An unwanted tattoo is something you literally carry around everywhere. If you have a tattoo that you don’t want to live with anymore, modern laser tattoo removal treatments offer an effective way to treat it. Now, you can finally get rid of the tattoo you regret with the Picolaze laser. At Manuel Gigena, MD, FACS Plastic Surgery in McMinnville, OR, we offer the latest tattoo removal technologies to help you safely say goodbye to your unwanted ink.
What Is Laser Tattoo Removal?
Laser tattoo removal is a treatment that uses heat technology to get rid of tattoos by breaking up the ink. Once the ink has been broken into tiny particles, your body is able to clear it out of your system. The technology first emerged in the 1990s and was improved with the development of continuous wave and Q-switch lasers. Now, Picolaze lasers offer even faster treatment times and better results.
How Does Tattoo Removal Work?
Tattoo ink stays in your skin because your immune system doesn’t have an effective way to clear it out on its own. Macrophages are the cells that are responsible for getting rid of foreign bodies. While they are able to detect the ink and pick it up, the particles are too large for them to release. As a result, they are handed off from macrophage to macrophage as cellular turnover occurs in your skin.
Laser treatments blast the ink into smaller, more manageable particles. After each treatment, your macrophages will get to work cleaning out the tattoo debris. The lasers used in this process are medical-grade pieces of equipment that are able to target the ink without harming the surrounding tissue.
How Do the Lasers Break Up the Ink?
Our Picolaze lasers use heat technology that is administered via a high-speed pulse duration. Unlike older lasers, the shortness of their pulses enables them to use a minimal amount of heat, which is safer for your skin.
Who Is Right for This Treatment?
We recommend this treatment for people who want to get rid of an old tattoo or clear some canvas so that a tattoo artist can re-design one. If you were not happy with the outcome of your tattoo to begin with, or if you feel you have outgrown a design, this treatment can help you update your look. People who have tried other methods of tattoo removal in the past with limited success might be surprised by the great results this new technology offers.
Let’s Talk About Tattoo Regret
It’s More Common Than You Think
Did you know that approximately 20% of people who get a tattoo regret the decision? Among people who have multiple tattoos, a large percentage are unhappy with at least one of them.
There are several reasons why you might wish you hadn’t gotten a tattoo. Throughout life, tastes change, but tattoos do not keep up. You might simply feel that you have evolved beyond your design, especially if you got it when you were very young. Other times, people find that their ink does not age well. Over the years, you might see it fading or becoming distorted.
Get a Fresh Look
Removing an unwanted tattoo can give you a fresh, clean look. If you are embarrassed to wear swimsuits or summer clothes because you don’t want to show your tattoo, finally getting it removed is a permanent way to solve the problem.
Many people remove tattoos so that they can look professional at work. Others remove their tattoos because they contain references to people or symbols that are no longer meaningful to them. Whatever your reasons for wanting an old tattoo gone, laser tattoo removal is a safe way to undo a design that is no longer serving you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does This Treatment Work on All Skin Types?
Yes. In the past, older lasers could only treat a limited range of skin colors. Darker colors were easier to treat than lighter colors, and some shades were impossible to get rid of. Our lasers can address the full color spectrum, including light pastels.
How Many Sessions Are Needed?
The number of sessions you will need depends on the tattoo you have and the rate at which your body can clear the ink. For most people, between 5 and 10 sessions will achieve the results they want. People who are treating a large area of skin or doing multiple tattoos will require more work than people with tattoos that are smaller and fewer.
How Long Should You Wait Between Sessions?
We schedule 6 weeks between tattoo removal sessions. This allows your body to fully process each treatment before going on to the next, clearing away the maximum amount of ink every time the laser is applied.
Does This Treatment Work on All Skin Types?
Yes. In the past, laser tattoo removal was less effective on people with dark skin. Our Picolze lasers perform well on everybody. That’s because, unlike older treatments, they target the ink without relying on a big difference between the color of the tattoo and the color of the skin.
Put Unwanted Tattoos in the Past With Picolaze
Your appearance is part of your outward expression to the world, and you have a right to feel comfortable in the skin you’re in. If you are unhappy with a tattoo, it’s time to treat it and move on. Laser tattoo removal is a safe, effective solution for unwanted tattoos. With the latest tattoo removal technology, clear skin is just a few sessions away. Contact us at Manuel Gigena, MD, FACS Plastic Surgery today to schedule your consultation!
