Is PicoSure laser tattoo removal for everyone? The short answer is: no. Unfortunately not all tattoos can be treated just as not all people can be treated. Below is a list of contraindications for PicoSure treatment but the one that mostly affects my practice is pregnancy. I have a policy that I do not perform…
With the advent of its new 532nm handpiece, Red & Yellow inks are no match for the PicoSure laser tattoo removal system.
Success! Today I was the first nurse in the entire Southwest to use the new PicoSure 532nm handpiece for red, yellow & orange tattoo inks! I was very impressed with the reaction created by the treatment. Both yellow and red ink “frosted” in response to the 532nm green laser beam. You will recall that red…
Each square inch of tattooed skin contains about 10 million skin cells and tens of millions of ink particles which, once destroyed via the PicoSure laser tattoo removal process, can subsequently be engulfed and removed by lymphocytes.
I often get asked the questions “Why can’t the PicoSure laser remove a tattoo in a single treatment?” or “Why does it have to take so long?” To answer this important query, we must first contemplate what exactly would it take to remove the number of ink particles, or spheres, found in a single tattoo? …
Because PicoSure lasers utilize an invisible 755nm beam to perform tattoo removal, a red laser “pointer” is built into the unit which allows the operator to see where the beam is actually aiming.
PicoSure laser tattoo removal is performed with an invisible laser beam! Huh? Did you know that the 755nm Alexandrite beam cannot be seen with the naked eye? So how do I know where the laser beam is aimed when I’m performing tattoo removal treatments? Well the PicoSure comes with a laser pointer built into it…
The new 532nm handpiece has arrived in Austin, TX and it will make PicoSure laser tattoo removal for red, yellow, orange and pink inks fast and easy.
It’s here! I’m the first in Texas and all of the Southwest to receive the new 532nm handpiece for the PicoSure laser which is used to specifically 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…
Every day more and more of us are replaced by high tech robots and now it appears that maybe even some tattoo artists’ days are numbered.
Could your next tat be applied by a robot? Answer: Yes! A company called Appropriate Audiences has developed a robotic tattoo machine that inks a tattoo in a manner similar to printing. Although the device is still being tweaked and developed, chances are it will be available everywhere before you know it due to rapid…
Let’s face it, while no two people have the exact same taste, we can all agree that some tattoos are simply great works of art that will never require PicoSure laser tattoo removal.
I really enjoy working with my PicoSure laser tattoo removal patients. Some of them are quite humorous and they all have great stories to tell. Case in point, I had a patient that I met for the first time yesterday who was pretty inked up. I walked in and introduced myself and asked how I…
PicoSure laser tattoo removal of a “cover-up” may temporarily reveal all or part of the original design before the entire thing is gone for good.
Much of the PicoSure laser tattoo removal I perform is on cover-up tattoos. Sometimes I get asked if this will make any difference in the overall removal. The short answer is “no” but there can be some interesting complexity to it. For example, was the original tattoo made in a friend’s garage using a home-brewed ink? If…
Permanent makeup tattoo removal, or lightening, can be successfully achieved with the PicoSure laser if the ink and location are acceptable.
Should the PicoSure laser be used for permanent makeup tattoo removal? Years ago a famous actress by the name of Lana Turner shaved off her eyebrows for a movie role and they never grew back! She eventually had false stick-on eyebrows made that she wore for the rest of her life. Her other option would…
Many homemade tattoos are created with handcrafted inks derived from a variety of readily available sources such as burnt plastic, grease or wood; however, none of these peculiar pigments can withstand the power of the PicoSure laser for tattoo removal.
You may have noticed numerous tattoos over the years that were obviously homemade and wondered what the artist or their client was thinking at the time. Luckily, these unprofessional tattoos cannot stand up to the PicoSure laser when it comes time for laser tattoo removal. Many of these inks, though not professionally made, can be quite…
The use of antibiotic ointments, creams and soaps following PicoSure laser tattoo removal is not recommended and may actually delay the healing process.
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…
Traumatic tattooing refers to the accidental introduction of a dark contaminant, such as asphalt or soot, under the skin which then becomes a visible “tattoo” after the healing process and this phenomenon may very well explain how ancient peoples first discovered the tattooing process itself.
The origins of human tattooing are historic. The word “tattoo” was first brought back to Europe by Captain James Cook in 1771 following his exploration of Tahiti and New Zealand. The word is adapted from the Polynesian word tatau. A naturalist aboard Captain Cook’s ship by the name of Joseph Banks first mentions tattooing in his…
Ancient mummies may have sported tattoos but your mummy doesn’t have to thanks to the PicoSure laser for tattoo removal!
Do you have at least one tattoo? You’re not alone – not by a long shot. In fact, your oldest of relatives can be seen sporting ink. The oldest known example of a tattoo comes from a 6,000-year-old Chinchorro mummy. The Chinchorro culture is found in what we now call northern Chile and southern Peru. …
Even though I’ll treat fewer U.S. Army tattoo patients with the PicoSure laser, I think the relaxation of the “no visible tattoos” policy is a good thing for soldiers and the military in general; diversity and inclusion builds strength and character.
Just an Austin PicoSure laser update from the U.S. Army on its relaxation of the tattoo standards for new and existing recruits: As I reported earlier this year, the Army has modernized its year-old policy which had previously forbid large tattoos below the elbows and knees. The restrictive measure had discouraged solid recruits from enlisting…
Did YOU know? There are literally thousands of tattoo color variations because artists can mix hundreds of different shades from different manufacturers to create new color palettes all the time. However, all of these color combinations have one thing in common: they can all be vaporized by the PicoSure laser which now has two wavelengths for unparalleled performance. brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com
Some studies suggest that increasing the time between PicoSure laser treatments for tattoo removal actually decreases the overall length of the removal process.
Once a patient has made the decision to have their tattoo removed with the PicoSure laser it can almost become an urgent situation. I have multiple patients who want their treatments spaced apart as closely as possible to ensure that the removal is as fast as possible. Rather than waiting 6-8 weeks between treatments they…
If your $10,000 Apple Watch is malfunctioning, the PicoSure laser for tattoo removal just might be able to help!
As if there weren’t enough reasons for folks to use the PicoSure laser for tattoo removal, well here’s another. So maybe you’ve heard, but apparently the new, much anticipated Apple iWatch can’t see through tattoos well enough to operate correctly. Sources tell us that the iWatch uses photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors which measure the heart rate while…
PicoSure laser celebrates a 2nd birthday today, marking 2 fantastic years of state-of-the-art tattoo removal in Austin, TX and around the world.
HAPPY 2nd ANNIVERSARY! Wow, the PicoSure laser is celebrating its 2nd birthday this month. It was officially released in April, 2013 and initially only 15 units were built. As many of you know, I happened to get one of those original 15. In fact, the serial number on the PicoSure in my office is SN#115…
PicoSure laser tattoo removal is a gradual process that can take weeks or months to fully reveal maximum clearance and removal.
Someone once said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well that was Napoleon who coined the phrase but that’s another story. So why do I take a picture of your tattoo before each PicoSure laser treatment? Well, it’s because of what Napoleon said; it’s easier to just look at the side by side…
Even if you have new-onset tattoo regret, you must wait 4 weeks for the tattoo to heal before beginning treatment with the revolutionary PicoSure laser.
Can you imagine waking up the day after you got your new tattoo and already having tattoo regret? Or how about the very first time you saw your new ink in the mirror and experiencing regret before even leaving the tattoo shop? It’s a lot more common than you might think. Every day I hear stories like…
Did YOU know? Some tattoos continue to fade for over a year following treatment with the PicoSure laser?! I’ve personally documented two cases where patients were photographed before and after their last treatment and then again at one year. In both instances the tattoos were significantly lighter. brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com
The U.S. Army has relaxed its tattoo policy which benefits numerous men and women who want to join up and decreases demand for PicoSure laser tattoo removals.
There are going to be fewer tattoo removals with the revolutionary PicoSure laser but maybe in this case it’s a good thing. According to a news report released today, the U.S. Army is revising its 670-1 tattoo policy, yet again, and easing the restrictions which had kept numerous potential recruits from joining up. Soldiers can…
Darker skinned individuals may suffer from permanent hypopigmentation following attempted laser tattoo removal and as such a test spot must be performed before actual treatments are begun.
It is always best to perform a test spot when a patient has a skin type which might respond poorly to PicoSure laser tattoo removal. Patients with darker skin or those with a history of keloiding should approach laser tattoo removal with extreme caution due to the very real possibility of permanent hypopigmentation. The color…
Ghost images following PicoSure laser tattoo removal are actually transient hypopigmentation which resolves once the treatments are completed and the skin repigments itself.
Occasionally I’ll get a question regarding a “ghost” image being left behind following PicoSure laser tattoo removal. The ghost image phenomenon is usually just transient hypopigmentation which generally resolves on its own in most cases – see example image below. So what causes hypopigmentation in the first place? During the course of treatments, the natural…
PicoSure laser PressureWave technology shatters tattoo ink in to tiny fragments which are able to escape the fibrous connective tissue that normally holds them fast.
Have you ever wondered what gives tattoos their permanence? There are several factors that account for why tattoos essentially last a lifetime. Firstly, the pigments are not water-soluble which means your body cannot dissolve them. We can think of tattoo ink as microscopic multicolored balls made of clay, metal, minerals or any number of combinations…
Excision of a large tattoo may require skin grafting from a donor site to effectively close the surgical site, which leaves two sets of scars.
I recently wrote a blog on the benefits and challenges of excision (surgical removal) of a tattoo. While this method will always leave a scar, it does have the benefit of being final and immediate. Many times a plastic surgeon will have no difficulty removing a small tattoo by simply cutting around it and bringing…
Excision, or surgical removal of a tattoo, will always leave a surgical scar but utilizing the PicoSure laser makes it look as though the skin had never been tattooed at all.
Have you ever considered excision (surgery) for your tattoo removal? Even the best plastic surgeon would be unable to remove a tattoo without leaving a surgical scar. True, the scar would be quite fine and diminish over time but if your tattoo is large this may be impractical. Why? Because the scar must be longer…
Although most PicoSure tattoo removal treatments are scheduled 4-8 weeks apart, the timing can be customized based upon patient deadlines and various critical treatment parameters.
Occasionally I’ll get a patient who is up against a deadline for their tattoo removal. For example, 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…
If you’re thinking about getting a cover up, remember that PicoSure lasers can fade any size tattoo with ease.
You may be reading this right now and dreaming of finally removing that tattoo you can’t stand anymore. Perhaps you would like a cover up but your artist has told you that your choices are limited due to the size and color of your current ink? Well the PicoSure laser can fix all that by…
All true scars have the potential to become hypopigmented but not all hypopigmentation is a scar.
I often have patients show me their hypopigmentation and call it a scar. This is a common misconception so I thought I would try to address it. When a patient undergoes PicoSure laser tattoo removal, mild hypopigmentation is usually present throughout the series of treatments. This is due to the pigment, or melanin, being removed…
Q-switched lasers have scarred untold numbers of patients and left many more with hideous tattoo remnants.
Question: How many patients have undergone POS Q-switched laser tattoo removal treatments? Answer: Millions. Do you know what the success rate is for these Q-switched laser treatments? Well without quoting an exact number, let’s just say it’s poor. Why? Because POS Q-switched lasers utilize very old and limited nanosecond technology which often leaves scars and residual…
Holidays tend to inspire impulse tattoos such as green four-leaved clovers on St. Patrick’s Day and red monogramed hearts on Valentine’s Day but thankfully they can all be safely removed with the PicoSure laser.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day week! Did you know St. Patrick was the foremost patron saint of Ireland? He died on March 17th which is the date the Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. According to legend, St. Patrick used the three-leaved clover, called a Shamrock, to explain the Holy Trinity to Irish pagans. One popular variation…
The blackest of tattoos may create an optical illusion as they’re removed by the PicoSure laser.
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 carried off by the body. So why does it look as though nothing…
If a provider or “clinic” claims that they have the best q-switched laser technology, just know that it can’t compete with a PicoSure laser for tattoo removal.
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. I’m…
Tattoo location may affect the number of PicoSure laser treatments required.
I once read a clinical paper on laser tattoo removal which noted that tattoos appear to come off easier in certain areas of the body. The authors pointed out that tattoos on the trunk (back, chest) didn’t require as many treatments as say a tattoo on a lower extremity (leg, foot). I have also found…
Successful laser tattoo removal with PicoSure can only be accomplished by thorough, exacting work provided by a committed professional who truly cares about the patient’s outcome.
Have you ever heard the old expression, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” This quote is attributed to United States Army General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. So what does it mean? Simply put “When you’re doing something big and difficult, do it slowly and be careful.” The same can be…
Women outnumber men when it comes to being inked and they also seek out PicoSure laser tattoo removal in greater numbers.
What percentage of men and women have tattoos? The answer may surprise you. Women way outnumber the men. In fact 59% of women over the age of 18 in the U.S. have at least one tattoo. In comparison, only 41% of men have a tattoo. That statistic almost seems counterintuitive because we tend to notice…
Ideally your 1st PicoSure treatment must be no sooner than four weeks after the initial tattoo placement to ensure that the skin is healthy enough to respond effectively.
New patients often ask me how long they have to wait to begin PicoSure laser removal treatments after getting a brand new tattoo. A good rule of thumb is 4 weeks but this can vary by size, site, patient health and other factors. For example, a small tattoo with little ink is definitely ready at…
Currently there is no topical cream which can effectively fade or remove a tattoo because ink clearance is a physical process not a chemical process.
So maybe you’ve heard that a post-doctoral student named Alec Falkenham at Dalhousie University in Canada is trying to come up with yet another novel cream to fade away tattoos. The cream is called Bisphosphonate Liposomal Tattoo Removal (BLTR) and it’s applied topically to the unwanted tattoo. The university press release states that the cream…
PicoSure lasers are FDA Cleared to improve the appearance of scars resulting from q-switched laser treatments and the tattooing process itself.
Sometimes I see the scars that directly result from the tattooing process. The longer a tattoo takes to put on the duller the needles become. Dull needles not only make the tattoo placement more painful but they increase the risk of scar formation. Why? Because needles are just like tiny scalpels and the cuts they…
The PicoSure laser can safely remove a wide variety of tattoo pigments regardless of their exotic ingredients.
We know that some of the earliest tattoo pigments were made of ashes mixed with water. But did you ever stop to think how the ashes from one plant or piece of wood might vary greatly from another? For example, oak trees are known to harbor certain fungi and other diseases. Early tattoo artists used…
Nd:YAG q-switched lasers were invented decades ago when weak India ink tattoos were prevalent but they are ineffective today in removing the modern inks used in professional colorful tattoos.
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…
The FDA has approved a new state of the art PicoSure 532nm handpiece to target and remove resistant red, yellow & orange tattoo inks.
FDA grants 510k clearance for a new state of the art 532nm PicoSure handpiece for removal of resistant red, yellow & orange tattoo ink! In fact, FDA approval actually came sooner than expected as the new handpiece demonstrated both safety and efficacy in removing unwanted red, yellow & orange tattoo inks. Previously these colors had…
Air cooling of the patient’s skin allows for greater comfort during the PicoSure laser tattoo removal process.
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. If you recall, the laser energy passes painlessly through most skin types and concentrates its energy on the pigment. However, the reaction with the pigment can…
PicoSure treatments for tattoo removal can be intense yet they’re gentle on the skin which reflects the incredible power of this state of the art picosecond laser.
For those of you, who have not previously had PicoSure laser treatments for tattoo removal, just let me say that the experience can be intense. As an RN and a PicoSure provider, it’s my job to prepare patients for what they are about to go through. Although we make every effort to ensure your PicoSure…
Laser tattoo removal requires a prescription and should be administered or supervised by a qualified physician who is board certified and specializes in this field of medicine.
Who’s performing your laser treatments? Did you know that only a qualified doctor can prescribe laser treatments for tattoo removal? In fact, just the purchase of a PicoSure instrument requires a doctor’s order. However, the doctor may delegate the application of laser treatments to a professional that they supervise. Have you ever wondered why the…
Microscopic examination of human tissue reveals the effectiveness of PicoSure laser treatments in clearing unwanted tattoo pigment.
Have you ever wondered just what untreated tattoos 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 millions of these pigmented “ink balls” located in and around billions…
Black is no longer the easiest tattoo color to remove; they’re all easy with the PicoSure laser.
So what’s the deal with BLACK ink? You may have heard that it’s the easiest color to remove. In many respects that can be a true statement if you’re using a POS q-switched laser and don’t have access to a PicoSure instrument. Why? Well because q-switched lasers have a difficult, if not impossible, time trying…
Time unwinds the ties that bind and allows us to leave them behind; with a little help from PicoSure laser tattoo removal!
You’re never too old to change! Here’s an interesting story; the oldest patient I have ever treated was also the youngest when she got her tattoo. It’s true; she was 82 years old when I removed the tattoo she got when she was only 12 years old. The tattoo was done in India ink and…
In head to head clinical trials for tattoo removal PicoSure lasers achieved significantly better results than q-switched lasers.
What are the main differences between the revolutionary PicoSure and standard POS q-switched nanosecond tattoo removal lasers? Well for starters, the PicoSure achieves better clearance in fewer treatments. 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…
Tattoo regret is a real condition that negatively affects millions of Americans.
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…
For many tattoo removal patients, the PicoSure laser represents a miracle of modern medicine.
Do you believe in miracles? Well for some patients the PicoSure laser represents just that; a miracle of modern medicine. For this featured case study patient his journey has been a long one. He started laser tattoo removal 10 years ago for a partial sleeve on his right arm. Back then all that was available…
Although PicoSure tattoo removal can be at times quite striking it is generally a very gradual removal in most cases.
Usually the very first treatment with the PicoSure laser for tattoo removal creates an amazing result, especially in blue, green, black shaded and purple tattoos. An enormous amount of pigment is vaporized and removed simply because the tattoo has never before been treated and it is still deeply saturated with ink. Subsequent treatments do not…
The PicoSure laser is a highly technical, state of the art piece of equipment that requires a high level of skill and understanding to operate successfully.
Patient education is an important part of making the decision to undergo PicoSure laser tattoo removal. During the initial consult and before each treatment patients are encouraged to ask questions, look at their before and after pictures or discuss the treatment strategy. When you and your PicoSure provider are on the same page there’s greater…
Although the risk is very slight, localized hair loss or thinning of the hair at the site of the treatment area is possible, yet temporary, following PicoSure laser tattoo removal.
I received a great question today regarding the risk of localized hair loss following laser tattoo removal with PicoSure. The concern is a legitimate one but it has not been a problem in my personal experience. I have only seen this in one patient and he had it prior to coming to me. He had a…
Many companies have adopted a “no visible tattoos” policy which has prompted huge growth in laser tattoo removal with PicoSure.
More and more I hear that patients are removing tattoos for work. In some instances this is mandated by their employer. For example a corporation might adopt a “no visible tattoos” policy. Starbucks had banned all visible tattoos but lifted its ban last year as long as the tattoo was “inoffensive” and not located on…
Specializing in PicoSure laser tattoo removal helps develop a unique and effective skillset which greatly benefits the patient and improves the speed and clearance of the ink.
Many clinics and surgery centers will utilize numerous lasers for various conditions. For example, there are lasers for hair removal, skin resurfacing and scar treatment. There are also IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) instruments for treatments such as photofacial or photo-rejuvenation. Many nurses and laser technicians are trained to use all of these instruments and may…
There is no known adjunct therapy which can safely speed up the PicoSure laser tattoo removal process.
I routinely get asked the question “What else can I do in between PicoSure treatments to make my tattoo ink clear faster?” My answer is that cupping therapy is the only thing that’s been shown to effectively help remove tattoo ink during the course of PicoSure laser treatments (please see my cupping therapy results and articles). …
PicoSure lasers will soon offer a 532nm wavelength handpiece for targeting resistant red tattoo inks.
The toughest tattoo colors for the PicoSure laser to remove have historically been various shades of red. While the photomechanical PressureWave is able to break them up, the addition of more photothermal action may be required to remove some of the more resistant red inks. For those patients with red remnants of ink the answer is the…
There is no known topical cream, ointment or salve capable of removing a tattoo.
Why is it that there are no magic creams to fade away tattoos? Why do products that purport to remove tattoos using a special brush and a proprietary ointment (think wrecking balm) not work? And if they did work, would laser companies still build medical lasers which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars? If we…
The PicoSure laser for tattoo removal allows very precise targeting of unwanted ink while leaving the adjacent ink and skin untouched.
Have you ever wondered just how precise we can be with the PicoSure laser? Take a look below at this example. The patient had undergone numerous q-switched laser treatments on a blue moon tattoo before finally getting frustrated with the lack of progress and had the start of a cover up applied. She requested that…
PicoSure laser “package deals” should come with a Buyer Beware warning.
You wouldn’t believe the number of patients who come to my office and tell me how another provider refused to treat them unless they purchased a “package” of POS q-switched or PicoSure laser tattoo removal treatments. This happened again today and I was shocked to learn the patient was told she would have to buy…
Performing a test spot on a tattoo with the PicoSure laser gives us confidence that a good clinical outcome is achievable.
Occasionally a test spot must be performed with the PicoSure laser prior to beginning treatments for tattoo removal. There are several reasons why we might want to do a test spot. Firstly, if a light colored ink is suspected to have a high titanium metal content then it might be good to test it first…
PicoSure before & after pictures help us to appreciate the successful tattoo removal.
Let’s look at an example of a patient who I recently treated with the PicoSure laser. This particular tattoo was black in color and located on the upper left shoulder blade. The tattoo had been professionally inked and utilized a high quality pigment that had maintained its lightfastness despite the fact that this patient snorkeled…
Let the PicoSure laser help erase your tattoo regret forever.
Tattoo regret? I see a range of emotions when I meet patients for the first time and we discuss why they have decided to remove a tattoo. Sometimes it’s the name of an old flame – totally understandable. Sometimes it’s a fashion thing; they want a new design that goes with who they are today. …
The acronym laser stands for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation” and this technology has numerous benefits in the field of medicine.
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 POS Q-switched nanosecond lasers fired too slowly to produce an effective PressureWave that could break up tattoo ink. What’s more, the…
The PicoSure laser for tattoo removal is simply a tool that if applied correctly can provide amazing results.
I’ve had a couple experiences where patients relocate out of state halfway through the PicoSure tattoo removal process. On two different occasions I’ve had those same patients call me up from their doctor’s office and ask me to explain to their new PicoSure provider how I was removing their tattoos because nothing seemed to be…
Volatility refers to the tendency of a substance like tattoo ink to vaporize when subjected to an energy source like the PicoSure laser.
I’ve been asked several times if removing a tattoo with the PicoSure laser can release any dangerous chemicals into the body. While many tattoo inks vary widely in their chemical makeup, the vast majority are inert and usually harmless. Generally speaking, if a patient was going to have a reaction to a particular ink, or…
Transient hypo and hyper pigmentation is a known risk in PicoSure laser therapy for tattoo removal.
Melanin tans our skin and helps protect it by dissipating absorbed UV radiation from the sun. It is also responsible for the beautiful glowing tans in some darker skinned individuals. A loss of our tan, or pigment, can be distressing and is associated with a number of illnesses as well as various treatments. In most…
Most tattoo removals will require 4-7 treatments for complete clearance using the PicoSure laser but some tougher inks may require up to 10.
Probably the most asked question I hear regarding PicoSure laser tattoo removal is “How many treatments do you think this will take?” The truth is no one can promise a patient how fast a tattoo will come off. I do often give my impression based on the size, location and colorization of the inks. However,…
Tattoo removal with the PicoSure laser requires commitment and perseverance on the part of the patient and their provider.
Unfortunately, even the PicoSure Laser takes time to completely remove a tattoo. Numerous treatments may be required, over many months, to achieve optimum clearance of certain inks. Why? Because some inks are very tough, deeply hued, or both. Many inks are tweaked by manufacturers to improve their “lightfastness”. Lightfastness is the degree to which a…
PicoSure laser tattoo removal treatments can be made more comfortable by using a continuous jet of cold air, applied throughout the procedure, combined with a topical numbing cream if necessary.
I was treating a tattoo with PicoSure today that wrapped entirely around the patient’s right lower leg mid-calf. She’s having her existing tattoo faded in order to place a full lower leg piece. This was her first PicoSure treatment and she asked if it would hurt worse when I passed over the thinner skin in…
People with darker skin types V-VI should not attempt PicoSure laser tattoo removal due to the high likelihood that they will be left severely scarred and/or permanently hypopigmented.
I occasionally have African Americans come to the office wanting tattoos removed or faded using our state-of-the-art PicoSure laser. Unfortunately, I cannot treat these individuals for a couple of reasons (1) the laser cannot pass through their pigment to reach the tattoo ink and (2) the risk of permanent, unsightly hypopigmentation and scarring is in…
PicoSure laser tattoo removal doesn’t have to be cost prohibitive – you’ve just got to know where to go.
I often see patients who have made “little mistakes” and gotten small tattoos, on impulse, often at age 18, and regretted their decision almost immediately. Unfortunately, for these folks most PicoSure providers charge a premium, regardless of tattoo size, and these little mistakes can cost an arm and a leg to remove. In truth, the…
Though it is extremely rare, some tattoo inks will permanently darken when treated with the PicoSure laser for removal.
Why don’t some tattoos respond to laser treatment? Unfortunately, not even the best laser on the planet, the PicoSure, can remove all tattoos. The primary reason for this is that the ink, or one of its components, usually a metal or metal derivative, responds negatively or not at all. For example, white inks contain large…
The R-20 method in laser tattoo removal refers to repeating the procedure every 20 minutes for up to 4 passes; it’s not necessary when using the PicoSure laser.
We sometimes hear the term “R-20 Method” in laser tattoo removal. R-20 refers to the practice of “repeating” the laser tattoo removal procedure after 20 minutes. The technique was developed by a physician who wanted to clear tattoos more rapidly. However, the study pointed out that although it appeared to be initially helpful in some…
A “recalcitrant tattoo” is one that has received 10 or more tattoo removal laser treatments and still has visible ink.
Tattoo “remnants” are colorful reminders that Q-switched lasers cannot clear many of the blue, green and purple pigments found in tattoos; luckily, now there is PicoSure.
I often see patients who have undergone numerous laser tattoo removal treatments only to be left with a lot of colorful ink remaining in the form of a 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…
External beam radiation is commonly used to treat tumors of the breast and requires the patient to receive “target” tattoos to ensure accurate aiming of the beam; these marks can easily be removed at a later date with the PicoSure laser.
Did you know that some tattoos can help save a life? According to cancer.org, over 230,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2015. There are a variety of treatments that oncologists use to treat breast cancer in its various stages. One treatment in particular, radiation therapy, uses small target tattoos to assist…
PicoSure lasers for tattoo removal may smooth and improve the appearance of old Q-switched laser scars by softening and flattening out the scarred tissues.
Hello, Occasionally a person will receive a tattoo and their skin is permanently damaged. The tattooing process itself may cause scarring, raised areas, redness or other adverse reactions. This may be due to an allergic reaction to a particular ink or one of its ingredients. Visible scars may also be the result of the micro-scarring…
Shading is usually the first part of a tattoo removed by PicoSure laser treatments.
Hello again, Patients ask me all the time “Which tattoos are the hardest to remove?” That’s tough to answer because each tattoo and patient is unique and all tattoos clear differently. I will blog about what makes some tattoos recalcitrant in the near future but today I wanted to share a case study of a…
Superficial blistering following a PicoSure laser tattoo removal treatment is a common, harmless condition that resolves quickly.
Blistering is a common side effect of PicoSure laser treatment but it is not indicative of whether a treatment will be more successful. These blisters are generally not thermal in nature but rather, they are produced by the photomechanical action of the PressureWave. Several factors may increase the likelihood of blistering including the size, color…
The Boost Upgrade for the PicoSure laser is a software program which increases the PressureWave by as much as 70% and speeds the tattoo removal process.
The Boost upgrade is a software package that increases the speed of the picosecond pulse delivered by the PicoSure laser. The result is an increase in the photomechanical PressureWave by as much as 70%. It is thought that any increase in the photomechanical pressure will increase the destruction and elimination of tough tattoo inks, regardless…
Tattoo removal with the PicoSure laser can be performed safely and effectively on virtually any part of the body including the inside of the mouth and lips.
The PicoSure laser can be used on virtually any part of the body in order to remove tattoos, including the upper and lower back, neck and hands. I have successfully removed tattoos from virtually all areas of the body, including the face, bikini area, feet, toes, fingers, etc. The chances are good that most tattoos…
Significantly fading a tattoo with the PicoSure laser, prior to getting a cover-up, allows for more choices in the new design which include the use of fine lines and the lighter colors associated with today’s tattoo styles.
Fading an unwanted tattoo to facilitate a new cover-up design has become increasingly popular. This is because fading an existing tattoo increases the choice of cover-up options significantly. For example, light colors and fine lines will not effectively cover up an existing dark outline and this severely limits one’s artwork choices. However, most dark outlines…
Prior to the advent of the PicoSure laser in 2012, blue, green and purple inks were virtually impossible to remove which has left many patients with tattoo “remnants” containing just these colors.
The new PicoSure Laser tattoo removal system is better at removing blue ink because it uses photo-mechanical principles as opposed to relying on photo-thermal action alone. Older POS Q-switched lasers simply heat up the target area to break up the tattoo ink but picosecond technology takes advantage of photo-mechanical impact/stress to shatter ink into the…
Utilizing photomechanical impact stress to break tough inks into the smallest of particles, PicoSure lasers have revolutionized tattoo removal and given clinicians a tool far more useful than the photothermal action of Q-switched lasers.
Hello again, Since I utilize the PicoSure Laser for tattoo removals, I thought it fitting that I post a video showing just what makes this laser so unique. Enjoy! Questions or comments? Post them below and I’ll get right back to you. Thanks! – brendan.leigh@austinpicosure.com I can be reached in Austin, TX at my new…
The PicoSure Laser I use was manufactured by Cynosure. This company provides elite clinical training and support; I’ve attended several of their classroom education days which focused specifically on PicoSure. If you would like more information on the PicoSure Laser for tattoo removal you can download one of their brochures by clicking the link below. One of…
PicoSure laser tattoo removal treatments are fairly quick and any accompanying pain is reduced by using a jet of cold air and/or topical anesthetics if necessary.
If you’ve ever wondered how a treatment is performed, you can watch me removing a tattoo from Val Santos, one of our local radio celebrities here in Austin. This was a selective removal; meaning she only wanted part of the tattoo gone. In the end, the unwanted portion of Val’s tattoo was completely erased. Her…
There are many forms of tattoo removal treatments but in my opinion the PicoSure laser is absolutely the best.
Hello Friends, My name is Brendan Leigh and I’m a Registered Nurse in Austin, Texas specializing in tattoo removal. I’ve seen it all: excision, pigment covers, cover-ups, fade creams, POS q-switched and picosecond lasers (PicoSure – the best!). Every day, I see tattoos slated for removal; perhaps I’ve even seen yours. My blog is about…
Click to enlarge. Selective removal of just the butterfly. PicoSure with Boost and 532nm handpiece were used. Multicolored butterfly. Large back piece that covered the left shoulder blade. Before and after of backpiece fade for cover up tattoo placement. Gorgeous! Same piece used in a PicoSure ad. Large black tattoo with grey shading. Purple & black wrist…