What You Need to Know About Tattoo Removal

We’ve all done things we regret, but tattoos are tough to shake off. If your ink is holding you back, affecting your self-image, or reminding you of bad times, you might be interested in laser tattoo removal. Where historical methods of removing tattoos often fell short of people’s expectations, the PicoSure® Laser will likely exceed yours.

At Skin Deep Laser MD, serving Fort Worth, Weatherford, Benbrook, Burleson, Mansfield, Granbury, and Arlington, Texas, Dr. Laura Riehm can remove your tattoo safely and fully using laser tattoo removal.
 

An overview of the PicoSure Laser 

Tattoos are a great way to express yourself, represent your culture, or display art on your body. However, they can also affect people’s perception of you, even getting in the way of your career. Whether you’re removing your tattoo for personal or professional reasons, the team at Skin Deep Laser MD can help.

The PicoSure Laser by Cynosure is considered the most advanced and effective tattoo removal treatment available. The laser works by targeting ink under your skin and shattering it into extremely small pieces. That makes it easier for your body absorbs the pigment particles and processes them as waste, causing the tattoo to fade and disappear. Depending on the depth and age of your tattoo, as well as the quality of the ink, this can take a few sessions, but PicoSure is designed to fade your tattoo as quickly and effectively as possible.
 

What you need to know

Laser tattoo removal is often easier to commit to than actual tattoos, but there are still things you should know beforehand. It’s important to note that a single laser treatment probably will not completely erase your tattoo. The only way to completely remove a tattoo in a single session is through surgical removal, but this method is painful and leaves a scar.

It will probably take a few sessions to remove your tattoo, but PicoSure comes with the added benefit of being more comfortable, non-invasive, and more effective than other laser treatments. Where older methods like the Q-switched laser require different settings for separate colors, PicoSure targets all ink at once. This means you require fewer treatments and difficult colors can be removed more effectively. 

Older laser treatments can cause a phenomenon called “ghosting” in which the laser removes normal pigment from your skin as well as tattoo ink.  This can leave a pale area surrounding the tattoo area where your own pigment has been bleached out. The PicoSure laser does not cause ghosting; it targets the tattoo ink but leaves your own pigment intact.

At Skin Deep Laser MD, we schedule PicoSure treatments at least six weeks apart to ensure that your skin has time to heal and eliminate the pigments. Older tattoos and amateur tattoos are easier to erase than newer or professional (those dome with a tattoo gun) pieces, so your results may vary. 

To learn more about the PicoSure laser and get an estimate on your tattoo, schedule a consultation by calling 817-263-7546 or book online.