Laser Tattoo Removal

When it comes to tattoo removal, the first important factor to consider is the quality of the actual laser technology out there. For years, the technology has been lacking as certain colors and characteristics of tattoos have made them nearly impossible to get rid of. The great news is that the newest technology has now made the safe, quick elimination of your tattoo a potential reality.

Make sure that your tattoo is removed only by a highly experienced laser doctor or doctor-supervised nurse using only the world’s best tattoo removal laser. You only have one body and our goal is to help you keep it looking its best. Finding the right doctor for anything cosmetic is always a difficult and important decision. When it comes to removing a tattoo, you should not take the decision lightly either. We want to help you make a well-informed decision and give you all the tools you need to get the best results.

In our practice we use the World’s greatest Tattoo Removal Laser, the PicoSure® Laser by Cynosure. Only the PicoSure® uses PressureWave™ technology, energy delivered so fast that tattoos literally melt away. No other laser currently available can come close to matching its ability to take out a tattoo. Other lasers take out only certain colors and require up to 15 to 20 treatments. Even after that many treatments, often half the color can remain. PicoSure® takes out the tattoo in 5 to 8 treatments on average and can treat even the most difficult colors such as blue and green.

If you have a previously treated tattoo that would not come out completely with another laser system, you owe it to yourself to try the PicoSure®. On the other hand, if your tattoo has never been treated, the PicoSure® is the right choice from the start.

Areas of Concern:

Unwanted Tattoo

How many treatments are necessary?

The number of PicoSure treatments for unwanted pigmentation will vary depending on the condition being treated and how each individual responds. For tattoo removal, the size, location and density of ink play important roles in how quickly clearance can be achieved, but 4-10 treatments* is common for modern tattoos. Your treatment provider will be able to evaluate and provide you with a personalized plan. The number of treatments for skin revitalization is largely dependent on the clinical condition being addressed but 2-5 treatments are common. Your treatment provider will be able to provide you with a personalized plan.

How long does the procedure take?

Procedure time depends on the size of the area to be treated, and 10 minutes is common for average sized tattoo and skin revitalization treatments.

What does the procedure feel like?

Most people experience very little discomfort and describe skin revitalization treatments as feeling like the snapping of a rubber band. Because tattoo removal treatments use more energy, patients may experience more discomfort, but your treatment provider should be able to offer numbing cream or other aids to minimize discomfort.

How long do the results last?

Tattoo removal and acne scar results are permanent. Skin revitalization treatment results are long lasting, but some pigment conditions can be recurrent. Some patients find that a PicoSure Focus treatment every six months can help prevent accumulation of pigment and slow the appearance of wrinkles.

What is the recovery time?

Recovery times are dependent on the condition being treated and each patient’s ability to heal. Typical treatment intervals are 2-6 weeks for pigmented lesions and 6-8 weeks for tattoo removal. Treatments for acne scars and wrinkles using the Focus lens array can be performed every 3-4 weeks. Your treatment provider will create a personalized treatment plan for you.

At Riopelle Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Dermatology, we love to teach. One motivation for this tattoo removal site is that over the years we have seen many patients who have unknowingly gone to have a tattoo removed by other providers, not realizing that there was a significant risk that they could be left scarred or that their skin could be left severely hypo-pigmented. In other cases, patients have gone for 15 to 20, even 30 tattoo removal treatments only to see the tattoo still visible at least 30 percent. Now our purpose here is not to fault the doctors, nurses, or technicians who have done these procedures. Most providers have the patient’s best interests in mind, and truly try to do the best job they possibly can. The fact is, though, that some providers simply are better trained and more experienced in the use of laser technology than others. What many unsuspecting patients don’t realize is that it is not just a matter of turning on a laser and letting it do its work. Physicians and nurses with a long track record of laser work have far greater respect for a laser and the potential damage it can do if not used properly than the novice user has. In most cases, the best laser surgeon is going to be someone with a long-term background and experience with the use of many laser devices. In our practice, we have over 15 laser devices and have performed more than 15,000 laser procedures.

We also understand that many people who have tattoos removed will be getting new tattoos or altering their tattoos, so we can also help you select a safe, reputable, and artistic tattoo artist for future tattoos as this aspect of your tattoo experience is also highly important. Give SF Bay Cosmetic Surgery Medical Group in San Ramon, Pleasanton, San Jose, and Oakland a call to schedule a consultation today!