Can this black finger tattoo be removed? The ink is so dark and blown out. (Photo)

Thank you for your question and photo. Even though your tattoo is “blown out,” it should still be able to be removed fairly easily using laser tattoo removal. Black ink is usually the easiest to remove, even if it is heavily saturated. You will require multiple treatment sessions, though. Your best first step is going to be finding a certified professional and scheduling an in-person consultation. They’ll be able to give you a better idea of how many sessions might be needed to see the results you’re looking for. Best of luck.
 

Thanks for you question and photo. Yes, your tattoo can be removed with the right doctor and laser. 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.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.

Tattoos should be removed with q switched or pico lasers.  It will take a series of treatments. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a laser tattoo removal expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Thank you for your question. Yes, laser tattoo removal such as Picosure can be used to remove your tattoo. PicoSure has a short pulse duration that exceeds photothermal action and results in an intense photomechanical impact and this adds up to faster results and fewer treatments when compared to other tattoo removal methods. The amount of sessions you will need depends on the size, color, and placement of the tattoo. Typically, you can expect 70-90% removal with treatment. I recommend having a consultation with an expert to determine the best treatment plan for you. Best of Luck!

You are a great candidate for laser tattoo removal! Black ink is the easiest color to remove.  At our practice, we use a Q-Switched laser which we find very effective in removing tattoos such as yours. 

Your tattoo should respond to laser treatment.  Tattoo lasers are either Q-switched or picosecond lasers.  We use a Q-switched YAG laser which works well for black ink.  You will require multiple treatment sessions but should be able to get rid of this tattoo if you commit to doing enough treatment sessions.  Regards,Dr. Ort

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.  Best of luck

Dan, thanks for your question. From your picture it seems it might take up to 10 treatments with older laser technology to get satisfactory results.  However, you should get great results, in half the number of treatments, from the use of more modern advanced laser tattoo removal technology. Basically you should be treated with a 8ns, 1064 laser, with a 10-15mm spot size for one to three treatments to break up the large ink particles into smaller "pebble sized " particles. and then with a 800 picosecond laser to further breakdown the particles to "sand sized" particles. At that point, your body's immune system will scavenge the tiny ink particles and your tattoo will be cleared. I use the PiQo4 laser by Lumenis because it has variety of  ns and picosecond technology, and the largest spot size to improve clearance, speed treatment time and make the procedure more comfortable. In addition it has for wavelengths to treat tattoos with difficult to remove colors. It is important to discuss your concerns with your laser physician because all medical procedures carries some risks. Best wishes

This can be removed with a laser. It won't make it worse. It is a thick ink and on the hand so I expect 6-8 treatments. The best laser is a 1064nm wavelength with both nano and picosecond capabilities. Wait about 6 weeks between treatments. I use the Piqo4 laser for this.

Thank you for your question and photograph.  There should not be a problem removing your tattoo completely with minimal, if any, scarring.  Home made tattoos tend to disappear faster than professional tattoos, however, finger and hand tattoos tend to go away slower than many other tattoos, so it may take quite a few treatments. The longer you wait between laser sessions, the fewer you will need. Minimum six weeks. Be sure to go to someone who is very experienced with laser tattoo removal.