If you’re like most people, your tattoo is something you love. You know that the art might not be perfect, but it’s yours and has meaning behind it. So, what happens if for one reason or another you decide to remove the tattoo? Luckily, PicoWay laser tattoo removal has a simple solution for getting rid of unwanted ink on the skin. Here at Ingrid E. Trenkle, MD in Redlands, CA, we offer this effective and FDA-approved laser technology and can help.
How Many Sessions of Tattoo Removal Do You Need?
The only true answer to this question is that it depends. It’s important to remember that every tattoo and person is different, so the number of sessions can vary greatly. For some people, just one session will remove all signs of their old ink, while for someone else, they may need several treatments over a period of months before everything has been removed.
The main thing we recommend when getting PicoWay laser tattoo treatment done is patience! You’ll want to make sure you find an experienced professional like Dr. Ingrid E Trenkle, who knows exactly how much pigment needs to be broken down in order to get rid of your tattoos completely. That said, below are several factors that will impact the treatment time:
Tattoo Size
Smaller tattoos will respond much better to laser tattoo removal. This is simply because there’s less ink and pigment in the area, which means it doesn’t take as long for the light of a PicoWay laser to break down those particles under your skin.
The Color
It may sound obvious but different colors require more sessions than others do. Blues and greens especially tend to plague people with their resistance to treatment. Why? These colors are higher energy wavelengths, so they penetrate deeper into your skin before being absorbed by the pigments beneath them. That means these colors can stand up longer against our lasers until we’ve broken enough bonds between molecules to eliminate the ink from your system once and for all.
Tattoo Age
Age also contributes to how many sessions will be necessary for your treatment plan. The older the art is, the easier it is for our lasers to break down the ink into its constituent parts. So, while there’s no hard and fast rule, older tattoos tend to respond better than newer ones do.
The Location
Where your tattoo is placed on the body will also impact how many sessions you’ll need to have. For example, a full back piece may take significantly longer than treating just one small ankle tattoo. This has nothing to do with ink colors or age but rather where it’s located and how much there is for us to remove! That said, our staff here at Ingrid E Trenkle MD are experts in PicoWay laser treatments, so we know exactly what needs to be done each step of the way until your entire art no longer exists under your skin.
Your Body’s Reaction
At the end of the day, your body will dictate how many sessions you’ll need to have for PicoWay laser treatments to be effective. We know that some people are able to see results after just one session, while others may require several depending on how sensitive their skin is. When you’re getting PicoWay tattoos removal done at our office, make sure you come prepared with a list of questions you need answered, including potential body reactions, to ensure your comfort throughout the whole process.
Lifestyle
Taking proper care of your skin will also impact your treatment sessions. This means quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, and staying out of the sun. These are all factors that can contribute to your body rejecting treatment, so you’ll want to avoid exposing yourself to these elements as much as possible while getting PicoWay laser treatments done.
Pre-Existing Health Conditions
Lastly, it’s important to disclose any health conditions you may have that impact your ability to heal. This means telling us if you have skin conditions like eczema, herpes, or rosacea. You should also let us know if you have a blood clotting disorder or are currently on any medications which may impact your treatment. Please note that we do not encourage you to discontinue taking medication in order to treat your tattoos here at our office.
How Does PicoWay Laser Tattoo Removal Work?
The PicoWay laser works by emitting a high-energy beam of light that targets tattoo pigments under your skin. This laser penetrates deep into your skin, which can be as shallow or as deep as we need it to go depending on the ink colors and how old the tattoo is. By using tiny nanoseconds flashes of this light, lasers are able to break down the targeted pigment into tiny particles, which are then safely eliminated from your body through metabolism, leaving you free of any tattoos.
Consultation
Before we can even get started on any treatments here at Ingrid E Trenkle MD, you’ll first need to meet with one of our staff members and answer a few questions about your health and tattoo history. This is important for us to understand how many sessions it will take until the treatment is complete and what kind of shape your skin is currently in.
During this meeting, our staff will also go over the process of PicoWay laser treatment so you’ll know exactly what to expect. We are always available throughout your sessions if any questions or concerns come up along the way, so don’t be afraid to speak up.
Preparation for Treatment
There are a few steps you’ll need to take before we can start your PicoWay treatment sessions. First, make sure to shave the area where the tattoo is located in order for us to get a clean treatment once it’s time. Make sure not to use any perfumed soaps or lotions on this skin as these may cause irritation when being treated by our laser, which would defeat the purpose of getting rid of tattoos!
Also, be aware that clothing over the targeted spot will only slow down results and prolong treatments. Please plan accordingly if you will be wearing anything on top of the treatment area.
Treatment
After you’ve been prepped, we’ll apply a topical anesthetic onto your skin to ensure there is no discomfort or pain during this process. And if it does pain for any reason, please tell us immediately so we can adjust your laser settings accordingly. Our staff members are always watching out for these kinds of issues, so please don’t hesitate to speak up throughout treatments if something isn’t feeling right.
Once our PicoWay laser has done its job by breaking down all targeted pigment particles into tiny fragments, some patients may even see their tattoos flaking off right before their eyes!
After Treatment
Your next PicoWay laser treatment sessions will be done in several appointments. These treatments are spread out anywhere from 4-6 weeks apart depending on your skin type, how deep the ink is located as well other factors discussed above. We can even do split-session treatments for those with multiple locations requiring lengthy treatment like inner thighs and bikini lines.
With that being said, it’s important not to have too many gaps between these visits so we can work towards our goal quickly but still safely without rushing anything.
Does Tattoo Removal Cause Scars?
When done correctly, there should be no scarring from PicoWay laser treatments. If any post-pigment discoloration or hyper/hypopigmentation occurs, this is due to the skin’s natural healing abilities and not a result of the treatment itself, so don’t worry! However, if we notice any irregularities in your healing process, then this treatment will need to be postponed for now and rescheduled once everything has healed properly.
Does It Hurt to Remove Tattoo with AaLaser?
PicoWay laser tattoo removal should not cause much discomfort. We will apply a topical anesthetic or inject localized lidocaine to your skin before any treatments are done so you don’t have much to worry about.
Schedule An Appointment Today!
PicoWay laser tattoo removal is a safe and effective treatment for those looking to get rid of any unwanted ink. The results of these treatments are guaranteed and there is no need to worry about any skin damage or scarring of the treated area. Visit us at Ingrid E. Trenkle, MD in Redlands, CA, so we can get you on your way towards getting rid of that tattoo for good!
