What laser would you recommend for an African American male pico4 or enlighten?

Question

I Am an African American male, and I have a large tattoo that covers my whole chest and both arms. I'm stuck between choosing from the pico4 or enlighten. My tattoo mostly consist of black ink but however I do have a minimal red and blue ink. Which laser do you feel will do best for my situation? I also plan on going vegan and not smoking. Because I heard the better your immune system the better the result

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

In our practice we utilize the currently most powerful Pico laser on the market called the PiQo4 by Lumenis.  The main advantage of a stronger tattoo laser (combining nano and pico wavelengths at greater power) is faster breakup of the tattoo.  The science of tattoo removal is complex but essentially the greater power will photo acoustically break up tattoo particles in smaller pieces. Tattoo removal, if not done correctly, can result in either scarring or ghosting.  Here are some tips:
Find a reputable office with a Pico laser. It produces faster results with less scarring than a nano alone.  Tattoo removal shops are not as reputable as a Doctor. Many of these shops close as quickly as they open, leaving you out of luck on pre-paid packages.Stay out of the sun— sunlight can be harmful to healing in after any laser procedureAvoid infections- This means keep your tattoo area clean (i.e. don’t garden right after a tattoo removal on your arm, etc), don’t pick scabs or blisters if they occur.  Follow our post procedure instructions.  Avoid swimming for 48 hours as water can infect the treated areas.Allow healing between treatment sessions- typically 4-8 weeks.Be healthy- while the tattoo laser breaks up the tattoo particles, your body will actually eliminate the particles. Being healthy will help achieve this process faster and allow for consistent healing. Drink lots of water, get adequate sleep, and eat vitamin enriched foods.Best, 
Anil Shah

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Tattoos should be removed with q switched or pico lasers. I recommend the q switched laser for your skin type. We also use the pfd patch to help speed up the process. It will take a series of treatments, but it's difficult to determine how many sessions will be needed. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a laser tattoo removal expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Phuong Q. Tien, MD · Answer

Both PICO4 and Enlighten are great PICO laser technology and either should be fine. If tattoo is new, you'll want to wait until it's completely healed (around 2-3 months) before laser treatment. Price depends on size of the tattoo and the number of treatment is depending on various factors (cover up vs complete removal, laser technology, ink saturation, colors, overall health, skin type, tattoo location, etc..).  We recommend seeking laser tattoo removal treatment from a reputable professional healthcare provider in your area who is specialized in tattoos removal with Pico technology.

Glenn Messina, MD · Answer

I would recommend a Q switched yag It will remove your back ink safely and with less likelihood of pigment loss in the skin. The KTP wavelength will also remove your reds.If the blues are light that could be a problem with any of these systems but if dark the YAg would also help remove them to.

What laser would you recommend for an African American male pico4 or enlighten?

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What laser would you recommend for an African American male pico4 or enlighten?

Answers (4)

Answer: Neither

Answer: Neither

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tattoo Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.