POSTED UNDER PicoWay Reviews REVIEWS
Picoway is New...and Pricey! - San Francisco, CA
ORIGINAL POST
Have had 1 Q switched and 8 picosure treatments...
jlneJuly 10, 2015
$600
Have had 1 Q switched and 8 picosure treatments without the kind of results the picosure website promotes. Picoway is the new dual wavelength laser. Got 2 quotes in sf bay area-$600/session (package has 20% discount) or guestimate $400-600 at the sf place. Ouch. I can't afford that. It is supposed to be good for recalcitrant tattoos, but that's what picosure said. Frustrating. Only 2 places within driving distance here to shop around at. I wish I could get that "guarantee" some shops give. $1000 or whatever for guaranteed removal. I've already spent so much.
Replies (8)
July 24, 2015
Hey there! I live in the Bay Area and have been shopping around for places that use the Picosure laser (I'm not sure what the main difference is between that and the Picoway). Depending on which part of the bay you live in, I found a few places that gave me a better quote that what it sounds like you had. Dr. Riopelle in San Ramon quoted me $400/session - free after the 8th session if my tat is not gone yet. If you check out my review, my tattoo is HUGE compared to yours! I'm sure you could get a better price :) Also, Laser Skin Source in Alameda quoted $500/session (no free treatments guaranteed). Good luck in your journey :) I hope you are doing ok going through this time-consuming process.
August 16, 2015
re: Laser Skin Source in Alameda...can you clarify their cost? $500/session...no free treatments guaranteed? Sorry, I'm confused...thanks!
August 16, 2015
No worries! Yes - Laser Skin Source in Alameda quoted $500/session. Unlike Dr. Riopelle's office, they did not have a special offer that said treatments were free after any point, so you continue to pay full price until you are happy with the results.
August 27, 2015
wow...very pricey, maybe if you give it some more time you will see more results? iunno. i wish you luck please keep us informed. i have a tattoo i really want to get rid of and its ALOT of black ink
September 3, 2015
I think that the doctor who does a treatment needs to be experienced with the laser - it is the most important and determining factor in my opinion. How would you explain that some people achieve great results with picosure after 2-3 treatments even on massive and dark tattoos but in the meantime others achieve barely any visible fading with picosure in even 7 treatments! ? How come? For me the technician's experience is even more important than the machine is!
December 1, 2015
That's exactly why I'm considering not going somewhere that doesn't have a technician behind the laser.
September 3, 2015
what I found out from reviews and opinions and my own research, Nd: Yag lasers are not 100% sure guarantee....
UPDATED FROM jlne
abandoning picosure for now, back to q-switch
jlneAugust 27, 2015
I did as much research as I could on the actual benefits of Pico vs Q-switch for my dark black tattoo. It has faded a lot but after (I think actually 10 sessions vs the 8 I originally thought) all the expense and lack of real results as promised w/pico, I'm going to try Q. I got a groupon for 3 sessions for less than half of one pico session. The 1064 wavelength of the q-switch is supposed to be best for black as opposed to the picosure.
I'm hoping for a miracle. Even if the pico was faster than Q, maybe it cleared enough of the ink for the q to really do a good job, at a deeper level in my skin, at the exact wavelength needed for black. Only bummer is I have to wait til sept to do it, booked out.
Wish me luck! Here is a current photo, no guarantee on the lighting. I can't see much difference aside from I have healed up.
I'm hoping for a miracle. Even if the pico was faster than Q, maybe it cleared enough of the ink for the q to really do a good job, at a deeper level in my skin, at the exact wavelength needed for black. Only bummer is I have to wait til sept to do it, booked out.
Wish me luck! Here is a current photo, no guarantee on the lighting. I can't see much difference aside from I have healed up.
Replies (10)
August 28, 2015
Tattoo removal is so unpredictable, what works for one person might not work for the other, glad you are switching it up and I wish you success -- fingers and toes crossed.
August 28, 2015
That is also true.... However, I believe that even darker tattoos can be removed while treated with experienced doctor.
August 28, 2015
hey, look for Sinon Ruby laser - it is great with black tats..... I thought picosure would remove recalcitrant tattoos....You should maybe try to look for another technician because not the machine is that important as it is the doctor who should be experienced with the laser. Experience does tons for successful tattoo removal, even with the best lasers technician who does not know how to work with it and is lack for experience, the tattoo removal will not work. That is what I think about laser removal.
September 10, 2015
Hi there, I'm going for session 8 picosure tomorrow (after being quoted 6 sessions). Very frustrating. Do you have more pix to share? My progress is posted on my profile as well. Good luck if you find one that works please share!
September 10, 2015
I'm still healing but I think I faded way, way more in one session vs the 10 with picosure. No doubt, this Q laser and the correct wavelength made all the difference for me. I will post pics in the next few days, once the scabbing is off. Wow. So mad I waited til now to try this...
September 10, 2015
Cool, can't wait to see. Sorry for the dumb question, but what is the name of the laser that seems to be working? Just a "q-switch" laser? I may need to look at alternatives to Picosure also.
September 10, 2015
I think the quanta Q plus c...I just looked at your review-you have colors, right? Your fading looks really good, way more than I had after 8-10 treatments. I think stick with it-you are having good results w/picosure. My black tattoo needed a different wavelength!
September 10, 2015
yes , just posted the original vs. now. it's good progress but this last 10% is tough! Good luck with yours!
November 18, 2015
How are your sessions going post - picosure? I'm still curious about Pico Way....
Thanks for joining and sharing your story - fingers crossed for you that the PicoWay does the trick, good luck!