POSTED UNDER PicoSure Reviews
PicoSure ankle tattoo removal
UPDATED FROM abo2559
2 years post
After 7 treatments
WORTH IT$200
So I've had 7 Picosure treatments over the course of 2.5 years. I waited a long time between some of my treatments to let my skin heal and get maximum clearance (the nurse practitioner who does my treatments says 8 weeks is the minimum but several months is even better).
Not going to lie I am getting pretty frustrated with this process. I know I've had great results so far but these last couple treatments seemed to barely make a difference. I am getting fed up and just want it all GONE!
I am posting 2 pics - 1 with the flash and 1 without. I would say in real life it's somewhat between the two (not as dark as the first one but not as light as the flash one).
Lmk what you guys think!
Not going to lie I am getting pretty frustrated with this process. I know I've had great results so far but these last couple treatments seemed to barely make a difference. I am getting fed up and just want it all GONE!
I am posting 2 pics - 1 with the flash and 1 without. I would say in real life it's somewhat between the two (not as dark as the first one but not as light as the flash one).
Lmk what you guys think!
UPDATED FROM abo2559
1 year post
About to have my 6th Picosure treatment
Hey guys, I need to do a little venting here. Ok...so the last picture I put up in April had REALLY flattering lighting. My tattoo does not look at that good. Basically, I saw HUGE reductions after my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd treatments. After my 4th and 5th...not so much. Like I think the lines have faded a little bit, but I honestly think it looks pretty much the same! I'm putting up a pic of my tattoo that i took TODAY, AFTER 5 TREATMENTS. I feel bad about the last pic I put up because it's not accurate and I'm sure this post will be confusing because comparing the two pics looks like there's more ink there than before.
I've already spent $1,000 and am prepared to spend another $200 tomorrow afternoon to get my 6th treatment. I know the ink was very dark (high quality professional ink) and I know it's harder to remove ankle tattoos, but I saw so much improvement after each of the first 3 treatments, and then after the last 2 hardly saw anything! I'm sure a lot of you out there can relate to hating your tattoo, but feeling like the faded, spotted mid-removal remnants of the original tattoo also sucks!
Any advice? Anyone else feel like their progress stalled after the first couple treatments?
I've already spent $1,000 and am prepared to spend another $200 tomorrow afternoon to get my 6th treatment. I know the ink was very dark (high quality professional ink) and I know it's harder to remove ankle tattoos, but I saw so much improvement after each of the first 3 treatments, and then after the last 2 hardly saw anything! I'm sure a lot of you out there can relate to hating your tattoo, but feeling like the faded, spotted mid-removal remnants of the original tattoo also sucks!
Any advice? Anyone else feel like their progress stalled after the first couple treatments?
Replies (5)
K
October 5, 2016
I would talk to them about adjusting the settings. Either a bigger spot size to blast deeper ink or higher joules (power) with smaller spot size. The only concern about more power is that you might experience even more blistering.
V
October 6, 2016
Thank you for sharing your journey. I've just got my first pico treatment today and boy does it hurt. I'm hoping the pain and swelling will subside soon and see results.
A
October 6, 2016
In my experience it takes a good 4 weeks for it to look ok. I had redness and blistering for a solid 2 weeks and it took another 2-3 weeks for it to subside. That's why you have to wait so long between treatments. Good luck!
SL
October 6, 2016
Hi there,
I am also having a ankle tattoo removed via picosure. I have had 4 treatments so far and have seen significant lightening but I am not where near done. Unfortunately I think I'm only 1/2 way there. I am committed to continuing until it's gone. I completely relate to your emotions and frustration. This process is much harder than I imagined. The $$, recovery and unknown factor of will it be completely gone are constant stress factors. From my perspective yours looks to be 80% there - I would hope you only need a few more. The only thing I can recommend is to give yourself credit for doing something for yourself and have faith that one day you will be tattoo free. I really hope this next one goes well for you. Mine goes completely around my ankle and I am terrified that there are sections that will never fade. Hang in there and please post a follow up. Best of luck to you !!!!!!
I am also having a ankle tattoo removed via picosure. I have had 4 treatments so far and have seen significant lightening but I am not where near done. Unfortunately I think I'm only 1/2 way there. I am committed to continuing until it's gone. I completely relate to your emotions and frustration. This process is much harder than I imagined. The $$, recovery and unknown factor of will it be completely gone are constant stress factors. From my perspective yours looks to be 80% there - I would hope you only need a few more. The only thing I can recommend is to give yourself credit for doing something for yourself and have faith that one day you will be tattoo free. I really hope this next one goes well for you. Mine goes completely around my ankle and I am terrified that there are sections that will never fade. Hang in there and please post a follow up. Best of luck to you !!!!!!
A
October 6, 2016
Thank you so much for commenting! So nice to hear someone that can relate. I thought Picosure would be magical and not be the long/drawn out, expensive, frustrating experience that tattoo removal has traditionally been (but it is!). I also relate to the stress--like will I always have discoloration or will it really completely go away? I have high hopes for this treatment and the woman told me probably 1-2 more after this. Fingers crossed!
Btw, can you post a pic of your tattoo, if you want-- I'd love to see it!
Btw, can you post a pic of your tattoo, if you want-- I'd love to see it!
SL
October 6, 2016
Absolutely! I think I need to do that in my profile - let me try to figure it out. One side is significantly lighter than the other because the darker side was tattoed twice. On the picosure - I did too. I did tons of research and thought I would be done at 5 treatments. Needless to say I LOVE my laser technician and she gives me a pep talk each visit. I'm addicted to exercise so the recovery has been pretty brutal since it goes completely around the ankle but usually within 5 days I can get back to most activity. Thought it was worth mentioning after the last round I kept my foot elevated on and off regularly for the first few days to increase circulation. Call me crazy but I think it helped. I also walked a lot to keep the blood flowing. And lastly, when the top layer was healed I massaged it with coconut oil several times a day. Keep me posted and hang in there. I'll try to do the pictures now.
SL
L
October 7, 2016
Have you considered getting a treatment with the Cutera Enlighten? If not it may be worth a shot. We've seen multiple tattoo's at that exact state that can be cleared up with only 1 more Enlighten treatment. Typically you see far less blisters and less scars from the laser.
K
D
June 15, 2017
You're not alone. I went for my 7th treatment for a black butterfly ankle tattoo. Sessions 1 - 4 I could see big improvements but I'm not seeing much lately. There's one dark line that doesn't seem to want to fade, and the rest is light but not getting better. I am considering going somewhere else to try a different laser but I don't know if that will do the trick.
Replies (3)
W
C
April 9, 2016
Will the discoloration go away with time did they say? I have the same thing with my tattoo it had blue in it and its like yours.
A
April 10, 2016
I think I'll need another treatment or two to get the ink out. That pic doesn't really show the hyperpigmentation (redness) that I have. Is that what you have?
C
N
Replies (2)