Will the Alex TriVantage laser be effective in removing my tattoo?

Question

I trust the clinic I am going to and have heard great recommendations... However, I am skeptical about the laser because I have heard so much about the Pico... Is it really worth the switch if I already trust my clinic. The only problem I have had, is hardly any change from the first treatment I had nearly two weeks ago. It is a black outlined tattoo, with minimal shading...

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Pico is the best approach to removing tattoos at this point.  There is less thermal injury and it allows for faster recovery.  We use a combination of techniques in my office for best results.  Best Anil Shah

Laura Riehm, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question and posting a picture.  Tattoo regret is very common.  Almost every tattoo can be completely removed with enough time and treatments.  The most important factor is patience.  You have to give your body time to absorb the ink.  For laser tattoo removal you have two routes.The older nanosecond or Q-Switch lasers that came out about 20 years ago.  The majority of former Q-Switch patients we see have significant hypopigmentation (ghosting) around and under their tattoo.  The Q-Switch lasers have trouble differentiating between the melanin in your skin and ink.  The technology uses heat to burn the pigment out of your skin.  In addition, we have seen patients with raised scars as if they have been branded.  Both of these condition are typically irreversible.  Picosecond laser came out about 4 years ago.  Every laser manufacturer has a different marketing hook to make you choose their laser.  At the end of the day, it's about the technology and experience of the clinician.  All PicoSecond lasers (like the Enlighten, PicoWay & PicoSure) fire 1000 times faster per second, using a pressure wave rather than heat to shear the ink molecules apart.  The hype of extra wavelengths does not make that much of a difference.  The 755 nm will get rid of most of the ink colors.  For red and pink ink, you would need to make sure they have 532 nm.  After using the PicoSure for 3 and half years, we have only seen pinpoint hypopigmentation in a very small number of patients usually of darker skin tones.  We cannot say it is impossible to get burned with a Picosecond laser, but it is highly unlikely.  We tell every PicoSure tattoo patient to expect at least 6 treatments, but don’t be surprised if it takes 10 to 12.  Patience is the key for our patients.  We typically see our tattoo removal patients every 8 to 12 weeks initially.  We eventually encourage them to wait up to 6 months as the tattoos seem to continue to fade while they wait.Treatment prices vary by market. The cost for picosecond treatments will be higher, but you should need less than half the treatments compared to a nanosecond laser.  The patch is only used with the older nanosecond lasers.  Best of luck

Mark A. Blair, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question.  The pico technology is definitely the latest technology in laser tattoo removal, but prior to purchasing the PicoWay laser we used the Alex Tri-Vantage laser for many years to remove tattoos.  It definitely does work, may take a few more treatments than the pico technology, but it can be very successful, especially with just black ink. With any type of device it will definitely be multiple treatments and more time between treatments allows the body to absorb the ink. Be patient.Good Luck!

Will the Alex TriVantage laser be effective in removing my tattoo?

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Will the Alex TriVantage laser be effective in removing my tattoo?

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Everything you need to know about Tattoo Removal

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