How precise is PicoSure? Can it go around and between letters to clean up the whole tattoo? (photos)

Question

I have a cursive letter tattoo under my collarbone. It has some serious blowout. I just got it done a little over a week ago and I’m wondering if PicoSure can help me once it’s healed? I want to get rid of the blowout but some of it is between those small cursive letters. All the letters have fattened up and aren’t as clean and thin as they should be. How precise is PicoSure? Can it go around and between letters to clean up the whole tattoo?

William Groff, DO · Answer

Both the PicoSure and PicoWay lasers are very precise, and are my favorite lasers for tattoo removal. In my practice we typically combine our Pico lasers with Q-switched lasers for the successful tattoo removal for the unique needs of all of our patients. I recommend scheduling a consultation with a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist who is an expert in tattoo removal for a formal assessment.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Lasers such as picosure are highly effective for tattoo removal. Using a PFD patch in tandem with a laser will get you more removal quickly as compared to tattoo removal without it. It will take a series of treatments. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a laser tattoo removal expert. If it's new, you'll want to wait until it's completely healed (around 4-6 weeks) Best, Dr. Emer

Richard Rosol, MD · Answer

I treat a lot of blowout with my PicoSure laser. The best time to do it and preserve the tattoo is while the tattoo is fresh, but healed&mdash;generally about 3 weeks. The ink still present in the epidermis acts to mask and protect the dermal ink we are trying to preserve in the art. Blowout treatments do not require numbing typically. If they do, topical cream will not reach adequate depth, necessitating injectable lidocaine.
Blowout treated after this window could nick and damage the art, since the laser aperture is not nearly as precise as a tattooer’s needle. To get the cleanest edge possible (and who doesn’t want that?), you might have to go back to the original tattooer for a touch-up. Totally worth it, if you love the piece.
Good luck!

How precise is PicoSure? Can it go around and between letters to clean up the whole tattoo? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about PicoSure

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

How precise is PicoSure? Can it go around and between letters to clean up the whole tattoo? (photos)

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about PicoSure

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