Girish S. Munavalli, MD, MHS

Good morning, thank you for your question. I'll start by saying that it's difficult to know exactly how many sessions are going to be needed to remove your tattoo...no one can tell you for certain, it's just the nature of the treatment. So, if you decide to remove it, you should go into the process with the understanding that you'll just have to wait & see. 

There are several factors that impact how quickly the tattoo will be able to be removed. The good news is that the ink is black, which is the easiest color to remove. It appears to be a professional tattoo so the thickness & type of ink will come into play, among other things. The areas where the ink looks like light "wisps" in the quill of the arrow will probably disappear first, in just a session or two. 

All that being said, if you do decide to move forward, I would encourage you to find a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with experience in laser tattoo removal. When discussing the treatment options, inquire about what type of laser they intend to use. I would likely use a picosecond or a Q-switched laser, but again you should have a consultation with a physician in person for advice.

Good morning, thanks for the question. As it relates to the treatment itself, ePrime/evolastín/Profound are one in the same. Although I can't speak on behalf of the developer, my assumption is that the name changes are simply a marketing or re-branding strategy. Cosmetic device developers, much like car manufacturers, will frequently release new versions of existing products as time goes by. We often see changes in body styles, new features, upgrades, etc…and sometimes new names. 

It's absolutely possible to have both in one day. Fillers in both of these areas can create a dramatic change and tear troughs especially are considered an advanced technique...so just make sure you find a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who has experience with dermal fillers and other injectable treatments.

I hope this helps!

Dr. Gilly 

Good morning, thank you for the question. I know it seems very simple to pick out a treatment based upon the vast amount of information available on the internet. However, it's truly in your best interest to make an appointment with a physician who has laser experience. Let he/she make recommendations for you & your unique skin.

Key pieces of information are easily confused which could lead you to unnecessary or inappropriate treatments (and neither you nor your doctor would benefit from that :). For example, by definition- macules are flat. Also, what you're describing obviously sounds like a post-inflammatory response to acne, and depending on your skin type - could be erythematous or could be hyperpigmentation, possibly both. My treatment recommendations for you would vary depending on what I observe...and without seeing you in person, none of this is able to be confirmed. 

To make a long answer short, I'd encourage you to find a board-certified dermatologist with laser experience for a consultation. Ask them to explain their recommendations and THEN come do a bit of research...if things don't add up, you can ask them to clarify or maybe seek out a second opinion.

I hope this helps!

Dr. Gilly

Good morning, thanks for your question. 

I'm in complete agreement with Dr. Ratz & Dr. Bader, you should absolutely have the surgery. I often hear things like: "If BCCs grow slowly - is it really worth the trouble of having surgery?" and "I am/am not worried about how good it will look", etc. While these are valid points to consider, I try to encourage my patients to look at the other side of that coin. For starters, Mohs surgery is often not nearly the hassle that people may sometimes think it is, the cure rates are extremely high and in most cases you can barely tell anything was done afterwards. My last bit of advice would be to find a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon to do your procedure. I hope this helps!

Dr. Gilly