My dermatologist was the first to receive the PicoSure laser in California so I decided to give it a go. I have never had any other laser removal done on my tattoo before PicoSure. My first treatment was in December and I received my second treatment today. So far I have seen a huge difference in all the colors being faded- black, green, yellow, and lots and lots of red. I notice on this site that people say it doesn't work on red, but so far I have seen it fade as you can see in my photos. The nurse at my doctor's office assures me she has seen red disappear on other patients as well. I have to be honest and say PicoSure is extremely painful! My tattoo is on the inside of my bicep so I'm not sure if that is the reason it is so painful or if it is for everyone. It just really, really hurts! I even took two Percoset before my appointment today, but it barely took the edge off. Be ready for some deep yoga breathing when you commit to multiple treatments of PicoSure. After my first treatment my arm felt like it was on fire for hours and hours and sharp pains for about five days. My arm also had blisters all over the tattooed area. I kept it wrapped with gauze to keep the liquid from ruining my clothes once they opened up on their own. They also provided me with a very thick ointment to keep it moisturized so it wouldn't crack and be even more painful. Today was my second treatment, which was just as painful, but only seemed to hurt for about two hours afterward. Now it's feeling ever so slightly sore. I hope the ink blasting keeps working as much as it did last month. I will update as it goes on. Updated on 2 Feb 2014: So it's been almost a month since I had my second PicoSure treatment! I can't say it hurt any less than the first one. I took two percoset before my treatment and it did not help AT ALL. I won't bother next time. Here is the new photo! Amazing!!! Updated on 26 Mar 2014: Ouch again. Updated on 7 May 2014: Wasn't any less painful during treatment, but this time I didn't blister as badly as every other session. Looking good. Next treatment is on Friday. Updated on 21 Aug 2014: I forgot to update after the last session so this photo is after two more sessions and I'm getting another one today. It has taken many more sessions than first thought, but is looking great and now I don't blister like I did previously. They also began a new laser last time I went on my red flowers, which is working GREAT! Updated on 9 Sep 2014: Picosure wasn't working very well on the red ink so we switched to the med-lite laser for those of you who are curious. :) Updated on 29 Oct 2014: Today I had another session of picosure/medlite. This photo was taken right before it. My last session was about 2.5 months ago. Updated on 14 May 2015: Sorry for skipping a few sessions. I forgot to update you on my progression. This treatment is taking many more sessions than first estimated, but it's looking great. This photo was taken after session 10/11(forgot which) the other day and had another session done, which is healing now. Hopefully this will be my LAST one, but possibly just one more. I have been going with two months between sessions lately instead of the previous one month. This time I will wait three before going in again (if at all). I can't wait until this is over with!!
If you have a sense of urgency and/or a deadline to remove your tattoo, the PicoSure would be your best option. Generally requiring half as many treatments as older nano-technology, you can reasonably expect the PicoSure to remove this small black tattoo in 5 or fewer sessions, facilitating your reporting to duty. Fair winds and Following Seas....
The number of treatment sessions is not dependent on the size of the tattoo. Black tattoos generally clear in 4-6 sessions, red might take an additional 1-2. Tattoo placement is traumatic; six weeks recovery is recommended. “Recovered” skin responds better to the laser. Wait these few weeks! You'll appreciate the outcome!
Lasers have been the standard treatment of tattoo removal for several decades. Just released to the world market in 2013, the PicoSure is the best laser technology for removing tattoos! An IPL produces a broad-spectrum of light that is filtered. This technology is excellent to treat diffuse discoloration of sun-damaged skin. An IPL is not a laser and as such, it is not designed to remove tattoo pigment.
The PICOSURE laser with pico-second technology, successfully removes tattoos of all colors, unlike previous laser technology. By far, the dark black tattoos are the easiest to remove with fast, clean results. Red colored tattoos have historically been most difficult to resolve, but the PicoSure can remove even reds, with just a few extra sessions. Other stubborn colors like greens and blues are also successfully treated with the PicoSure---making it essentially “colorblind”!
The cost of removing a tattoo is based on the size measured in square inches. However, it is standard in most practices to consider the amount of ink within that measured area , in order to make it a more precise cost estimate. What would have taken 8-12 sessions of tattoo removal treatments with previous laser technology, can be expected be take only 4-6 sessions the PicoSure laser !! This not only reduces the amount of time invested , but the overt cost of travel, appointments and time off!
