Regretting That Tattoo? PicoSureⓇ Laser Removal Has You Covered

Are you regretting that teen tattoo disaster, now that Oasis is no longer your favorite band? Or maybe you impulsively had your true love’s (or so you thought) name inked not-so-subtly on your forearm?

Rest assured – you’re far from alone in having misgivings about your tattoos! Statistics show that scores of adults, from millennials to boomers, ultimately decide to have their ink removed for a variety of reasons. Some grow out of the tattoo while others tire of the inconvenience of covering it up if they happen to work in a more conservative field, for example.

What are My Options?

Dr. Wilton McLeod, DO has special expertise with the preeminent PicoSure® laser tattoo removal system, which is not only the most effective treatment available, it’s a revolutionary treatment. One problem with older laser tattoo removal methods is that they removed some inks more successfully than others. Darker-colored and black inks proved much harder to eliminate completely than lighter ones. And even if the laser treatment was successful, a shadow of the tattoo would remain that resembled a burn.

How Does PicoSure Work?

PicoSure far outstrips the previous generation of “Q-switched” laser tattoo removal, which relied on a combination of heat and light pulsing to break up tattoo ink under the skin. This new laser technology goes further to make your skin look like it was never touched by a tattoo pen. It’s even helped patients whose previous treatments using other removal methods were only partially successful. The treatment’s effectiveness is due to:

• An innovative technology known as PressureWave™, which causes the laser removal tool to deliver constant, incredibly fast pulses of light to the skin.
• A “pulses on steroids” method that separates the ink into minute fragments.
• A technology that works with your immune system to rid your body of the ink over time.

What Happens During a Treatment, and Will it Hurt?

Dr. McLeod and our team of talented and caring nurses and aestheticians strive to make your experience painless, quick, and easy-breezy. Amazingly, a PicoSure treatment is typically no more uncomfortable than what you felt when you originally got tattooed. That said, we provide you with pre-treatment options that will minimize any discomfort you may have during the process, ranging from an injection to a topical cream.

The length of treatment depends on your tattoo’s size, the type and shades of ink that were used, and your tattoo’s location. An individual treatment typically takes less than 15 minutes to complete if your tattoo is not large, and healing time between treatments is, on average, 6-8 weeks. Our team will work with you to schedule treatments so they work around your life and schedule.

What About Post-Treatment Downtime?

We know you don’t want to be slowed down by a simple, in-office treatment, and we’re happy to tell you you won’t be. All of us at Open Canvas are with you for the duration – before, during and after treatment.

Don’t be alarmed if you experience some post-treatment redness, blistering, or bleeding. These side effects are temporary and part of the healing process. In a small percentage of patients, scarring and slight skin discoloration can also occur and may be permanent. The healing process varies for each patient, but we’ll counsel you on how to promote quick, complete healing and avoid infection after each of your PicoSure treatments. It takes about 1-2 months for complete healing and pigment disintegration to occur after your final treatment.

We’re confident that you’ll be impressed with the results you get from PicoSure and pleasantly surprised that successful tattoo removal using this method requires fewer treatments than older ones.  

Take the First Step

Dr. McLeod and all of us at Open Canvas would love the opportunity to discuss PicoSure tattoo removal with you. We’re here to answer questions, explain the process, and erase your doubts.

Call our office today at 805-214-4936 to schedule an initial consultation, or simply click our “book online” button. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to saying “Farewell” to that scarf you reach for to hide that “seemed-like-a-great-idea-at-the-time tattoo!”