POSTED UNDER PicoWay REVIEWS
It hurts, but it works!
ORIGINAL POST
It Hurts, but It Works!
smay1October 11, 2020
WORTH IT$2,269
I think anyone considering removing a tattoo should be aware that this is not a painless procedure! The clinic website will show you the before & beautifully healed after photos, but not so much the gruesome healing process in-between!
I did not take a before shot of my tattoo! But I will continue to update new photos as I continue my treatment.
I did do some research online as to the different types of tattoo removal lasers, and it seems that the Picoway is the best right now. I made an appointment at my local clinic, and went for the consultation & first treatment. I paid $1500 (CAD) in total for the package of 3 treatments. The technician told me that most tattoos come off with 3-6 treatments, but it's impossible to know how many times it's going to take. You just have to see how it goes over time.
SESSION ONE
The first thing I have to say is OUCH. The laser itself was very painful. It felt like I was being burnt with a lighter! It is not so much like an "elastic band snap" (In my experience), the pain was much more intense than that. As the technician fires the laser, the "snap" part hurts like.. the worst pain you can imagine! But as soon the procedure is over, it's gone. It took her less than a couple of minutes to zap my entire tattoo. I was just laying on the table, completely ...dazed.. because I was in shock at how painful it was. I was not expecting that whatsoever. She covered my tattoo with 5% lidocaine polysporin, and taped on a non-stick bandage. That was it! I'd come back in 8 weeks.
When I got home, I was still thinking "holy shit this still hurts.." When I re-applied the numbing cream, it did make a difference. My advice for the first treatment, is to NOT LET THE NUMBING CREAM WEAR OFF. Drink lots of water, and make sure to eat regular meals. I did not sleep comfortably the first night. I was in a lot of pain, and I was in a lot of pain for the next two days after the treatment. So much, that I was getting headaches, and feeling like I was going to pass out at times. I re-applied the cream, and changed my non-stick once a day for the first three days, and then switched to regular bandaids after that. The tattoo itself had a red halo around it for about a week, then it went back to regular skin color. In the healing process, I did think to myself a few times, that if I knew it would be this painful that I would have just left the tattoo the way it was. But, paid in advance for the package of three treatments.. so I was hooked into going back.
SESSION TWO
My tattoo healed nicely, and I did see a noticeable amount of fading compared to the starting point. I arrived at the clinic, and layed down on the table. I was preparing myself for it to be a lot of pain again. And to my surprise, yes, it definitely still hurt, but not as bad compared to the first. After it was finished, I asked the technician whether it hurts less over time. She said that it's possible, because there is less black ink for the laser to react with. Or, it's psychological because now you know what to expect. Not totally sure.
I went home, and removed the non-stick to re-apply the numbing polysporin. This time, even though the procedure *seemed* to be far less painful, the tattoo itself looked far more gruesome! The whole tattoo was bright red. And there was even some leakage onto the non-stick (which did not happen the first time!) For the next couple days I changed the non-stick twice a day instead of once, because of the leakage. The tattoo color changed from red to purple, and I'm guessing, it will go back to skin color over time. I had no trouble at all this time with pain or headaches. After the procedure of getting it lasered (which does hurt while it's being done), there was barely any pain at all afterwards.
I predict that over time, each laser session gets easier & easier in terms of the pain levels. But I will have to see!
*This is where I'm at with my journey! I will update & continue to post new pictures as it goes along.
I did not take a before shot of my tattoo! But I will continue to update new photos as I continue my treatment.
I did do some research online as to the different types of tattoo removal lasers, and it seems that the Picoway is the best right now. I made an appointment at my local clinic, and went for the consultation & first treatment. I paid $1500 (CAD) in total for the package of 3 treatments. The technician told me that most tattoos come off with 3-6 treatments, but it's impossible to know how many times it's going to take. You just have to see how it goes over time.
SESSION ONE
The first thing I have to say is OUCH. The laser itself was very painful. It felt like I was being burnt with a lighter! It is not so much like an "elastic band snap" (In my experience), the pain was much more intense than that. As the technician fires the laser, the "snap" part hurts like.. the worst pain you can imagine! But as soon the procedure is over, it's gone. It took her less than a couple of minutes to zap my entire tattoo. I was just laying on the table, completely ...dazed.. because I was in shock at how painful it was. I was not expecting that whatsoever. She covered my tattoo with 5% lidocaine polysporin, and taped on a non-stick bandage. That was it! I'd come back in 8 weeks.
When I got home, I was still thinking "holy shit this still hurts.." When I re-applied the numbing cream, it did make a difference. My advice for the first treatment, is to NOT LET THE NUMBING CREAM WEAR OFF. Drink lots of water, and make sure to eat regular meals. I did not sleep comfortably the first night. I was in a lot of pain, and I was in a lot of pain for the next two days after the treatment. So much, that I was getting headaches, and feeling like I was going to pass out at times. I re-applied the cream, and changed my non-stick once a day for the first three days, and then switched to regular bandaids after that. The tattoo itself had a red halo around it for about a week, then it went back to regular skin color. In the healing process, I did think to myself a few times, that if I knew it would be this painful that I would have just left the tattoo the way it was. But, paid in advance for the package of three treatments.. so I was hooked into going back.
SESSION TWO
My tattoo healed nicely, and I did see a noticeable amount of fading compared to the starting point. I arrived at the clinic, and layed down on the table. I was preparing myself for it to be a lot of pain again. And to my surprise, yes, it definitely still hurt, but not as bad compared to the first. After it was finished, I asked the technician whether it hurts less over time. She said that it's possible, because there is less black ink for the laser to react with. Or, it's psychological because now you know what to expect. Not totally sure.
I went home, and removed the non-stick to re-apply the numbing polysporin. This time, even though the procedure *seemed* to be far less painful, the tattoo itself looked far more gruesome! The whole tattoo was bright red. And there was even some leakage onto the non-stick (which did not happen the first time!) For the next couple days I changed the non-stick twice a day instead of once, because of the leakage. The tattoo color changed from red to purple, and I'm guessing, it will go back to skin color over time. I had no trouble at all this time with pain or headaches. After the procedure of getting it lasered (which does hurt while it's being done), there was barely any pain at all afterwards.
I predict that over time, each laser session gets easier & easier in terms of the pain levels. But I will have to see!
*This is where I'm at with my journey! I will update & continue to post new pictures as it goes along.
Replies (1)
UPDATED FROM smay1
2 months post
Photos of Treatment 1 (healed) & Treatment 2 (right after.)
smay1October 12, 2020
First pic: Healed after treatment #1. Sorry it's a weird angle, it's on my back shoulder so I couldn't get the best pic of it.
Second pic: Morning after treatment #2. A bit gruesome looking, but you can tell through the redness that the black is fading quite a bit now!
Second pic: Morning after treatment #2. A bit gruesome looking, but you can tell through the redness that the black is fading quite a bit now!
Replies (0)
UPDATED FROM smay1
2 months post
Morning after the second treatment
smay1October 12, 2020
*for some reason the second photo didn't post on the first update
Second pic: Morning after treatment #2. A bit gruesome looking, but you can tell through the redness that the black is fading quite a bit now!
Second pic: Morning after treatment #2. A bit gruesome looking, but you can tell through the redness that the black is fading quite a bit now!
Thanks for sharing your review with the community! I hope your healing goes well - please feel free to update anytime.