Picosure Laser Tattoo Removal System
One Year Later...What We Know
Pristine Laser Center, the premier laser tattoo removal center in Orlando and Florida introduced the Picosure laser system to residents of Orlando and Central Florida in May 2013.
The Picosure laser is the world's first picosecond laser. The FDA cleared the laser system for removal of tattoos and pigmented lesions. In the past year, physicians who have worked with this laser have learned a lot about this amazing new technology... what it can do... and what its limitations are.
The Picosure laser has certainly made the laser tattoo removal process easier overall. Some colors have become much easier to remove. Still there are some colors which the laser system can not remove.
Every day, we have individuals who come into our office for consultations. They have read things online which are not quite accurate. Our goal with this article is to help the public understand what the Picosure laser is capable of doing...and what it can't do.
The Picosure laser is the world's first picosecond laser. The FDA cleared the laser system for removal of tattoos and pigmented lesions. In the past year, physicians who have worked with this laser have learned a lot about this amazing new technology... what it can do... and what its limitations are.
The Picosure laser has certainly made the laser tattoo removal process easier overall. Some colors have become much easier to remove. Still there are some colors which the laser system can not remove.
Every day, we have individuals who come into our office for consultations. They have read things online which are not quite accurate. Our goal with this article is to help the public understand what the Picosure laser is capable of doing...and what it can't do.
Picosure and Tattoo Ink Colors
Best Colors to Remove with the Picosure laser
The Picosure laser system does an amazing job of removing green, purple, and blue colored ink sometimes in as few as only one treatment. This is a huge advancement from previous tattoo removal lasers. These colors used to take 8 to 10 treatments to remove with the standard tattoo removal lasers but now are removed very quickly with the Picosure laser.
Good Colors to Remove with the Picosure laser
The Picosure laser can remove black ink very nicely, especially the lighter black inks. If there's solid black ink, we use our other lasers to really help break up the ink for best results. Black ink which can take 6 to 8 treatments with the traditional lasers to remove now generally takes 3 to 6 treatments with the Picosure.
The Picosure laser system does an amazing job of removing green, purple, and blue colored ink sometimes in as few as only one treatment. This is a huge advancement from previous tattoo removal lasers. These colors used to take 8 to 10 treatments to remove with the standard tattoo removal lasers but now are removed very quickly with the Picosure laser.
Good Colors to Remove with the Picosure laser
The Picosure laser can remove black ink very nicely, especially the lighter black inks. If there's solid black ink, we use our other lasers to really help break up the ink for best results. Black ink which can take 6 to 8 treatments with the traditional lasers to remove now generally takes 3 to 6 treatments with the Picosure.
The Picosure Laser Won't Remove...
The Picosure laser system does not work on pure red, yellow, pink or orange color inks. It may lighten them slightly, but won't get rid of them. Luckily, at Pristine Laser Center, we have other laser systems that do a good job of removing these colors. That is why it is so important that you choose a laser center which specializes in laser tattoo removal and has multiple lasers that can target the different colors in a tattoo. In multi-colored tattoos, the Picosure laser system may not be able to get rid of all the colors.
Therefore if you go to a laser center that only has the Picosure laser and you have red or orange ink in your tattoo, please realize that you will have to find another laser place to remove those specific colors.
The Picosure laser system does not work on pure red, yellow, pink or orange color inks. It may lighten them slightly, but won't get rid of them. Luckily, at Pristine Laser Center, we have other laser systems that do a good job of removing these colors. That is why it is so important that you choose a laser center which specializes in laser tattoo removal and has multiple lasers that can target the different colors in a tattoo. In multi-colored tattoos, the Picosure laser system may not be able to get rid of all the colors.
Therefore if you go to a laser center that only has the Picosure laser and you have red or orange ink in your tattoo, please realize that you will have to find another laser place to remove those specific colors.
Word of Caution:
During the past year, we have seen lots of individuals who have come into our office from other "med spas" and offices with burns and scars and stubborn ink. One person had received 27 laser treatments at another office here in Orlando only to be left with scars, skin discoloration and the tattoo ink still in his skin. We have previously discussed how these "med spas" will rent a laser machine once a month and attempt to remove tattoos.
A lot of these folks had a tattoo which should have been easy to remove. Unfortunately, by using the wrong laser on their tattoo, their tattoo ink was "cooked" into the skin making it much harder for us to remove the ink. If you have different colors of ink in your tattoo, you will need multiple lasers to remove them and you should seek out a physician who has the knowledge and experience in removing tattoos.
During the past year, we have seen lots of individuals who have come into our office from other "med spas" and offices with burns and scars and stubborn ink. One person had received 27 laser treatments at another office here in Orlando only to be left with scars, skin discoloration and the tattoo ink still in his skin. We have previously discussed how these "med spas" will rent a laser machine once a month and attempt to remove tattoos.
A lot of these folks had a tattoo which should have been easy to remove. Unfortunately, by using the wrong laser on their tattoo, their tattoo ink was "cooked" into the skin making it much harder for us to remove the ink. If you have different colors of ink in your tattoo, you will need multiple lasers to remove them and you should seek out a physician who has the knowledge and experience in removing tattoos.
Limitations of the Picosure Laser on different skin types:
The Picosure laser is an Alexandrite laser and as such it may cause hypopigmentation (whitening of the skin) on Fitzpatrick skin types (darker) 4, 5 and 6: darker Hispanics and Italians, and African-Americans. With our experience over the past year, we have been able to very carefully treat these individuals with lots of precautions. But we have also had to turn away others who were not good candidates for the Picosure laser. We can treat these individuals with our other lasers very effectively, but it just takes more treatments.
Just as different color inks require different lasers, different skin colors will need to be treated with different lasers. With our multiple state-of-the-art laser systems and Medical Doctor who is an expert in the field of laser skin surgery, Pristine Laser Center is the only laser center in Florida that can successfully removal multi-colored tattoos from almost any skin type.
The Picosure laser is an Alexandrite laser and as such it may cause hypopigmentation (whitening of the skin) on Fitzpatrick skin types (darker) 4, 5 and 6: darker Hispanics and Italians, and African-Americans. With our experience over the past year, we have been able to very carefully treat these individuals with lots of precautions. But we have also had to turn away others who were not good candidates for the Picosure laser. We can treat these individuals with our other lasers very effectively, but it just takes more treatments.
Just as different color inks require different lasers, different skin colors will need to be treated with different lasers. With our multiple state-of-the-art laser systems and Medical Doctor who is an expert in the field of laser skin surgery, Pristine Laser Center is the only laser center in Florida that can successfully removal multi-colored tattoos from almost any skin type.
Pain and Blistering:
At Pristine Laser Center, we treat the skin with a specialized technique before, after, and during the laser procedure which makes the incidence of blistering and/or pain rare in our patients. In general though, over 95% of individuals treated at our office who were being treated with the traditional laser and then switched to the Picosure laser thought that the Picosure laser hurt even less than the traditional laser system. We have also noted that, although already rare, individuals had even fewer incidences of blistering after a treatment with the Picosure laser.
At Pristine Laser Center, we treat the skin with a specialized technique before, after, and during the laser procedure which makes the incidence of blistering and/or pain rare in our patients. In general though, over 95% of individuals treated at our office who were being treated with the traditional laser and then switched to the Picosure laser thought that the Picosure laser hurt even less than the traditional laser system. We have also noted that, although already rare, individuals had even fewer incidences of blistering after a treatment with the Picosure laser.
Summary:
The Picosure laser system has been an excellent advancement in the science of laser tattoo removal. It works very well on certain colors, but not all colors. In order to have the best results with the fewest number of treatments, we use both the Picosure laser and our traditional tattoo removal lasers. The Picosure laser can not remove all colors of ink. It can not be used in darker skin types safely.
Pristine Laser Center is the leading provider of laser tattoo removal in the Orlando and Florida and uses multiple laser systems to safely and effectively remove tattoos. The availability of multiple lasers greatly increases our success in the treatment and removal of simple and complex multi-colored tattoos. All laser tattoo removal procedures are performed by our highly skilled and trained Medical Doctor. No other place in Florida can provide you with the latest most advanced laser technology and the knowledge and skill of our physician.
If you live in Orlando or the Central Florida area and are interested in removing your tattoo, call us at 407-494-0404 to schedule your FREE consultation with our physician.
The Picosure laser system has been an excellent advancement in the science of laser tattoo removal. It works very well on certain colors, but not all colors. In order to have the best results with the fewest number of treatments, we use both the Picosure laser and our traditional tattoo removal lasers. The Picosure laser can not remove all colors of ink. It can not be used in darker skin types safely.
Pristine Laser Center is the leading provider of laser tattoo removal in the Orlando and Florida and uses multiple laser systems to safely and effectively remove tattoos. The availability of multiple lasers greatly increases our success in the treatment and removal of simple and complex multi-colored tattoos. All laser tattoo removal procedures are performed by our highly skilled and trained Medical Doctor. No other place in Florida can provide you with the latest most advanced laser technology and the knowledge and skill of our physician.
If you live in Orlando or the Central Florida area and are interested in removing your tattoo, call us at 407-494-0404 to schedule your FREE consultation with our physician.
Read More: Frequently Asked Questions About Tattoo Removal
Before and After Pictures of Actual Clients
See How a Tattoo Fades
Tattoo Removal Cost
Easiest and Hardest Tattoo Colors to Remove
See Tattoo Removal Videos
Before and After Pictures of Actual Clients
See How a Tattoo Fades
Tattoo Removal Cost
Easiest and Hardest Tattoo Colors to Remove
See Tattoo Removal Videos
Pristine Laser Center proudly introduced the Picosure Laser Tattoo Removal system to Florida in May 2013 and proudly serves Orlando, Lake Mary, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Winter Park, Dr Phillips, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Wekiwa Springs, Longwood, Deland, Deltona, Clermont, Ocoee, Kissimmee, Melbourne, Ocala, Titusville, Daytona Beach, and Central Florida areas.
Disclaimer: The material presented here is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice or recommendation. Please check with your physician.
