POSTED UNDER Tattoo Removal Reviews
Picosure Tattoo Removal - Sacramento, CA
UPDATED FROM fofinha
4 months post
One week after 3rd treatment
$350
All blisters have gone down and there is dry scaly skin on most of the tattoo.
fofinha's provider
UPDATED FROM fofinha
4 months post
Photos of third treatment (2 days after)
This treatment was stronger than the last two and there is considerably more bruising and blisters.
Replies (1)
EG
December 24, 2013
Thanks for the update! You are progressing wonderfully! Do you know what setting your laser was on?
F
December 26, 2013
I don't know what setting it was on but it was higher than the last two as I was very bruised and had a lot of small and large blisters that took about 5 days to deflate.
EG
December 26, 2013
I get lots of blisters after my treatments, especially on the color. Sometimes they are so large that and being on my back, my husband will drain them with an insulin needle...I know I am not supposed to but it's so hard to have the big ones. Keep us posted on your progress :)
UPDATED FROM fofinha
4 months post
3rd treatment 12/19/2013
So I got my third treatment yesterday and it was far more painful than the previous two. I really like the laser nurse, Heidi but I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of Dr Tanghetti. I asked Heidi why there was dark areas around the tattoo, like the ink was just under the skin not being absorbed. She went to get the Dr. to ask him and he said that it is from the tattoo and for her to laser that area also. He also said that there are a lot of toxic metals in tattoo ink and its completely unregulated. And was sort of cold and cavalier about it. I asked how dangerous it is to have this in your body and if it was better to leave it or remove it. He said that its best not to get it in the first place. Well, [RS bleep] sure. That would have been great, but that is obviously not an option now because its already on my arm. I felt like he was sort of saying to me, well, if you were stupid enough to get it, deal with the consequences. Sure, I wish I didn't but I was 18 and I am absolutely 100% sure that not one person on earth can say they never regret a decision they made. Ugh. I will conclude this by saying that I went to 4 different consults all around the Bay Area and find it extremely interesting that not one single physician brought this topic up. I even remember asking one if it was hard on the immune system to clean up these inks because I was certain that there could be things in them harmful to the body. I recall she said, that that is what the immune system and lymph nodes are supposed to do and they do a good job at it.
Replies (3)
O
December 20, 2013
Hi, I just want to comment on yr last post. I too found out (on my own mind you) that the tattoo inks are unregulated and do contain many toxic metals. I started getting treatment in 2011 and did not find that information at the time online or otherwise. I was under the impression that removal was completely safe and that tattoo ink was just non toxic pigment. I guess it's just a shame that the physicians, although they have no control over the ink standards, do not tell us the full gamut regarding removal..I mean, they're supposedly the experts right? Regardless, I brought this issue up b/c my Dr told me that the metals do remain in the lymph nodes, regardless of if we just get a tatt and do not treat it or if we get removal. Either way, the ink/metals are there, yet I am unsure if they will ever leave. I also saw a few news stories about this in which some removal clients opt for a process known as chelation, in which they undergo a sort of "flush" to remove the heavy metals. I have looked into this myself but there is also risk involved, as they say the flushing can also remove vital compounds/minerals that we need and even stir up the metals at rest, causing more side effects...so I am just going to let it be. It's a hard call, and that is why I would never go through this again just b/c of the unknown health risks. The best thing you (me, or anyone going through this) can do is drink plenty of water; I heard citrus is a great metal detoxifier too. I honestly think that part of the reason we feel slightly overwhelmed through this whole process is due to metal toxicity which is known to cause depression, anxiety, and other things. Just do what you have to do and try and take long breaks in b/w treatments...yr ink will continue to fade and that will also give yr body time to heal from the trauma. Sorry yr Dr was a prick, I have encountered quite a few on my journey. The most important aspect here is time and patience, so please trust yr body and allow it the time it needs. Good luck.
EG
December 20, 2013
Great information, thank you!!! I always wonder whats going on with the ink that has been floating around in my system, it worries me. I agree, lots of water, healthy food, and you are correct citrus is great for detox - add lemon to your water.
K
O
December 20, 2013
And I am in no way a Dr..but I only find myself digging for all of these answers b/c I work in engineering so that's how my mind tends to think. So for anyone reading my comment/advice, please note that I am not a health professional; it's just the information I came across while doing research on my own. There are still so many unknowns it seems, so the best advice I can give is allow yr body down time to rest and heal both inside and out.
F
December 21, 2013
I have been waiting 10 weeks or so in between treatments but I think I will wait more like 4 months from now on.
O
December 21, 2013
Waiting a few months in b/w treatments never hurts regardless of the laser being used. The pico does tend to not cause as much trauma as a q-switched, so it technically can be used sooner than a Q...but still, all the laser really does is shatter the ink...it's our bodies that dispose of it --and that may take months. I also heard that if you laser too soon, you risk killing the carrier cells that are in the process of moving the ink. Again, I guess no one is really 100% sure...I go by simple physics and personal experience anymore b/c there seems to be no general consensus amongst the removal clinics. My Dr wont even see me if I even try and come in b/f 3mos. I now wait 3-4 mos in b/w treatments and not only see dramatic fading, my skin heals great, I'm not feeling sick, and I save money. The laser itself reaches energy levels that far exceed our normal energy levels and I could only imagine that too is somewhat traumatic on our chakras as well. But again, this is all just my experience and we all have our own. I also was going to comment that the ink you say is lingering on the edges could just be due to the ink particles breaking up and spreading out; either way I wouldn't worry; your fading looks great btw. Massage and rose-hips oil (or bio-oil) works wonders too after it heals and helps stimulate the removal.
W
December 21, 2013
What an unhelpful attitude your doctor seems to have! Sounds like he came across as very condescending and unprofessional. I echo oneTime2many - all we can do is ensure our hydration levels are always tip top (water's the best cleanser!). Whilst it hasn't been scientifically proven how/if the ink particles leave the body, it's reassuring to know that laser tattoo removal has been around for several years now, and there to doesn't seem to be (at least an obvious) correlation between removal and repercussions later in life whatsoever.
Replies (1)