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Picosure Tattoo Removal

I have an ankle tattoo that is 16 years old. It...

  • 17 Aug 2013
  • 29 days post
I have an ankle tattoo that is 16 years old. It goes all the way around my ankle. I had one Picosure treatment in July. Having had previous laser treatments, I will say the Picosure is FAR superior. I had substantial fading after the first treatment. I just had my second treatment yesterday and am anxiously awaiting the results. I would definitely recommend Picosure. The only issue is that there are not many available yet, and I travel 7 hours to have the treatments. Despite that, it's worth it because I desperately want to be rid of this tattoo.

2nd Treatment

  • 25 Aug 2013
  • 1 month post
Okay, this is one week after my second treatment. It's really bizarre, because this time I did not blister AT ALL. In fact, it was barely swollen. A complete turn around from the first treatment, in which I blistered horribly and could barely put weight on my foot from the pain. So weird to me that there was such a difference. The fading is not as noticeable, but the DR said it wouldn't be due to less pigment. It seems to still be fading. I am posting a view from the top of the tattoo so you can see the light spots that occurred after the first treatment.

3rd Treatment

  • 19 Sep 2013
  • 2 months post
So I had my 3rd treatment on Monday. This one was more painful than the last, and this one really swelled and blistered. The first one did as well, but the second one did not. The woman who did my procedure this time said the body can adjust to it, and therefore not react as bad. She said that is why they don't like patients to wait longer than 4-5 weeks before returning. Having said that, she also said the body can react differently each time, so the difference in each of my treatments is not unusual. I am 3 days out and still fairly swollen. Blisters still oozing. SUPER FUN!!! Anyway, I am still very optimistic about this tattoo coming off. The nurse said it was fading great and would DEFINATELY come off. She said my hypopigmentation should fade back to normal over time. Sounds good to me :)

9 days after 3rd treatment

  • 25 Sep 2013
  • 2 months post

16 days after 3rd treatment

  • 2 Oct 2013
  • 3 months post

Before tx & after 3rd tx

  • 2 Oct 2013
  • 3 months post

2 weeks after 4th tx

  • 3 Nov 2013
  • 4 months post
I am healed from my 4th treatment. Still a ways to go, but I am pleased with the progress so far. My hypopigmentation has healed tremendously :)

Before and after 4th tx

  • 5 Nov 2013
  • 4 months post

Top of tattoo

  • 5 Nov 2013
  • 4 months post
Here is a pic of the top of the tattoo showing hypopigmentation after the first treatment. The second picture is after the 4th treatment. You can see the hypopigmentation has gone away :)

Great review?

My Doctor: Westlake Dermatology

My rating:

Doctor's Bedside Manner
Answered My Questions
After Care Follow-Up
Time Spent With Me
Phone or Email Responsiveness
Staff Professionalism & Courtesy
Payment Process
Wait Times

This facility is amazing. It is a gorgeous office, the front desk girls are extremely friendly and helpful, and both of the Dr.'s I have seen have been wonderful. They gave me realistic expectations and completely professional service. I can't praise them enough.

Comments (87)

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Hi Edmond. Nice to read and see that the hyperpigmentation settles as its a big worry for me at the moment after only one treatment. Sukie have you achieved total removal of your back tattoo?
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Its so good to see someone ankle tattoo actually disappear! I'm so worried about my lower leg/ankle tattoo being stuck forever :(
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Ankle tattoos are more difficult, because the skin is so thin, but it WILL go away!! You are not stuck forever :)
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Hi there: I just started a tat removal on the exact same spot (around left ankle) with a Picosure this Monday. Right now (Wed night) my ankle is swollen and the treated area is really blistered. This is my 2nd tat removal. The first one was on the back of my shoulder and there was blistering but almost no swelling and the healing was much faster. I had 10 treatments there and it's gone (pigmentation still coming back slowly). Any recommendations on how to keep the swelling and blistering down on that ankle? I'm becoming a bit nervous... Thanks!!
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Hey! The swelling is horrid on the ankle! I ice it as much as possible and prop it up also. It usually takes about a week for my swelling to go down :( I have had horrible blistering also. There is so little blood flow to the ankle, it takes forever to heal. Yay us!!!!! Don't freak out- it happens to me every time. Post a review so I can follow you :)
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Thanks so much for the reply! Makes me feel a bit better to know it's normal. I'll post something soon and will let you know.
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Ice it non-stop after treatment for hours! I only got a blister in the spot that was hard to ice. The doctor told me that if you ice you shouldn't get blisters. It makes sense because there is so much heat in your skin that needs to come out. For instance I had an icepack that wasn't frozen at all on the area when I turned it over the side that was on my knee(tattoo) was really hot and then same thing after 10 minutes on the cool side. The blisters form to help keep the epidermis (outer skin) from touching the heat that is in your skin. ICE for the next 24 hours after treatment and make sure you get the whole tattoo covered in ice. Of course wrap it in gauze and put bag of ice on top.
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I am so impressed with your results after four treatments!
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Thanks! I really am too. I'm going to go to Skintastic in December and start up again :)
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Hi thanks for the update..are they treating the maroon flowers with picosure? If so are you feeling stinging and frosting when the laser is passed over it?
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Yes, they are treating the whole thing with picosure. I feel almost unbearable pain during the entire procedure- I have to close my eyes and hold my breath! Lol But the entire tattoo does seem to frost each time.
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Ok thanks for the reply.i asked you coz dont know if she kept the laser low or the ink is resitant to picosure but with the same setting when passed on the black i felt pain and seen frost...
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She told me they treat everyone on high.
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  • Eva G (Community Manager)
  • 1 month ago

Wow, your results are encouraging, looking great! Thanks for the side by side those really paint a true picture of the results. Keep us updated :)

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You should be going back for a fourth treatment soon right? My third is this Friday. Did you see a new poster is going to Skintastic in Dallas? I am glad she posted so I can see how that facility does.
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Kelly told me it should eventually return to normal. Mine has decreased a ton. I don't think waiting longer matters in regard to the healing of hypo you already have. I keep having treatments and mine continues to get better. Since the laser is drawn to pigment, it shouldn't be affected. Don't freak!!!!!! It will be ok :)
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lol. thank you. I do not want a scar in the shape of the tat! I told her I had a plne tick for four weeks from the last treatment and she told me to postone my plane tix two weeks. It will cost more than the original ticket to change the day and I am wondering what to do. Stressing is bad for healing but jeez, it's hard when yu are sp far away from the laser.
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Are you putting almactin or vitamin e or something on it? I am currently only using vaseline which I don't think helps the hypo.
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Nope- just Vaseline & aquafor :)
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So it is seriously pink and shiny!! Should I put silicone gel on it? or like scar cream? aahhhh. Should I push my third treatment to the end of November? I talked to Kelly she told me not to come back in four weeks but to come back in six. I already bought a plane ticket for four weeks and it cost more to change it than the actual ticket cost. ggrrrrr =( I will post a pic of the pink hypo skin so you can see how it looks!
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Yes, please post a pic! She told me NOT to put scar cream or anything other than Vaseline on it. The shiny pink is normal- mine looks like that too at first. As far as returning, I don't know- I mean, I wouldn't want to spend double my original plane ticket either :( If it were me, I would just go back in 4. (assuming she will do it)
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Why did she say not too? =( I was hoping I could put the gel on it after it heals and between treatments to reduce the side effects. =(
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Oh-AFTER it heals I think is fine! I thought you meant right now, while it's still healing. Once it's healed I think it's fine!!!!
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I think as of right now, it is healed. It's been two weeks since the last laser tx. Is that long enought to wait before putting other creams on it?
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I think its fine if its healed! How does it look? Any noticeable fading? I must say that my last one hurt so freaking bad I swore I would not go back! Kelly said the less ink there is the more it hurts :(
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