Is my thick black tattoo possible to remove? (Photo)

Question

Good Afternoon, i have got a black ink cross tattoo on my wrist(forearm) its about 7cm height and 5cm wide. My question is that, do i have a good chance to remove this tattoo?(even if a bit of scaring left worth it for me) I read a lot of things and stories in here, i know it takes a while so i am expecting up to 14-20 treatments, My immune system is really strong i guess that helps as well to remove the ink. Thank you very much for the answers.

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question Strelok77.  Unfortunately due to the size this would have to be performed via staged tattoo removal, a comfortable amount of the tattoo is removed to allow stitching of the wound.  A few months later, the surgical wound will be well healed and the skin will have stretched enough to allow a further portion of the tattoo to be removed.  A further variant to this could be the use of a tissue expander, a surgical ballon designed to stretch an area of skin in preparation to fill a gap left by the removal of a tattoo.  
Alternatively using a skin graft, where skin, taken from another area of your body, can be used to fill a gap which cannot be drawn together with stitches.  This is a single operation however it leaves a second mark or scar on the body where the skin graft is take from.

Wayne Wertheim, MD · Answer

You have a great chance of having your piece removed! Just a couple of things to be aware of .
Make sure you go to a medical office using the latest lasers that use Pico tecnology. Don't rush your treatments. Allow at least 8-10 weeks minimum between treatments. We have treated many tats like yours with excellent results. Good Luck!

Brian Citro, MD · Answer

Thanks for including a photo. The ink looks very dark, but it shouldn't be a problem. In your case, I would recommend finding a local expert with a picosecond laser: Enlighten, Piqo4, or Picoway.  Black ink on white skin is the easiest to remove by far, and I don't think it will take 20 treatments!

Jessica H. Kim, MD, FAAD · Answer

New laser technology has allowed for more efficient treatment of tattoos.  In general, the newer picosecond lasers typically require 6 or more treatments vs 12 or more with the older nanosecond lasers to see significant clearance.  Due to your ink color, I would recommend getting the 1064nm laser such as Enlighten or PicoWay.  Consult with a board-certified and experienced cosmetic physician.

Laura Riehm, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  You have 2 routes for laser tattoo removal.Nanosecond lasers came out about 20 years ago.  Picosecond laser came out about 3 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 irreversible.  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, using a pressure wave rather than heat to shear the ink molecules apart.  After using the PicoSure for almost 3 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.  If they have more time than money, we encourage them to come every 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.

Is my thick black tattoo possible to remove? (Photo)

Answers (5)

More Tattoo Removal Questions

Is swimming allowed after laser tattoo removal?

Lump either side of scar 10 months post op.

How long after Pico laser treatment to remove a tattoo is it safe to go in the sun?

Is the tattoo supposed to turn a whitish color during removal?

I have a large tattoo on my scalp. Will I lose my hair if I remove it with laser?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS