around her tattoo was hypopigmented and I asked her why?  She told me that she had been putting a piece of tape on that tattoo every day since the day after she’d gotten it.  Now that’s some seriously old tattoo regret.  What creative ways have you used to cover your unwanted tattoo? It required a single treatment with PicoSure to remove her tattoo but probably would’ve taken much longer using POS q-switched nano-slow lasers.  I saw her the other day and looked for it, but it was all gone.  We’re never too old to change.

If you’ve got something you’ve wanted to remove for the longest time, I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Happy New Year!!!

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An Old Irish Blessing for 2017:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

I spent several years in Ireland growing up in the town of Roscrea.  I love the beauty of Ireland and its people.  Having said that, I sure have removed a lot of shamrock tattoos.  If you’ve got one you want safely and completely removed with PicoSure I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Fading A Tattoo With The PicoSure Laser

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Fading an unwanted tattoo with the powerful PicoSure laser to facilitate a new cover-up design has become increasingly popular.  A professionally faded tattoo increases the choice of cover-up art work options significantly.  For example, the light bright colors and fine lines associated with today’s tattoo designs will not effectively cover an older existing dark outline and ink.  Most dark outlines and deeply saturated tattoos can be sufficiently faded in just one or two treatments with PicoSure but the same isn’t true of a POS Q-switched laser.  Once the majority of the undesirable ink has been removed, the artist can then easily apply a new tattoo using lighter strokes and delicate colors. I have faded a significant number of tattoos successfully which allowed for the placement of beautiful cover-up artwork – see example below.

austin-picosure-laser-tattoo-removal-fade

If you’ve got a tattoo you want faded or safely, effectively and completely removed with PicoSure I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Boost Upgrade Increases PicoSure PressureWave’s Photomechanical Power

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The PicoSure laser for tattoo removal now has a Boost upgrade software package that increases the speed of the picosecond pulse to create an even more powerful PressureWave for the toughest inks.  The result is an increase in the photomechanical energy by 70%.  This improves the rapid destruction and elimination of tattoo inks, regardless of color, while maintaining safety to the patient’s skin.

austin-picosure-laser-tattoo-removal-boost

When PicoSure rolled out the Boost upgrade I was the first practitioner to receive it and I’ve been very pleased with the results. If you would like a demonstration of the PicoSure in the form of a FREE test spot or FREE consultation on your tattoo I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Removal Of A Large Shaded Tattoo

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Today I want to share a PicoSure laser case study of a “shaded” tattoo removal.  Generally speaking, these tattoos are some of the easiest to remove.  There are many reasons for this but much of it has to do with the lighter amount of ink that’s used, combined with the fact that shading isn’t always placed as deeply as say, dark black outlines, for example. This “Ghost” tattoo was located near the right shoulder blade and measured approximately 10” tall by 6” wide.  Because of the size of the tattoo, the treatment time was somewhat lengthy and intricate.  Unless you find a PicoSure laser provider who takes their time and is extremely thorough, strategic and meticulous, the tattoo will fade unevenly and require more treatments than are actually needed.  Total removal of this tattoo required only 4 treatments. More than 90% of the ink was gone following the 3rd treatment.  The final treatment was only used for touching up stray ink.

BL Ghost B&A 4 PicoSure Treatments - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

The patient was very happy with the result and his skin was left undamaged thanks to the lightning-fast picosecond pulse of the PicoSure laser that creates a powerful PressureWave to shatter the ink in to the smallest of particles which can then be easily carried away by the body.  Conversely, old-technology POS Q-switched lasers have a greater risk of damaging the skin due to the slow pulse and high energy requirements necessary to attempt removal.  Because Q-switched lasers take way more treatments than PicoSure lasers, a patient’s skin will often scar and have residual ink called a tattoo remnant. If you’ve tried unsuccessfully to remove a tattoo you know what I’m talking about. If you want to fade or completely remove your unwanted ink with PicoSure I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Takes Commitment & An Experienced Provider

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Have you ever heard the expression: “Keep coming back, it works!”  I tell my patients that, especially in the beginning because even the state-of-the-art PicoSure Laser takes time to completely remove a tattoo.  Several treatments may be required because each tattoo is different and no two people are alike.  Some inks are very tough & deeply colored or heavily saturated into the skin.

Neck Tattoo Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Many inks are tweaked by manufacturers to improve their “lightfastness”, which is the degree to which a pigment is unaffected by time or exposure to sunlight.  Manufacturers add a number of secret ingredients to ensure that their inks are tough and durable.  These additives include various metals like titanium, chromium and iron which can reflect laser light or change form and color during the tattoo removal process.  An experienced PicoSure provider can advise you on how your particular ink is responding and what strategies may be incorporated for optimum clearance. PicoSure laser tattoo removal ensures you get the best possible result in the fewest number of treatments. So don’t trust your skin to a POS Q-switched laser, which can easily burn and scar while it unsuccessfully attempts to remove tough ink. If you want your tattoo safely and totally cleared with PicoSure’s patented PressureWave and Boost software I can be reached in Austin, TX @ my new location:  Austin Medspa 512-479-9997.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Why Don’t All Providers In Austin Own A PicoSure Laser For Tattoo Removal?

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There are a lot of claims out there when you search for PicoSure Laser Tattoo removal in Google.  Like: “most trusted proven laser” or “best laser technology”.  But then when you actually click on the link you see that someone is trying to sell you on antiquated q-switched laser technology that is decades old even if the laser is newer or cheaper.  I’m not pointing this out from a competitive stance; I simply don’t want patients getting injured by POS q-switched lasers anymore.  POS Q-switched lasers pulse 100 times SLOWER than a PicoSure laser.  So what?  Well for starters, q-switched lasers fire so slowly that they are liable to cause burns and scars.  I get patients every week who have been scarred by these old lasers and still have copious amounts of hideous residual ink in their tattoos.  I call these injuries “remnants” and if you’re walking around with one you know just what I’m talking about!

Photomechanical Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

So why doesn’t everyone have a PicoSure?  Good question.  Ask them yourself or give me a call and see how well the PicoSure laser with Boost upgrade can remove your tattoo and/or what’s left of it.  Clinical trials have proven that POS q-switched lasers cannot compete with PicoSure for safety, efficacy and clearance of tattoo ink.  If you would like  me to demonstrate the benefits of tattoo removal  with PicoSure I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal & Optical Illusions of Removal

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Just how black is black?  Sometimes a very deep dark black tattoo will almost appear glossy due to the modern additives that manufacturers use to produce toughness and luminosity. A tattoo made with that kind of black ink can initially seem as though it’s resistant to PicoSure laser tattoo removal.  However, we know what’s taking place on a microscopic level; ink particles are being shattered by the photomechanical PressureWave and removed by the body.  So why does it sometimes initially  look as though nothing has happened?  Well we have to go back to my original question regarding just how black are some blacks and how deep they were laid in.

Fading Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

When we remove a layer of black ink we reveal the layers beneath it, which can still be seen because light skin is translucent.  It’s sort of like an old printer running out of black toner; the words get lighter and lighter but we can still read them quite clearly.  It may take 4 or 5 treatments before we see islands of clear skin within some of the blackest of tattoos.  So what does all this mean to a PicoSure tattoo removal patient?  We have to be patient on some tattoos and trust in the technology.  Hopefully your provider is charging you a fair price and even though you may require a significant number of treatments to remove your coal-black tattoo it will still be affordable.  Remain committed to your tattoo removal and you will be glad you did.  If you have a dark black tattoo that is heavily saturated with ink and you would like it safely and thoroughly removed  with PicoSure, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Of Stubborn Black Ink

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How black is black?  Sometimes a very deep dark black tattoo initially appears as though it’s resistant to PicoSure laser tattoo removal.  However, we know what’s taking place on a microscopic level; ink particles are being shattered by the photomechanical PressureWave and removed by the body.  So why does it sometimes initially  look as though nothing is happening?  Well we have to go back to my original question regarding just how black are some blacks.

Skull Before & After Side by Side FINAL - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo RemovalBL Ghost B&A 4 PicoSure Treatments - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

 

When we remove a layer of black ink we reveal the layers below which are obviously also black.  Because the skin is translucent, meaning we can clearly see through it, the remaining layers of black ink are still highly visible.  It’s sort of like an old printer running out of black toner; the words get lighter and lighter but we can still read them quite clearly.  It may take 4 or 5 treatments before we see islands of clear skin within some of the blackest of tattoos.  So what does all this mean to a PicoSure tattoo removal patient?  We have to be patient on some tattoos and trust in the technology.  Hopefully your provider is charging you a fair price and even though you may require a significant number of treatments to remove your coal-black tattoo it will still be affordable.  Remain committed to your tattoo removal and you will be glad you did.  If you have a dark black tattoo that is heavily saturated with ink and you would like it safely and thoroughly removed  with PicoSure, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal – Pain Tolerance

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If you’ve ever wondered what “air-cooling” for comfort means, it’s the use of a chiller to cool the skin and diminish the pain associated with PicoSure laser tattoo removal.  Normally, the laser energy passes painlessly through most skin types and concentrates its energy on the pigment.  However, the reaction with the pigment can be strong and occasionally produce minor pinpoint bleeding, frosting and bruising of the treatment area.  When this occurs, the nerve endings send a signal to the brain that something is happening.  The pain has been likened to a rubber band snapping against the skin.  This is an accurate statement due to the fact that the patented PicoSure picosecond PressureWave does cause a strong photomechanical impact.  The tattoo pigments are shattered in to fine particles as a result of the impact stress which allows them to be removed by the body.

All in all, the PicoSure laser tattoo removal treatments are much faster than the tattooing process itself and are rarely excruciatingly uncomfortable.  In addition to the air chiller (shown below) I also may use topical numbing cream or Lidocaine injections, when necessary, and take appropriate breaks to allow the patients to relax.  Some folks like to wear their headphones to block the sound of the laser while listening to their favorite tunes.  Whatever it takes, we’ll do it.  Before you know it the treatment is over and you’re one step closer to having that tattoo gone forever.  If you would like to discuss your tattoo removal options I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Chiller
World’s BEST chiller!!!

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Celebrates Dia De Los Muertos

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Happy early Dia De Los Muertos! AKA: My Birthday! Yes that’s right, I was born on the Day of the Dead, which is a special holiday celebrated by our neighbors to the South, the wonderful people of Mexico. It’s a day to remember family who have passed on and support their spiritual journey. Collectively, October 31st, November 1st and November 2nd are known as All Saints’ Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day.

mexican Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal skull Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Celebrations of Dia De Los Muertos include the use of the Marigold flowers and skull art like the ones I’ve posted here for your enjoyment. Often, people will get tattoos based upon specific holidays, like hearts for Valentine’s Day, Clovers for St. Patrick’s Day and the list goes on and on. Sometimes these are perpetual reminders of good times but often, they become mistakes. If you got a celebratory tattoo that you want off safely and effectively with the revolutionary PicoSure laser with Boost, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Did YOU Know?

Millions of patients have tried UNSUCCESSFULLY to remove tattoos with POS q-switched lasers, salt-fading injections, micro-needling Eclipse TR & Wrecking Balm?  Unfortunately, these, and many other, attempts at tattoo removal have left hundreds of thousands of patients scarred with residual ink in the form of unsightly “tattoo remnants”.  Wow, talk about tattoo regret!

Did you know

Tattoo-Friendly Employers Don’t Require PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

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PicoSure laser tattoo removal isn’t a requirement for getting your dream job but that may depend upon just what it is you dream of doing. Many of my patients have told me they’re discriminated against because of their skin art.  Most companies base their policy decisions regarding visible tattoos on customer perceptions.  For example, if most of a company’s customers are 65 years or older, they would most likely ban visible tattoos in the workplace.  However, if a business caters to young people, there’s a good chance that many of its customers are inked and would actually feel better if the employee was someone relatable.  If you’re dream job doesn’t relate well to your ink that’s okay – I’m here to help with the best PicoSure laser workstation on the planet, because even tattoo-friendly companies do not allow offensive art.

Employer Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Please let me help you get that visible ink off using the most experience and best strategies that have cleared many of Austin’s hardest tattoos. II can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.  Until then, here’s a list of the most ink-friendly companies in the U.S.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

National companies with visible tattoo acceptance:

  1. Whole Foods
  2. Sally’s
  3. Hot Topic
  4. Trader Joe’s
  5. Borders Books
  6. Target
  7. Claire’s Boutique
  8. Piercing Pagoda
  9. Burlington Coat Factory
  10. Hard Rock Hotel
  11. Anthropologie
  12. Home Depot
  13. Petco
  14. FedEx
  15. MAC Cosmetics
  16. Tokyo Joe’s
  17. Dunkin Donuts
  18. Half Price Books
  19. Applebee’s
  20. Amazon.com
  21. Zappos.com
  22. LUSH Cosmetics
  23. UPS
  24. Google
  25. Lowe’s
  26. Albertson’s
  27. Big Lots
  28. Barnes & Noble
  29. IKEA
  30. Forever 21
  31. Journeys
  32. Spencer’s Gifts
  33. Staples
  34. Ticketmaster
  35. Best Buy
  36. Kohl’s
  37. Starbucks (recent change)
  38. U.S. Military (recent change)

POS Q-switched Lasers Leave Hideous Tattoo Remnants!

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Are you frustrated with the lack of progress on your POS q-switched laser tattoo removal? Have you had four or more treatments and your tattoo has hardly budged?  Well you’re not alone.  Millions of patients out there have “tattoo remnants” that are scarred from improper treatment and the remaining ink is practically burnt into their skin.  See image below of patient who’d had numerous treatments and was left with a hideous sleeve remnant that I completely cleared in just two treatments.

BA B&A 2-10-15 - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

What causes this? Many practitioners buy an inferior POS q-switched (the q stands for quality – seriously) and overpromise what they can do with it.  Q-switched lasers were invented when the majority of tattoos were laid down with cheap India ink and weak pigments.  Today’s tattoos are made from inks that are lightfast (resistant to UV radiation like lasers).  Dye manufacturers add metals, pure carbon and dozens of other ingredients to their inks to make them vibrant, colorful and tough.

While POS lasers use photothermal (heating up the ink) action alone, PicoSure workstations use photomechanical action. This means a powerful PressureWave, made even stronger with the Boost upgrade, shatters the ink and pushes it out of its niche without damaging the skin.  The result: better clearance in fewer treatments and little or no side effects.

If you’re walking around with a partially removed tattoo that you want completely gone once and for all I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Clearance Of Tattoo Remnants Is Easily Accomplished

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PicoSure laser tattoo removal is excellent for those poor unfortunate patients who’ve been treated multiple times with some POS q-switched laser only to find themselves left scarred and with tons of residual ink that I call a “tattoo remnant”. In desperation, they turn to me and fortunately, being one of the most skilled and experienced PicoSure nurses in the world, I’m able to finally remove their unsightly remnants.

Three scarred tattoo remnants caused by a POS q-switched laser:

LB 1-29-15

Scarred Tattoo Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo RemovalEclipse TR MicroPen Tattoo Removal - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal FINAL

Why do these remnants occur you might ask? I mean most providers refer to their ancient POS q-switched lasers as “the latest technology” or “finest laser for tattoo removal”.  I often wonder if they truly believe that – no one knows.  Here are the facts:  In head-to-head clinical trials which were submitted to the FDA, PicoSure outperformed the best q-switched lasers on the planet and won in every respect.  How?  Better clearance, fewer treatments, all colors, and fewer side effects.

Simply put, the PicoSure laser is the best performing tattoo removal system in existence and I’m its #1 operator.  I started the day it was FDA approved in April of 2013 and have used it every day since.  I’ve seen it all.  Many of my patients want to remove their ugly q-switched remnant, fade ink for a cover up, or get a complete removal.  Several of my patients have been featured in PicoSure ads because of the superior clinical results I can attain.

If you have an unsightly remnant of residual ink and scarring or even a brand new tattoo that you suddenly regret I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St. I can remove it all – big or small.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Can Be Performed On Any Body Part

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Many women get tattooed in intimate places in order to hide their tattoos when they want to. However, regardless of the quality of the artwork, there’s just no way to improve on the naked beauty of a gorgeous woman.  Consequently, many of you wind up regretting getting inked in that special spot.  I remove tattoos from every area of the body – yes including there – and the results are simply amazing.

Woman Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

The PicoSure laser was designed to completely remove a tattoo without leaving any damage to the skin or indication that there was ever a tattoo there in the first place. How does it accomplish this you might wonder.  It starts with a picosecond pulse that creates a powerful PressureWave that obliterates the ink.  It does this in millionths of a second (100 times faster than a POS q-switched laser) so it won’t burn your skin.  The result is a rapid and total clearing of the ink while leaving your body just as beautiful as it was the day before you got your tattoo.

If you have a tattoo in an intimate place that you would like to safely, discretely and completely clear with the PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

POS Q-switched Lasers For Tattoo Removal May Cause Permanent Hypopigmentation

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I often have patients come to me for PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal who have been left with permanent hypopigmentation due to over-treatment with a POS q-switched laser. In addition to their skin becoming permanently lighter, they are also often scarred and left with tons of unsightly residual ink called a “tattoo remnant”.  Once the ink is completely removed with PicoSure, the hypopigmentation caused by the POS may become even more apparent (see example below).

Hypopigmentation Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Many times hypopigmentation is transient and will ultimately resolve on its own but sometimes a good physician can help speed up the process. There are certain treatments that can stimulate melanin production, such as medication and even additional laser treatments at specific wavelengths.  One such medication is called bimatoprost and it’s the key ingredient in products such as Latisse.  Latisse is used to make eyelashes grow longer and darker in patients who are not satisfied with their lashes.  Unfortunately bimatoprost can be pricey in the U.S., where we often pay triple or quadruple what other countries pay for their drugs.

A board-certified dermatologist can help decide what treatment options will best reverse your hypopigmentation. In the meantime, if you’ve been left with a scarred, hypopigmented tattoo remnant that you would like removed once and for all, safely and effectively with PicoSure, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Cupping Therapy Between Laser Tattoo Removal Treatments In England

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One of my readers in Great Britain is using a DIY trick at home for cupping therapy in between his laser tattoo removal treatments.  I’ve stated before that during the weeks that follow PicoSure laser tattoo removal, the ink is unbound and can be physically drawn out into the space between cells where it can be more effectively removed by the body.  This might allow for a faster removal.  Cupping is safe and can be done at home several times in between treatments.  If you’re trying it please let me know.  Meanwhile, if you have a tattoo you would like completely and safely removed by the best PicoSure nurse in Texas I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

 

Here’s our British friend’s story in his own words:

     Firstly, I did some research online and found a few guidelines to cupping.  Websites said that you should shave the area first (as to ensure a good seal), which I did.  To aid the seal, I used a little olive oil on the skin where the cup would seal.  Next, in absence of a set of cupping equipment, I noticed that my wife’s favourite latte glass – which was made of thick, strong glass – was the perfect diameter for my tattoo. I did a dry run and realized that the rounded shoulder not mate well with a flat cup, so experimented with arm positions until I found one where my shoulder muscle was relaxed and the cup would touch all the way around.
     I then got some forceps, cotton wool and surgical spirit.  A small cotton wool was put in the jaws of the forceps and then ball had a couple of drops of surgical spirit applied, which was then set alight. You get about 15 seconds of burning, so need to work fairly fast.  The lit cotton wool was wafted inside the latte glass for about 2-3 seconds and quickly removed, and the glass then quickly pressed neatly over the tattoo.  No heat was apparent on my skin.
     Immediately you feel a little suction, which increases over the next few seconds as the glass cools, and then stabilizes.  I left the cup attached for around 15 minutes as my skin was not going as red as I was expecting.  The suction was enough to walk around with the glass unsupported.
     After a few hours the appearance is similar to how a laser treated tattoo looks a few days later – pink and inflamed – but it was not uncomfortable at all. I will repeat this as soon as the inflammation has resided between laser sessions.  I think I will step up the suction next time by holding the cotton wool in the glass for another half a second or so, as I feel it could have been stronger (and resultantly would made my shoulder redder and promoted more blood flow to the ink).
 Cupping Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal     Cupping v2 Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Callen Holfield & His Mysterious Moving Tattoo @ Austin PicoSure.com

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What if you went to sleep with a tattoo on your arm and when you woke up you found it had moved to your leg?! The following is a strange but true story from one of my PicoSure tattoo removal patients.

Here’s what happened:

A patient, I’ll call Callen Holfield to protect his identity, woke up one day and looked down at his leg to find one of his tattoos had moved from his left forearm to his left leg! Needless to say, Callen was shocked.  How could a tattoo move?  Answer:  it was moved by a gifted surgeon!  You see, Callen was in a horrific motorcycle wreck that nearly cost him his life and his left leg.  To save it, skilled surgeons in Austin, TX (Yes!) harvested his left forearm muscle, skin and artery and transferred it to his leg.  When the surgeon saw the tattoo, he carefully cut around it and preserved it, effectively moving the entire thing to his leg.

Although Callen is now undergoing PicoSure laser tattoo removal for numerous tattoos, I’m not sure the one in this story will ever be taken off. Wow, what an amazing story – right out of the Illustrated Man.  To see the surgeon’s work you may click on the icon but be warned:  the photo is graphic.

Icon Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Meanwhile, if you have a tattoo you would like safely, quickly and COMPLETELY removed in as few treatments as possible, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Cupping Therapy & PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

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I’m often asked what patients’ can do in conjunction with PicoSure laser tattoo treatments to effectively speed up the removal process.  Researchers have tried everything without success – even chemotherapy!  But now I’m testing the ancient art of cupping therapy on recalcitrant tattoos.  Cupping is safe and inexpensive and involves the use of glass or plastic cups placed on the skin to pull out toxins (like tattoo ink), improve circulation, and promote healing.  It’s the only procedure I know that can physically draw ink into the interstitial fluid to facilitate removal (see actual austinpicosure patient photos below).  Stay tuned as I gather my patient data on this potentially exciting adjunct therapy to PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal.

Cupping Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removals

Meanwhile, if you’ve got a tattoo you’d like safely and completely removed by one of the world’s most experienced and successful PicoSure providers I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal – Tattoo-of-the-Week

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I’m probably the most successful PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal nurse out there but that doesn’t mean I’m  anti-tattoo.  To celebrate the beautiful artwork I come across I often post a Tattoo-of-the-Week and today’s example comes from a beautiful Austinite with a Ship-in-a-Bottle tat on her left forearm.  The work is new so it hasn’t had time to fully set but I just love the theme.

Ship Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

As many of you who follow my blog know, I’ve got an exciting medical fiction novel coming out and it just so happens there’s a character with nearly an identical tattoo to this one.  In my book, “Flip Switch“, the tattoo shows the edge of the world and a ship falling off.  I hope you enjoy them both!  If you’ve got a cool tattoo you’d like to celebrate, please send it to me at brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Can Be Life-Changing!

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Can PicoSure laser tattoo removal change your life?  In some cases yes it can.  Although I’m proud of all of my successful tattoo removals, this one has a special place in my heart for its transformative quality.  Please take a look at the before & after images below.  With all the employment policies around no visible tattoos, this young lady’s prospects were limited at best so she made the decision to get this large neck tattoo completely removed.  Here are a couple of the relevant facts regarding the removal:

  • The tattoo ran from under her chin, behind her right ear, and ended at her cervical spine
  • She originally sought me out because I had the PicoSure laser
  • She kept coming back because it worked
  • Removal prior to FDA clearance of PicoSure in 2013 would have been impossible
  • A POS q-switched laser would have left her scarred with residual ink
  • The various colors required both the 755nm & 532nm wavelength hand pieces
  • 755nm: black, blue, purple, green
  • 532nm: red, yellow, pink
  • The location, type of ink, saturation & depth required the PicoSure PressureWave
  • PicoSure Boost was also utilized
  • She drove hundreds of miles to Austin, TX for each treatment
  • Eight primary treatments were required

Neck Tattoo Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you’ve got a multicolored or plain black tattoo that you would like completely and professionally removed with PicoSure I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Eyebrow Permanent Makeup Easily Removed Via PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

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If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of patients out there who have botched permanent makeup you know what a frustrating embarrassment it can be. Most tattoo removal providers will not touch permanent makeup because it can be risky.  Number one: it’s on the face and two: it can change colors in response to laser energy.  But one exception is black or dark brown tattooed eyebrows.  They can be easily softened or removed via PicoSure laser tattoo removal.

Eyebrows Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal
Permanent Eyebrow Makeup After 1 PicoSure Laser Treatment

So what makes eyebrows different? Well for starters, if they change colors it most likely won’t be any darker than they are currently.  When in doubt we can perform a test spot.  Secondly, they’re one of the most botched permanent makeup applications out there.  If you have bad eyebrow tattoos you know what I’m talking about.  PicoSure laser tattoo removal can be used to safely and effectively lighten, soften, remove or reshape lousy permanent eyebrow makeup.  If you’ve got a tattoo, permanent makeup or otherwise, that you’d like treated with the revolutionary PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Helping Children With Tattoos

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What’s the standard age for getting one’s very first tattoo? The answer may surprise you.  Although I often hear patients say “I got it on my 18th birthday” the truth is more and more young children are getting tattooed by their friends or doing it themselves.  I’ve treated many patients who got their 1st tattoo when they were as young as 12 years old!

Child Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

As a nurse and healthcare provider, my heart goes out to any child who feels that permanently tattooing their beautiful young skin will make them feel better. The stories I hear from kids with tattoos are heart breaking.  For that reason, I will soon be launching an effort to begin PicoSure laser tattoo removal on young children who can’t sign a consent form for treatment themselves because of their age and who also couldn’t otherwise afford treatment.  Children have it hard – we’ve all been there – and living with the stigma of a tattoo as a child only makes it worse regardless of the reason it was inked.  To see how you can help, please email me at brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com and let’s save some of our most precious children from their unfortunate mistakes.

I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Blue Tattoo Ink Is A POS Q-switched Laser’s Worst Nightmare

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Got the blues? That’s understandable because for all of those POS Q-switched lasers out there blue ink is the hardest to remove.  Every day I see more and more blue colored tattoo remnants.  These are poor patients who were “GUARANTEED!” that their ink would come out and it never did.  Unfortunately there are many unscrupulous wannabe ‘practitioners’ out there who treat inked-up patients like nothing but a number because all they’ve got is a license and a laser with technology that was invented in the nineteen sixties.  Add to that the fact that modern tattoo inks are designed to be tough (gone are the days of India ink) and we’ve got a real situation on our hands.

LB 1-29-15Recalcitrant Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Fortunately, the PicoSure laser can easily remove your blue residual tattoo ink – often in a single treatment! If you’ve got scarred-up residual blue, green, black ink, etc. I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.  Call me and finally rid yourself of your unwanted tattoo.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Creating Recalcitrant Tattoos With A POS Q-switched LASER

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Instructor Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Did you know? The standard definition of a recalcitrant, or hard to remove tattoo, is visible ink persists after TEN laser treatments. Today modern tattoo inks are engineered to be extremely resilient and lightfast – meaning they won’t fade when exposed to the sun’s harmful rays or any other UV radiation such as the kind emitted by some POS Q-switched laser.  Manufacturers have gone to great lengths to add chemicals, metals and other proprietary ingredients to their pigments, which make them both brilliant in coloration and unfortunately, difficult to remove.  There are hundreds of thousands of patients out there who have had 20 or more treatments and still have their tattoos. Many of the patients who come to me in desperation can’t even remember the number of treatments they’ve had previously!

So there’s one more thing about recalcitrant tattoos that you should know: the definition itself is inaccurate. Someone may have told you that your tattoo is recalcitrant because you’ve had 10 or more treatments but what they’re not telling you is that you’ve been using the wrong laser! In fact, getting treated with the wrong laser can actually create a recalcitrant tattoo by burning the skin and binding up the residual ink within scar tissue – many of those patients come to me in desperation every day. Thankfully PicoSure laser tattoo removal is the fastest, most effective way to clear any kind of tattoo ink. It even improves the look of scars by flattening and smoothing them out.

If you’ve been told you have a Recalcitrant Tattoo and you’re looking for a final solution, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Click below to view these ‘Recalcitrant Tattoo’ images which were all UNSUCCESSFULLY treated by a POS Q-switched laser in some tattoo removal ‘clinic’:

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Clears ALL Ink Combinations

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Q:  Do you remember the primary colors and what makes them so special?
A:  You can combine them to make all the other colors.  There are a couple different primary color models, like the RGB one used in television to create pixels and the CMYK model used in printers.  Those are different than mixing oil paints, watercolors and other artistic media like tattoo ink which use Red, Yellow & Blue as the primary colors.

Ink Colors Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

So what does this have to do with PicoSure laser tattoo removal?  Well, some of your ink may have started out as a couple primary colors mixed together.  So what?  So that means they’ll fade unevenly depending upon the wavelength used.  For example, many green inks are actually made by mixing blue and yellow inks together.  Depending on the ratio of blue to yellow, many different types of green can be produced.  Additionally, if the green winds up too dark, white ink can be added to lighten it.  Now you’ve got a green tattoo that’s really three colors mixed together, and when the laser begins to remove it, one of the three will be weaker than the others and come out first.  If we look at the example below, we see a green ink made from blue and yellow in which the blue is fading out well with a 755nm Alexandrite PicoSure wavelength.  The process reveals the mixed-in yellow component that’s left behind in the process which can then be removed with the PicoSure 532nm handpiece for red and yellow.  You’ll have to make sure your provider has both handpieces and understands precisely what they’re doing; otherwise you’ll be one of those folks walking around with an unsightly tattoo remnant of residual ink.  Fortunately I’ve got both handpieces and I know how to use them most effectively.  Combine that with the PressureWave and your tattoo is coming off.

Green Ink Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

So if you have green, blue, yellow, red or any other color ink under the sun and you want it completely and thoroughly removed with PicoSure – the world’s finest tattoo removal laser, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Associating With Tattooed Mannequins Versus PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

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Art imitating real life? I guess that’s what you’d call it when tattooing mannequins (no really) to attract your attention becomes a real thing.  Seriously?  When we look at a mannequin in a department store or fashion boutique, we imagine how what they’re wearing would look on us.  Most women in the U.S. (~60%) have a tattoo so it only makes sense that some female mannequins would too.  Several prominent stores are already using them and more and more are being seen all over the world.  The trend has actually created more business for prominent tattoo artists who ink up the plastic people for big bucks.  Next thing you know they’ll have a variety of piercings and other body art.

Mannequin Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you don’t want to relate to a tatted up robot and are ready to safely and effectively remove your unwanted ink with the revolutionary PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Celebrates Three Year Birthday!!!

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Birthday Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Did you know that the amazing PicoSure laser for tattoo removal was launched three years ago?  The advent of the world’s first picosecond medical laser gave hope to millions of people just like you who wanted their tattoos removed once and for all.  Many of my patients, in fact the majority, have been unsuccessfully treated with some POS Q-switched laser that left them scarred and full of residual ink.  But now there’s hope; I’ve successfully removed the toughest tattoos, while leaving the skin looking as though it had never even been tattooed.

If you’re ready to remove your unsightly tattoo remnant or if you just want to start with the finest laser on the planet to thoroughly and completely erase your unwanted ink I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Tattoo Of The Week

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Here’s our  cool Austin PicoSure tat-of-the-week.  I chose this one because it reminds me of urban Austin, which is to say it’s cool.  The Capitol of Texas is different and our motto is “Keep Austin Weird”.  Love that!

Bike Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Heavy-Handed Black Outlines Seem Resistant At First

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How black is black?  Sometimes a very deep, dark black tattoo outline may appear as though it’s going to be resistant to PicoSure laser tattoo removal.  However, we know what’s taking place on a microscopic level; ink particles are being shattered by the photomechanical PressureWave and carried off by the body via lymphatic drainage and phagocytic activity.  So how can it look as though nothing is happening initially?  Well we have to go back to my original question regarding just how black are some blacks.

Star Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

When we remove a layer of deep-set black outline ink, placed by a heavy-handed artist, we reveal the layers below which are also obviously black and still quite visible.  Because the skin is translucent, meaning we can see through it, the remaining layers, although deeper can still be readily seen.  It’s sort of like an old printer running out of black toner; the words get lighter but we can still read them quite clearly.  It may take 3 or 4 treatments before we see islands of clear skin within the blackest of tattoos.

Fading Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

 

So what does all this mean to a PicoSure tattoo removal patient?  We must be patient on some tattoos and trust that the technology is working.  Hopefully your provider is charging you a fair price and even though you may require a significant number of treatments to remove your deep coal-black tattoo it will still be affordable.  Remain committed to your tattoo removal and you will be glad you did.  If you have a dark black tattoo that is heavily saturated with ink and you would like it safely and thoroughly removed with PicoSure, give me a call and let’s get started. To schedule a free consultation, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Alexandrite Crystal Powers PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

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The PicoSure laser for tattoo removal was the world’s first picosecond medical laser, which is no small feat. So how’d they do it?  Well no one’s saying.  Let’s just agree that it’s definitely some whizzbang technology.  It starts with a synthetic alexandrite crystal which is the heart of the laser itself.  Flash-lamps pump photons into the crystal which are then concentrated and emitted out one end to form the invisible 755nm wavelength laser beam.  The 532nm handpiece for red and yellow inks emits a green laser beam.

Remember what the acronym laser stands for? Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.  Now all that power and technology comes at a price.  For example, synthetic alexandrite crystals come in three grades:  industrial, military and then PicoSure.  You see the quality in its ability to remove tattoos and unfortunately in the cost when the crystal has to be replaced.  I had mine replaced this week but now I’m back up and running.  Take a look under the hood of my PicoSure laser for tattoo removal and you can see the world’s most complex and fascinating medical laser available.

Alexandrite Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal v2 Alexandrite Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you would like your tattoo removed by the safest, most effective laser on the planet I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Photomechanical Versus Q-switched Photothermal

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The technology behind medical lasers is incredible and the PicoSure laser for tattoo removal is no exception.  It was the first compact medical picosecond laser to be developed.  Researchers had known for quite some time that Q-switched nanosecond lasers fired too slowly to produce an effective PressureWave that could break up tattoo ink.  What’s more, standard Q-switched lasers are likely to cause collateral tissue damage, burns and scarring, when employed for tattoo removal in resistant, tough or colored inks like blue and green.  You may know this personally if you’re still living with a scarred-up blue or green tattoo remnant.  The answer was to build a laser that could target colors and fire a pulse in a trillionth (pico) of a second.  The result was Cynosure’s PicoSure laser and it has more than lived up to expectations.  It’s the only laser that I use for tattoo removal because of its superior clinical results and several of my patients before and after images have been featured in Cynosure ads and instructional materials.

Recently, the manufacturer of the PicoSure laser released a software upgrade called Boost which shortens the pulse duration even more.  This makes the laser fire faster which results in an increase in the PressureWave of up to 70%.  In my experience, Boost has improved the performance of what was already the best laser available for tattoo removal.  I have treated many recalcitrant tattoos with Boost and the patients are pleasantly surprised at how effective the laser is at removing residual ink in tattoos that had previously been treated elsewhere 10 times or more.

Photomechanical Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

There are two different mechanisms at work here (1) photothermal and (2) photomechanical (see image above).  Photothermal is the process of heating ink particles and photomechanical is the effect of the PressureWave literally breaking the pigments apart in to the smallest of sizes which can be easily carried away by the body.  The lasting effects on the skin are minimal whereas the tattoo itself is permanently destroyed and removed.

Besides the Boost upgrade, there have been other revolutionary upgrades to the PicoSure laser since its release in April 2013.  Advancements include the 532nm handpiece for red, yellow and orange tattoo inks plus a detachable Focus Lens Array for pigmentation removal and tissue and scar rejuvenation as well as others pending FDA clearance.  As always, I’ll try my best to keep you up to date on further developments. Meanwhile, if you have a tattoo you want faded for a cover up or safely, effectively and completely removed I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Is A Physical Process

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PicoSure laser tattoo removal is a physical process. The PicoSure laser energy literally shatters the tattoo ink pigments – they are not dissolved or magically made to be invisible. Once the particles are broken in to smaller pieces, they are able to float away through the lymph system. Many are also digested and carried away by macrophages, a type of white blood cell, while the lymphocytes, another white blood cell, cleans up any cellular damage or debris. With all that microscopic activity going on, you may wonder just what it look like under a microscope.  Take a look at the photos below and you can clearly see the spheres of tattoo ink in human tissue samples on the left side.  In a large tattoo, there are literally hundreds of millions of these pigmented “ink balls” located in and around billions of microscopic skin cells.  The spheres of pigment are trapped in fibrous connective tissue and unable to move, which gives tattoos their permanence.  Without PicoSure laser treatment, macrophages cannot remove these balls of ink.

Pigment Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

After the tattoo on the left side of our picture was treated with the PicoSure laser, the balls of ink were fractured in to the smallest of particles by the patented PressureWave™.  Vaporized ink particles are now small enough to escape the fibrous mesh that was previously holding them stationary.  Some particles enter the clear fluid between cells and exit via the lymphatic system.  Any leftover ink is small enough that it can now be easily cleared by macrophages.  The image on the right shows the resulting ink clearance.  Each treatment clears more and more ink until the tattoo is no longer visible and the treatments can be halted.  If you have a tattoo you would like to have treated by my state of the art PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

What PicoSure Settings Should Be Used?!

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I’m often asked by patients and doctors alike what PicoSure laser tattoo removal settings I use to ensure a safe, effective and quick removal of unwanted ink.  I can understand their confusion; the PicoSure laser is a complex state-of-the-art piece of equipment that requires education, experience and dedication to master.  After all, my clinical results are second to none and several of my patients have been featured in PicoSure marketing materials.  Part of this success is due to the fact that I’m a Registered Nurse with decades of experience in tissue management and the rest is the result of dedicating my work solely to PicoSure laser tattoo removal.  The laser came out exactly 3 years ago and I’ve used it every day since then – it’s my only focus.  This specialization has allowed me to become an expert in PicoSure laser tattoo removal because I’m not performing photofacials and other work that could be done by any new-grad esthetician.

Settings Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal
Click to enlarge settings

So back to the main question: Why are so many folks asking me for advice on how to operate their PicoSure laser?  The answer goes back to that old adage:  “A cookbook does not a cook make.”  In other words, the PicoSure laser is much like a scalpel; in the hands of a trained surgeon a scalpel works miracles but hand a scalpel to the average doctor or nurse and watch out.  Simply owning a PicoSure laser doesn’t make you a tattoo removal expert.  To achieve success a practitioner must dedicate years to perfecting their techniques.  That’s what I’ve done to become what I am:  Texas’ most experienced and successful PicoSure nurse.  I can’t simply tell someone what PicoSure setting to use because they wouldn’t understand.

If you would like the utmost in professional PicoSure laser tattoo removal services I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Pulse-Count Explained

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You might not know what a PicoSure laser tattoo removal “pulse count” is but let me tell you, it’s critical to the removal process. The pulse count is the total number of times the PicoSure laser fires or pulses during a treatment.  The factors affecting the pulse count are (1) the rep-rate or Hertz, which is the number of times the PicoSure laser fires per second and (2) the speed at which the operator covers the ink.  If the rep-rate is firing at 10 times per second and the operator is moving the laser over the tattoo slowly, the total pulse count will be quite high.  If, on the other hand, the operator has the rep-rate set too low for the area being treated and he or she moves the laser too quickly, then the total pulse count will be too low for an effective treatment.

 

Pulse Count Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

So what does this mean? Well, every tattoo will require a certain number of pulses for the ink to be vaporized.  If not enough pulses-per-treatment are applied, then the tattoo will not come off quickly and the number of treatments required will go up.  I base the rep-rate (Hertz) and speed of coverage on a number of factors including location, color, size, ink reaction and more. I’ve developed this strategy over the 3 years since the introduction of the PicoSure laser and let me tell you, it’s extremely effective.

I recently observed a tattoo treatment with a POS Q-switched laser and not to knock another operator, but the session was a total failure. The operator, who was neither an MD nor an RN had the rep-rate set way too low and she passed over the treatment area much too quickly.  The result?  An ineffective treatment fail.  Unfortunately, the market is saturated with low-quality “Tattoo removal clinics” using POS Q-switched Lasers operated by non-professionals who lack the skill, education and experience to remove a complex tattoo.  If you have a tattoo you would like to safely, effectively and COMPLETELY clear with the revolutionary PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Marine Corps Decision Is A Step Forward For Women In Uniform

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Early last year I blogged about the military’s decision to allow visible tattoos as long as they were not on the face or neck and were not deemed to be objectionable.  Ring finger tattoos were also okay.  The military made this change because the new rules which had prohibited visible tattoos were hurting recruitment efforts as well as reenlistments.   It turns out that the majority of the military have tattoos and by banning them, the U.S. Army and other branches severely undermined their own personnel.

Fast forward to today and the Marines have updated their uniform policy to allow women to wear crew-neck tees which would cover up their chest tattoos (see image below) – previously only men were allowed to wear them.  This is just another example of the acceptance employers must utilize in order to get the help they need.  Not to mention the fact that it is yet another small step towards women’s equality on the job.  Let’s face it, the antiquated notions and stereotypes regarding people with tattoos are fading away.  All of the patients I treat with the revolutionary PicoSure laser are fine, upstanding citizens who have made a personal decision to remove or alter their artwork.  Having said that, I still treat many people who feel that their tatts are holding them back at work.

Chest Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you have a tattoo you would like to safely and completely remove with the PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! – Holiday Tattoo Regret

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Uh-oh.  Did you just get a four leaf clover tattoo yesterday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?  Well, you’re not alone.  Many people use holidays as an inspiration for some new ink that later winds up being yet another tattoo regret.  I’ve often removed holiday-inspired artwork that is generally acquired after a day or more of partying and festivities.  If you have a shamrock, flag, heart, Halloween design or other artwork that has turned out to be downright scary or an outright mistake and you would like to completely erase it with the revolutionary PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Holiday Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

The Illustrated Man – Tattoo Mystique & Removal

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It’s been a while since I read Ray Bradbury’s 1951 novel “The Illustrated Man” but now I wonder about its impact on the tattoo industry as a whole.  The book was nominated for an International Fantasy Award in 1952.  It was made in to a movie by the same name which stared Rod Steiger and told the tale of how the central character came about his tattoos at the hands of a time traveling woman.  I remember reading the book as a teenager in high school and being struck by the scene where the tattoos come alive and begin to move, telling their stories.

Illustrated Man Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal     Illustrated Man Cover Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

I understand how mysterious tattoos can be. Some are merely cartoons and others have deep meaning and tell fantastic stories.  Looking back, I can see how this novel and subsequent movie might have contributed to the mystique of tattoos, which were especially popular in the fifties and sixties.  Back then, artists used India ink which was cheap, abundant, and gave the majority of tattoos a sailor-style appearance. Q-switched lasers were employed to remove many of those tattoo nightmares but modern inks require PicoSure Laser tattoo removal due to their chemical composition and durable lightfastness.  If you have an old or new tattoo that you would like to safely, effectively and completely remove with the state-of-the-art PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Did YOU know?  

Many businesses TRIED a “No visible tattoos” policy in 2015 and failed?!  Starbucks and the U.S. Army are two notable examples.  Although both of these American institutions believed that tatted-up workers hurt their brand & image, they soon found that these valuable workers were welcomed elsewhere with open arms!  Starbucks lost many of its current employees, while potential applicants with tattoos didn’t even apply.  Additionally, the U.S. Army determined that exceptional soldiers were retiring early because of the negative policy.  Both agencies, and many more, reversed course and did away with the antiquated policy that had cost them more money than it was worth.

Did you know

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Austin PicoSure Tattoo-of-the-Week!

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Okay, so I think this tattoo behind Berliner, Elisa Menzel’s left ear is just ingenious so she wins AustinPicoSure.com’s coveted Tattoo-of-the-Week e-trophy!  Seems that she was tired of telling people she was deaf in her left ear so she got the cool tattoo to remind them and she says it really paid off!!!  Just another example of a helpful tattoo.  Want another one?  Cancer patients are often tattooed with little “targets” that allow external beam radiation machine operators to aim precisely at their tumors during each treatment!

Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Please submit your interesting and cool tattoo photos to me @ brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

To remove or fade a tattoo safely & effectively with the revolutionary PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Tattoo Ink Is Comprised Of Many Compounds Designed To Make It Hard To Remove

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I recently wrote a blog post stating that I think it’s time to amend the definition of ‘recalcitrant’ when it comes to laser tattoo removal. The basis for this belief is that modern inks are much different than their older cousins; the India inks that Q-switched lasers were developed to remove.  (Modern tattoo inks require removal with a PicoSure laser with Boost and a 532nm handpiece.)  We know that some of the earliest tattoo pigments were simply made of ashes mixed with water.  Reportedly, Samoans used nut soot and sea water for their elaborate tattoos.  Dry pigments have also been dissolved into a number of liquids including rose water, glycerin, alcohol and the list goes on and on.  There are literally hundreds if not thousands of ways to make a tattoo.  I once had to remove a tattoo that was made from the soot of a melted blue razor handle mixed with water.  But modern inks don’t breakdown very easily because they’ve been designed to hold up over the years by adding proprietary metals and exotic ingredients like those listed below.

Click the chart to see the most common ink ingredients in your tattoo:

Ink Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Besides new inks being tough to remove, sometimes patients will also have reactions to a particular ink ingredient following the tattooing process itself.  Additionally, photo-aggravated reactions can be seen following exposure of a brand new tattoo to sunlight.  The area will become swollen and raised.  Yellow pigment created from cadmium sulfide is one of the primary offenders but this can also be seen in red inks where trace amounts of cadmium are added to brighten the color.  Fortunately, I’m one of the few PicoSure laser tattoo removal providers in the U.S. who has the 532nm handpiece that RAPIDLY & SAFELY removes red and yellow pigments, including their variants such as orange ink.

Although most tattoo inks were once considered safe and relatively inert, each patient is different and can have a variety of reactions to the myriad of exotic chemical compounds found in the pigments.  Occasionally a patient will tell me that they want their tattoo removed due to an adverse reaction to the ink following the tattooing process.  If you have an irritated, recalcitrant or tough tattoo ink you would like to safely and successfully remove with the state-of-the-art PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Modern Inks Require Redefining The Term “Recalcitrant Tattoo” – #PicoSure!

One of the questions I get most often is “How many treatments do you think I’ll need?” If you combine that question with the fact that as many as 50% of the new consults I get have been previously treated with some POS Q-switched laser it speaks to the matter of effective clearance.  Proper clearance means that the area looks as though it was never even tattooed.  Currently, when a tattoo still has visible ink after 10 or more treatments, it is considered “recalcitrant” – meaning hard to remove.

FACT:  I remove recalcitrant tattoos that have been previously treated unsuccessfully with POS Q-switched lasers, regularly!

I’ve often wondered about that nice round number 10. It was probably coined back in the eighties when tattoo removal was much simpler and revolved around clearing India ink and other weak pigments.  Today, modern tattoo inks are extremely resilient and lightfast.  Manufacturers have gone to great lengths to add chemicals and metals to their pigments which make them both brilliant in coloration and unfortunately, difficult to remove.  There are many patients out there who have had 20 or more treatments – including some of the patients below!

So what does this all mean? It means that the term ‘recalcitrant tattoo’ most likely needs to be redefined to something more realistic, based upon the reality that tattoos are inked with much tougher pigments than before.  The answer?  PicoSure!  While it’s true that tattoos are harder to remove, the PicoSure laser with Boost and its PressureWave can destroy and clear even the toughest inks made.  If you have a supposed recalcitrant tattoo that you’ve tried to remove unsuccessfully, don’t get a cover-up until you see me.  Chances are very good that I will finally remove your unwanted ink once and for all. I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Click below to view these ‘Recalcitrant Tattoo’ images which were all UNSUCCESSFULLY treated by a POS Q-switched laser in some tattoo removal ‘clinic’:

Scarred Tattoo Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal     Eyelid Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal     LB 1-29-15

Head To Head Comparison Between Q-switched And PicoSure Lasers

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What are the main differences between the revolutionary PicoSure tattoo removal laser and the antiquated technology in a POS Q-switched nanosecond laser?  Well to begin with, the PicoSure laser achieves better clearance in fewer treatments and fewer treatments equates to:

  • Faster clearance
  • Less cost
  • Better clinical outcomes
  • Less risk of dermal injury and scarring

Take a look at one of the clinical trial photos below where the PicoSure laser went head to head with the best Q-switched laser available.  Both sides of the same tattoo were treated; one with PicoSure and the other with a Q-switched laser.  The results are astonishing and speak for themselves.

Head to head - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

One other important distinction between the PicoSure and nanosecond Q-switched lasers is the speed of the pulse.  This unparalleled breakthrough in laser technology delivers ultra-short pulse bursts of energy to the skin in trillionths of a second.  A picosecond pulse is 100 times faster than ordinary lasers and creates a powerful photomechanical impact (called a PressureWave) for better clearance in fewer treatments using less energy.  Less energy means less damage to the skin.  If you are interested in safe, effective tattoo removal for fewer dollars and faster results, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Black Is NOT Easy For A POS Q-switched Laser To Remove

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Have you ever heard someone say that “Black’s the easiest tattoo color to remove with a Q-switched laser”? That tired phrase was coined due to the fact that Q-switched lasers could not remove colors such as blue and green among others.  In my practice, I see many patients with scarred black tattoo remnants that were unsuccessfully treated with Q-switched lasers.  Fortunately, the patients finally gave up in frustration and sought me out to remove the residual ink and fix the scarring – which I do on a daily basis.

So why is it suddenly so difficult for a POS Q-switched laser to remove the one color they actually had some success with in the past? The answer is in the ink.  Modern ink is much more dense and lightfast than it was in the sixties and seventies when Q-switched lasers were invented to remove old India ink tattoos.  Black ink today has several proprietary components that manufacturers add to make the pigment extremely tough.  These ingredients include pure carbon powders and metals that cannot simply be removed through the photothermal action of a Q-switched laser.  In fact, lack of success often leads to frustration and overtreatment which causes scarring and permanent pigmentation changes.

In the photo below we see a tough black ink that was used to create a neck tattoo. The ink was almost glossy in appearance which is a giveaway that it contains special ingredients to make it tough and colorfast.  Luckily for this patient the PicoSure laser with Boost, combined with a proprietary treatment technique, was able to completely remove the ink while not harming her beautiful skin.  If you suspect that your unwanted tattoo contains tough modern inks, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Neck Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Removing Tattoo Remnants With The PicoSure Laser Also Improves The Appearance Of The Skin

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I often see patients who have undergone numerous Q-switched laser tattoo removal treatments only to be left with a lot of colorful ink remaining in the form of a blue, green, purple or even a tough black tattoo remnant.  The remnants are often scarred, hypopigmented or both.  This phenomenon is due to the fact that prior to the advent of the PicoSure laser, these colors were nearly impossible to remove with the existing Q-switched lasers that have been in use for decades.

DK B&A 2-2-15 - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Unfortunately, patients and their practitioners continued treatment even though no further fading was evident or even possible.  This leaves the skin in poor condition and increases the risk of permanent unwanted side effects such as hideous scarring and hyper or hypopigmentation.  Fortunately, the PicoSure laser is able to remove this residual ink even when it is bound by scar tissue.  In the process, the scars themselves usually flatten out and soften.  The ability of the PicoSure laser to improve skin appearance (rejuvenation) has many practitioners using it for this purpose in addition to tattoo removal.  In fact, the PicoSure laser is also FDA cleared for scar rejuvenation. Not only can it remove unsightly pigments but it can significantly improve the texture and appearance of the skin.

If you have an unsightly tattoo remnant that you would finally cleared with the revolutionary PicoSure laser I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

 

Q-switched Lasers Can Leave Behind Scarred “Tattoo Remnants”

Sometimes I hear “laser technicians” brag about how many treatments they’ve done with their P.O.S. Q-switched laser.  I saw one the other day that said “over 250,000 treatments” performed.  You notice they don’t equate that to actual complete tattoo removals.  I see numerous patients that have had ten or more treatments and they’re left with horrible scars and residual ink that I call “tattoo remnants”.  Yesterday I saw one such patient who had lost count after she’d received 25 treatments!  That’s got to be the most I’ve ever seen.  Her scarred tattoo remnant is below for you to see.  Luckily for her, I will be able to remove the residual ink and break up the scar at the same time using the revolutionary PicoSure laser.  How is that possible?  Well, because the PicoSure pulses 100 times faster than a Q-switched laser it is much more effective and gentler on the skin.  You see, the slower a laser pulses, the more it heats up and damages the skin which results in scarring.  Fortunately, the PicoSure laser is also FDA approved for scar rejuvenation.

Scarred Tattoo Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal
Scarring from a POS Q-switched Laser – 25 Treatments!

The PicoSure laser is the best method available for safe, fast and effective tattoo removal.  No other instrument or treatment has been shown to be its equal.  In fact, most other methods are dangerous or will leave scarring and hideous residual ink.  If you’re living with a tattoo remnant and you’ve been treated numerous times without success, then you know just what I’m talking about.  If you’d like to finally get it off I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Weddings Generate A Lot Of PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removals

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Have you ever wondered why someone would want a tattoo removed with the revolutionary PicoSure laser? I hear many different reasons:

  • Removing an ex’s name or initials
  • Getting rid of poorly done artwork
  • Growing out of a former way of life
  • Unwanted “prison tattoos”
  • No “visible tattoos” employment policies
  • And the list goes on and on…

One reason that I hear from a lot of women is, “I’m getting married and this tattoo will show when I’m wearing my wedding dress!” Given the fact that many tattoos can come off in 4 treatments or less, there’s a good chance I can have you looking as though you had never even been tattooed, by your wedding day.  In fact, the PicoSure laser has been shown in clinical trials to be safer and more effective than old (Q-switched) nanosecond pulse lasers.  This means that not only will your ink be gone but your skin will still look beautiful!

Wedding Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you have a date with a wedding dress and you don’t want your ink to show, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal May Be Successfully Used On Many Different Body Parts

I always enjoy meeting new patients for the first time, hearing their stories and examining their unwanted tattoos. As you can imagine, I’ve seen and heard quite a lot since the introduction of the revolutionary PicoSure laser for tattoo removal.  Some of the stories are pretty moving and many of the tattoos have an interesting history.  Sometimes, the tattoos are where you wouldn’t expect to find them.  I met one such patient yesterday, who had an interesting story and an accompanying tattoo in an odd location.  He had lost his left eye when a friend shot him with a BB gun.  He wore an eyepatch for years and then decided to get a tattoo on his eyelid of a small rose.  Like millions of other people, he wound up regretting that decision and got numerous treatments with a P.O.S. Q-switched laser (there’s a lot of them out there).  Unfortunately, the treatment results were poor at best.  So now he’s left with an obvious aqua-blue tattoo remnant on his eyelid.  Fortunately for him, I have removed numerous remnants left behind after a patient has been treated by a “technician” with some P.O.S.  He had his first treatment today and I’ll post an after picture when the ink is cleared.  Until then, if you have a tattoo in an odd location that you would like to finally be rid of, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Eyelid Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

FAQ – PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

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www.austinpicosure.com

FAQ

 Q:        Why does it take so many treatments to remove a tattoo?

A:        It doesn’t, if you use a PicoSure™ with Boost.  If you’re using a POS Q-switched laser that literally was invented to remove India ink from old-style sailor tattoos, then you might need 20 or more treatments to remove a modern tattoo.  And there’s no guarantee it will work.

Q:        Is black really the easiest ink to remove?

A:        It used to be before PicoSure™ lasers were invented.  Back when Q-switched lasers were the only thing available, they took off black tattoos best because they are ineffective on colors.

Q:        What makes PicoSure™ more effective than Q-switched lasers with decades old   technology?

A:        The PicoSure™ laser pulses so quickly (in trillionths of a second) that it produces a powerful patented PressureWave™ that shatters ink particles in to pieces small enough for the body to remove.  Q-switched lasers, on the other hand, fire so slowly (100 times    slower than PicoSure™) that they cannot produce a PressureWave™.

Q:        If Q-switched laser can’t produce a PressureWave™ then what is the technology behind them?

A:        Q-switched laser use a technology called photothermal reaction which heats up the tattoo ink.  Unfortunately, these old lasers also heat up and often burn and scar the skin.   PicoSure™ lasers, on the other hand, go beyond photothermal and utilize what’s known as photomechanical energy, which literally breaks the ink apart.

Q:        Will I blister and why?

A:        Most likely you will experience some blistering.  In the case of a Q-switched laser, the blistering is thermal in nature, meaning the skin got burned.  With PicoSure™, the        blisters are not thermal, but are actually caused by the PressureWave™ vibrating across the skin, almost like friction.

Q:        Where does the ink go?

A:        Much of the ink is instantly vaporized, but the rest moves into the lymph system and is carried away through circulation and white blood cells.

Q:        Is the circulating ink dangerous to my body?

A:        Studies show that PicoSure™ laser tattoo removal is safe and effective and the FDA has cleared it for that purpose, among other things, like scar rejuvenation.  Just to be on the safe side, I don’t treat pregnant or breast feeding women.

Q:        How long do you wait in between treatments?

A:        Generally treatments are spread 4-8 weeks apart with the average being 6 weeks.  This interval depends upon the size of the tattoo, location and several other factors, such as individual patient healing times. 

Q:        What PicoSure™ laser settings do you use?

A:        I base the settings upon a number of factors including, tattoo size, color, location, reaction, skin type and progression.  Each tattoo and patient is unique so I create an            individualized care plan for each and every removal.

Q:        Why should I use PicoSure™ laser to fade a tattoo for a cover up?

A:        The PicoSure™ laser is the fastest, most effective tattoo removal laser available and it can easily fade a tattoo in order to give you and your artist the best choices on the cover up artwork.  Without fading, a cover up tattoo will have to be much larger and darker to cover the original design.

Q:        What qualifications should a PicoSure™ or Q-switched tattoo removal laser operator have?

A:        Although qualifications vary greatly, your best bet is a licensed medical professional, who is either a doctor or nurse that has been thoroughly trained by the manufacturer.  I personally am a Registered Nurse with a Master’s degree.  Tattoo removal is a medical procedure that requires a doctor’s order and unfortunately, countless patients are injured every year by so-called “laser technicians”.

Q:        Why is the PicoSure™ laser considered safer than Q-switched lasers?

A:        Because PicoSure™ lasers pulse so quickly, they do not produce thermal injury (burns) to the skin.  Additionally, since PicoSure™ lasers require fewer treatments, they are less likely to cause permanent hypopigmentation, scarring, or other damage, caused by repeated unnecessary treatments.

Q:        Can you remove tattoos from dark-skinned individuals?

A:        Unfortunately, skin types V and VI risk severe hypopigmentation, regardless of the type   of laser used.  Dark-skinned African Americans and blacks should avoid laser tattoo removal because their pigment blocks the laser light from reaching its target.

Q:        Why do the after pictures sometimes contain a ghost image?

A:        Because the after pictures are generally taken about 6-8 weeks following the last    treatment and the skin pigment hasn’t had time to return to normal.  Most patients don’t    come back 6 months later just for a post treatment photo-op.

Q:        What if I don’t know how my tattoo will respond?

A:        I generally offer a no-cost test spot, in an inconspicuous part of the tattoo, so that the patient can see how they will respond.  Test spots should also be performed when there is a question regarding pigment changes.

Q:        Where is www.austinpicosure.com located?

A:        I have my PicoSure™ laser housed within a state-of-the-art med spa in downtown Austin, TX. I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.  I look forward to meeting you and safely and effectively helping you get rid of your unwanted ink once and for all.

FAQ Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Fall & Winter Are Ideal For PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

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Be ready for the pool next summer by getting PicoSure laser tattoo removal over the winter!  I have heard several patients’ state that they want to be able to wear a bathing suit in the summer without feeling self-conscious about their unsightly or unwanted tattoos. Now’s the time to start or continue treatments!

Bikini Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

In the fall and winter, our skin lightens, which optimizes the conditions for PicoSure laser tattoo removals.  The reason?  Well, the lighter our skin is, the better the laser penetrates it.  Remember, that melanin is the skin’s natural defense against all forms of UV radiation, including a laser.  Lighter skin allows for maximum penetration and absorption of the laser’s energy.

Calendar v2 - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

PicoSure laser tattoo removal can be performed every 4-8 weeks depending upon several factors.  That means the patients who start or continue treatments now can get in up to 8 treatments by the Fourth of July.  With the average tattoo requiring about 4-5 treatments, the majority of people reading this can be bikini ready by Independence Day!  If you have a tattoo you would like safely and effectively cleared with the PicoSure laser, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

How Effective is the PicoSure Laser on Recalcitrant Tattoo Removal?

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Often times, I utilize the PicoSure laser to finally remove recalcitrant tattoos. Some of you might be wondering exactly what that means. We often hear the word “recalcitrant” when speaking of a tattoo that’s been shown to be hard to remove. Technically speaking, a recalcitrant tattoo is one that has visible pigment after at least 10 laser treatments. If you consider the fact that most laser treatments are roughly 6 weeks apart, this means a patient has undergone at least 10 treatments which have taken over a year to complete. I have had many patients who lost count of the number of their treatments. Many times these recalcitrant tattoos are scarred and visibly hypopigmented or discolored. One reason for the existence of tattoo “remnants” and recalcitrant tattoos is the inability of Q-switched lasers to remove tough or colored inks. Additionally, Q-switched lasers use a higher fluence (energy measured in J/cm2) which increases the risk of thermal injury to the skin. Fortunately, recalcitrant and remnant tattoos can be effectively treated with PicoSure lasers to remove the residual ink and hopefully diminish the appearance of the scarring. It may seem counterintuitive, but the PicoSure laser tattoo removal system actually uses less energy and gets greater results, which means fewer to no unwanted side effects.

Recalcitrant Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you’ve been working on removing your tattoo for years and are frustrated with the lack of clearance, perhaps you’re ready for PicoSure. If so, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Dia De Los Muertos – Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Celebrates the Day of the Dead

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Happy Dia De Los Muertos! AKA: My Birthday! Yes that’s right, I was born on the Day of the Dead, which is a special holiday celebrated by our neighbors to the South; the wonderful people of Mexico. It’s a day to remember family who have passed on and support their spiritual journey. Collectively, October 31st, November 1st and November 2nd are known as All Saints’ Eve (Halloween), All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day.

mexican Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal skull Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Celebrations of Dia De Los Muertos include the use of the Marigold flowers and skull art like the ones I’ve posted here for your enjoyment. Often, people will get tattoos based upon specific holidays, like hearts for Valentine’s Day, Clovers for St. Patrick’s Day and the list goes on and on. Sometimes these are perpetual reminders of good times but often, they become mistakes. If you’ve got a celebratory tattoo that you want off safely and effectively with the revolutionary PicoSure laser with Boost, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Tattoo-of-the-Week!

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As we continue to celebrate our successes in completely removing unwanted ink with the PicoSure laser tattoo removal system, we are also reminded that not all tattoos require removal. Each week I look for great ink and post it for your enjoyment. This week’s winner belongs to an Austin model and part time sales rep. If you would like austinpicosure.com to celebrate your tattoo please send it to me at:   brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Asian Tiger PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you’ve got a tattoo you want completely and professionally removed with the PicoSure laser, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Eclipse TR™ Tattoo Removal Pen No Match For PicoSure Laser

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Eclipse TR™ Tattoo Removal Pen and Eclipse MicroPen can create some horrendous results. I recently had a patient show me the results of a single treatment she had performed by a physician using the Eclipse TR™ Micro-needling device and I was saddened to see that it left her horribly scarred. You can see in the photos that she already had a bad tattoo remnant left behind by a Q-switched laser which uses a decades-old technology. In her desperation to remove the remaining ink she let a doctor perform an Eclipse treatment on her and this was the result. The red dots are where he got her.

Eclipse TR MicroPen Tattoo Removal - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal FINAL
Micro-needling Scars

Eclipse TR MicroPen Tattoo Removal - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal v2 FINAL
Micro-needling scars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just want to reiterate that there is NO known chemical that can be applied topically, or injected into a tattoo with a needling device, that can safely or effectively remove a tattoo. Currently, the safest, most effective method for tattoo removal is the PicoSure laser. It pulses in the trillionths of seconds – 100 times faster than any Q-switched laser. The lightning fast pulse generates a powerful PressureWave that shatters tattoo ink in to the smallest of particles which can then be easily removed by the body. If you have a tattoo, remnant or otherwise, and are tired of the lack of progress with your current method, or if you just want to safely remove your tattoo with the finest PicoSure laser available, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal by Brendan Leigh, MS, RN

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Hello Friend,

My name is Brendan Leigh, MS, RN and I’m a Registered Nurse in Austin, Texas specializing in PicoSure laser tattoo removal.  I’ve seen every kind of attempt to remove and fade tattoo ink: excision, semi-permanent pigment covers, tattoo cover-ups, fade creams, injections and salt treatments, and of course plain old POS Q-switched lasers, which often scar and permanently damage the skin while leaving noticeable ink remnants.

Every day, I see tattoos that patients are desperately trying to completely remove or, in some cases, fade for a new cover up.  AustinPicoSure.com is a personal blog about my experiences treating and removing tattoos.  I’ll also try to answer your questions so please submit as many as you like. I have physicians from all over the world contacting me regularly, asking for my advice on how best to apply the PicoSure laser to remove various unique tattoos.

Every tattoo and individual is unique so each treatment must be customized and tailored to the situation.  Some folks simply want to fade a tattoo for cover up artwork while others want to become totally tattoo-free.  Either way, I’m Austin’s most experienced & lowest cost PicoSure provider and several of my patients have been featured in PicoSure ads. I work out of a state-of-the-art plastic surgery center conveniently located on the west side of town. If you have a tattoo you would like to professionally remove via PicoSure, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Butterfly Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Injecting Chemicals Into Tattoos Will Only Result In Scarring – Use PicoSure Instead

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Maybe you’ve been wondering about some of the new tattoo removal treatment options other than PicoSure laser tattoo removal? There’s a new one out that uses a tattoo gun to inject a chemical solution that supposedly will create a wound at the treatment area and force a portion of the ink out. In my practice, I occasionally see the leftover scars and horrible results of this type of “treatment”. Look at the example below of a tattoo that was treated with salt. Fortunately, the PicoSure laser is also FDA cleared for scar rejuvenation and I’m able to improve the appearance of the scar while removing the residual ink.

Salt Treatment Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Let me be clear: there is no chemical that will dissolve tattoo ink once it’s been deposited into the skin. Think about that for a second. Even if we injected medical grade acid into the skin, yes the ink would dissolve but guess what? so would the skin itself!

The safest, most effective method for tattoo fading and removal is the PicoSure laser. It has been shown to be far superior to Q-switched lasers in ink clearance and compared to injecting salt solutions and other chemicals, well, there is no comparison. Take a moment to look at my PicoSure before and after pics and you’ll see what I’m talking about. When used by an educated and experienced operator, the PicoSure laser is capable of making the skin look like it had never been tattooed in the first place. If you have a scarred area from a botched tattoo removal that you would like repaired and removed, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Green Inks Were Impossible To Clear Before PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal!

If you’ve ever tried to remove a green tattoo before the PicoSure laser was invented, you probably found out the hard way that most of the time it just wasn’t possible. Back in the old days, when Q-switched lasers were the only thing available, black was the easiest color to remove because it was often the only color those old lasers could take off. If you’re reading this and you still have green ink where you attempted tattoo removal then unfortunately you know just what I’m talking about.

Green Tattoo Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

The good news? With PicoSure laser tattoo removal your new green tattoo or old green tattoo remnant can now be safely and COMPLETELY cleared. I often have patients come to me who have had 15 or 20 treatments with Q-switched lasers and still have a ton of ink left over. These “remnants” are unsightly and often accompanied with permanent hypopigmentation and/or scarring.

Want more good news? The PicoSure laser is also FDA cleared for scar rejuvenation. That means that while I’m getting out your leftover ink, the PicoSure is also improving the appearance of your scarring. So if you have a green tattoo, or any other color you would like cleared once and for all I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Tattoo-of-the-Week!

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As we continue to celebrate our successes with PicoSure laser tattoo removal, we are also reminded that not all tattoos require removal.  Some tattoos are life-savers, as in the case of radiation target tattoos, and some are just intriguing or beautiful.  Each week I look for great ink and post it for your enjoyment. Not trying to be sexist but this week’s winner does happen to look like a model.  If you would like austinpicosure.com to celebrate your tattoo please send it to me at:  brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Sexy Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you’ve got a tattoo you want completely and professionally removed with the PicoSure laser, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Sorry Guys, Sexy Tattoos Can Also Be Removed With PicoSure

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I was recently taking a tribal tattoo off of a female patient with the revolutionary PicoSure laser and she told me her husband was sorta bummed about her decision to remove it. Why? He thought it was sooo freakin’ sexy!

Sexy Gal Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Truth is, a lot of guys love tattoos on their favorite gal. And let’s face it; there are a lot of hot celebs in Hollywood that regularly show off their ink in racy photos. Whenever they shoot a movie though, a lot of makeup is used to cover up all that artwork. But what about your average woman who has to try and cover up her tats for work? Gets sort of difficult. Especially when you work for a company that doesn’t allow visible tattoos.

That was my patient’s problem; she didn’t want her tattoo showing at work. She’s actually keeping another, discretely placed tattoo, that I’m sure her husband finds equally hot. So okay, there it is. Some tattoos are sexy but some are also in the wrong place. If you’ve got a tattoo in the wrong place that you would like safely and professionally removed with the finest laser on the planet, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Requires a Touch-up or Two

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One of the most frequently asked questions I get is “How many treatments will PicoSure laser tattoo removal require?” The answer varies by size, placement, color, type and depth of the tattoo. There’s also the variable of patient health; some people heal faster than others. Additionally, if a tattoo has been scarred by a Q-switched laser because some “tattoo removal clinic” over-treated or mistreated it, then a couple more sessions might be required. Luckily, my PicoSure laser has the Boost upgrade which creates a powerful PressureWave that shatters ink, even if it’s locked inside microscopic or visible scar tissue.

In general, the average removal requires about 5 primary treatments and 1 or 2 touch-ups. Why the need for touch-ups? Well, it’s because artists usually ink tattoos with slight irregularities and variations. If they go too deep or place a large bolus of ink in a particular spot, this area will clear last. Take a look at the example below. The tattoo was gone in 4 treatments but required a touch-up for the 2 dots that were left over.

Butterfly Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you would like a free consultation or to discuss your tattoo and PicoSure laser tattoo removal, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Did YOU know?  There’s a difference between a laser tattoo “TREATMENT “and an actual PicoSure laser tattoo “REMOVAL”?  I recently saw someone advertise that they had performed 250,000 laser tattoo removal treatments with their old Q-switched laser!  Wow, that sure sounds impressive right?  Not really.  Why?  Well, because the number of treatments doesn’t equate to the number of actual removals.  If you’re a patient walking around with half a tattoo left on your skin, possibly accompanied by scarring, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  At austinpicosure.com I specialize in completely removing tattoos in as few treatments as possible.  The fewer the treatments, the faster the removal and the better the clinical outcome!  I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Did you know - Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

AustinPicoSure.com’s Tattoo-of-the-Week!

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As we continue to celebrate our successes with PicoSure laser tattoo removal, we are also reminded that not all tattoos require removal.  Some tattoos are life-savers, as in the case of radiation target tattoos, and some are just intriguing or beautiful.  This week’s winner belongs to a brilliant and beautiful University of Texas student.  As I understand it, the pattern is significant in mathematical design but being a nurse and not a physicist, the meaning is probably lost on me.  But I still think it’s cool!

Geometric Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

If you would like austinpicosure.com to celebrate your tattoo please send it to me at:  brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

If you’ve got a tattoo you want completely and professionally removed with the PicoSure laser, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

White Ink & PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

Occasionally tattoo ink will turn dark in response to PicoSure laser tattoo removal. For this reason, cosmetic tattoos, often referred to as permanent makeup around the mouth and eyes, are usually avoided. The one exception to this rule is black permanent makeup applied to the eyebrows. If the look is too stark, it can be toned down with a PicoSure laser session or two. I’ve even removed black tattoos off the scalp which had been intended to look like hair follicles on a balding head – this is a very common tattoo camouflage technique and it’s performed by an experienced esthetician.

Sometimes white ink can turn dark when exposed to laser energy. Because of this, white tattoos are generally left alone. Besides, white ink is easy to cover up with a new design. But what if a standard tattoo includes white ink and the patient wants it off? Well usually I’ll treat around the white ink. If that’s not possible, such as in the example below, then a test spot can be performed to determine if the white ink is going to present a problem. Most of the time it will not turn black because the pigment simply reflects the laser energy. Take a look at the example below on a patient who is currently undergoing treatment.

White Ink Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

The white is too diffuse in the design to go around it. I performed a test spot which showed no negative reactions and then treated the entire tattoo. Bottom line: some inks will darken upon exposure to PicoSure or Q-switched lasers. When in doubt a test spot should be performed. If you would like a complimentary evaluation and a no-cost test spot to see how your tattoo will respond to PicoSure I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

 

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

AustinPicoSure.com’s Tattoo-of-the-Week!

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So often in this business we focus on the bad tattoos you want to safely and effectively remove with the PicoSure laser.  But I thought it’d be a good idea to celebrate the ones you love, so once a week I’ll post our “Tattoo-of-the-Week” winner.  This first entry comes from Bee Caves, TX and belongs to a beautiful waitress.  This Texas fox has great lines, gorgeous shading and wonderful colors.  Enjoy!

TOTW Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

To submit a photo of your tattoo for Tattoo-of-the-Week consideration, you can email it to me here:      brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

No Need For PicoSure – Beyoncé Launches Sexy Temporary Tattoo Line!

Hello Austin,

I’m back from a well-deserved vacation and ready to talk PicoSure laser tattoo removal once again. So, some exciting news regarding Bey and her new ultra cool temp tattoo line. Yes, Beyoncé, wife of rap star JAY Z, has teamed up with the folks at Flash Tattoos to help create sexy new temporary tattoos. While it used to be true that most temporary tattoos came in Cracker Jack boxes and were just for little kids, the art form has taken on a whole new persona to attract discriminating adults.

Now when you’re craving some new ink on Friday night, you can just lick it and stick it, then you’re headed to the club or pool looking cool as you want. Best of all, no more tattoo regret. And you can put these crazy designs anywhere! Now instead of coming to see me for PicoSure laser tattoo removal, you can just wash these off in a nice hot bath. You can see the whole line by clicking here: Beyoncé’s Tat Line

 Bath Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal v2

In the meantime, if you do happen to have some lingering doubt about one of your existing permanent tattoos and you want it safely and completely removed with PicoSure, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Of Red & Yellow Ink With 532nm Wavelength Handpiece

As the first PicoSure laser in the entire Southwestern U.S. to have the 532nm optional upgrade handpiece for red, yellow, pink and orange inks, I would like to give my impression as to its performance. Originally, these light colors on the front end of the ROY G BIV rainbow spectrum, were tough to remove due to their low photosensitivity. The PicoSure team compensated for this by releasing an optional handpiece that emits a 532nm green wavelength laser beam. Red inks appear red because they absorb green and reflect red. By absorbing this 532nm green light, the ink’s weakness is exploited and they fracture into the tiniest of particles which can easily be removed by the body via the lymph system and its circulating lymphocytes.

Red - Yellow Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

In the photos below we can see the frosting reaction when the new 532nm handpiece is used on a light red and deep yellow ink. This phenomenon is virtually impossible with a standard PicoSure laser which is why I went through the time, expense and training to receive one of the first four 532nm handpieces ever built. If you have a tattoo that includes red, yellow, pink or orange that you would like completely and efficiently removed with the PicoSure laser tattoo removal system, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Of A Cover-Up

I see many homemade tattoos that patients received as students in high school. These tattoos generally use poor quality ink and are often put in with dull needles and lousy techniques that frequently cause scarring. Scarred skin tends to reveal itself after the ink is removed. It can also hold onto ink harder than healthy tissue. In the case study below, the patient had a homemade cross tattooed on her shoulder blade. Sometime later she had a cover up of a kitty put on by a professional. When she came to me to have PicoSure laser tattoo removal she asked if it mattered that there was another tattoo underneath. I explained that it did not; however, multiple layers of ink can affect the number of treatments required. If you look at her series of photographs during the removal process, you see how the cover up came off first which revealed the original cross design beneath. Once the cross was also removed, scarring from the crude tattooing process could also be seen.

Kitty Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

While teenagers will never stop getting tattoos, we must encourage them that if they are going to do it anyway they should do it safely and in a professional shop with sterile needles and talented artists. If you have a crude tattoo from high school that you want cleared quickly and effectively using PicoSure laser tattoo removal, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

My friends, , , , , ,

Hello Friend,

My name is Brendan Leigh, RN, MS and I’m a Registered Nurse in Austin, Texas specializing in tattoo removal and exclusively using the PicoSure laser with Boost upgrade and the 532nm handpiece for red and yellow ink plus their variants like pink & orange.  I’m the most experienced PicoSure laser operator in Austin, Texas and all of the Southwest.  Several of my patients have been featured in PicoSure laser tattoo removal ads.  I’ve seen it all: excision, pigment covers, cover-ups, fade creams, q-switched and picosecond lasers.  Every day, I see tattoos slated for removal; perhaps I’ve even seen yours.  My blog is about my experiences treating and removing tattoos.  I’ll also try to answer your questions.  Together, we can increase the knowledge base for those patients seeking tattoo removal.  Every tattoo and individual is unique so each treatment must be customized and tailored to the situation.  Some folks simply want to fade a tattoo for cover up artwork while others want to become tattoo-free.  Regardless, together we can help each other find the best treatment for each situation and client .  I look forward to the discussion!  If you have a tattoo you want to fade for a cover up or remove completely, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com

Pointer Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal Of A Tramp Stamp

Women have been subjected to many derogatory terms over the years and the phrase “Tramp Stamp” is no exception. The lower middle back is a great place to hide a tattoo but unfortunately, any woman who got inked in that location is now labeled a tramp?! That’s not cool. Some folks have tried to correlate tattoos to risky or risqué behavior by doing so-called research in to the habits of women with tattoos. Well I find the term ‘Tramp Stamp’ offensive and misleading. Think about this: 61% of U.S. females 18 years old and up have a tattoo. Are you trying to tell me that the majority of women are tramps? I don’t think so. I remove tattoos on a daily basis with the PicoSure laser and the results are striking and frankly, incredible. There are all sorts of reasons why women want to remove their tattoos: an old flames name, too visible for work, etc. But increasingly, women are using the PicoSure laser tattoo removal system to clear away ink that they believe society judges them for. That’s too bad but I guess it’s the world we live in today; even in a nonjudgmental town like Austin, TX. Whatever the reason, if you want your lower back tattoo off, I can be reached  by phone @ 512-479-9997  or just stop by my NEW location in Austin, TX:  Austin Medspa on W. 6th St.

Tramp Stamp Austin PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal

brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com