How many session will this take to remove? How many months with healing time? (photos)

Question

Hey, I just got this tattoo on my wrist, its about 3.5cm by 4cm. I desperately want to remove it, I didn't think enough before I got it, so stupid! I feel its too big and in a too obvious place. Anyway I'm hopefully going to get it removed by the Picosure Laser, just wondering how many sessions you think this would take? How easy is it to remove a tattoo from your wrist? Also I'm currently on Accutane will I even be able to get laser removal while on this? Thanks

James Shire, MD · Answer

The tattoo on your wrist would be easily removed with the Picosure laser. It would most likely take between 4-6 treatments about 6 weeks apart. However, the laser treatments can not be preformed while you are on Accutane, and you would need to wait at least 6 months after your last dose before you could start. This is very important so you heal well without scarring.

Joshua L. Fox, MD · Answer

The
tattoo appears dark and your skin appears relatively light. This bodes well for laser removal. The picosecond lasers appear to work quite
well, slightly more efficiently than the Q-switched lasers in many studies. But
great results can still be had with Q-switch lasers. Classic dogma suggests that you need to be
off Accutane for at least 6 months. And
plan on at least a few treatments, but exactly how many varies highly and is
difficult to predict. Good Luck!

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

The number of treatments are based on ink density which in your case is small and ink color and size.Yours is black ink and seems professionally done, hopefully with traditional ink and should respond well to a Q switched laser like Alex TriVantage in 4 plus sessions or the more expensive picosecond lasers in less than 4 sessions.

Bruce E. Katz, MD · Answer

Thank you for your
question. Your tattoo is all black ink which is the easiest ink to target! With
the Picosure laser you will need 4+ treatments to permanently remove your
tattoo. After each laser treatment you need to allow your body adequate time to
heal from the laser, typically this is around 4-6 weeks. You should have good
results using this technology!

Pamela Carr, MD · Answer

You have made the right decision in choosing the Picosure to remove your tattoo.  Picosure is the latest and best technology available to perform laser tattoo removal.  You can expect half the number of treatments with the Picosure than with the older generation lasers.  Estimating the number of sessions to removal is difficult.  It depends on the amount of ink implanted, the depth of implantation, the type of ink used and the age of the tattoo. Four to six treatments seems like a reasonable estimate.Wishing you all the best! Dr Carr

How many session will this take to remove? How many months with healing time? (photos)

Answers (5)

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