Laser Tattoo Removal in Houston
What seemed like a good tattoo can often turn out to be not what you wanted later in life. Tattoos can become stretched and discolored, or just not relevant with your current lifestyle. Laser technology allows for the safe removal of unwanted tattoos.
Tattoos have been around for centuries, but in recent years, their popularity has skyrocketed; and as the popularity of tattoos has increased, so has the number of people wanting removal. Several years ago, the removal of a tattoo often caused an even more unsightly “scar”, but with today’s PicoWay™ laser technology and options such as the DESCRIBE® Patch, tattoo removal has become safer and much more effective. Our board certified dermatologists at Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center have removed hundreds of unwanted tattoos by using advanced laser therapy with minimal risk of scarring.
Our Laser Tattoo Removal Patients Results
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After *Individual Results May Vary
New Technology for Laser Tattoo Removal
At Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center, we use the PicoWay™ laser for tattoo removal. This laser can significantly lighten and even fully remove many inks. It is especially effective for removing stubborn blue and green ink. The PicoWay™ is known for its effectiveness and its ability to reduce the appearance of tattoos in fewer treatment sessions.
The Laser Tattoo Removal Process
Patient comfort is of utmost importance to us. We begin the removal process with topical and/or injectable numbing. The PicoWay™ laser will be used to direct pulsed light energy onto the skin to break up the ink. Over the next few weeks, the body’s “scavenger cells” remove the ink particles, and signs of the tattoo should gradually diminish. Laser tattoo removal treatment sessions are performed as outpatient procedures with minimal downtime.
DESCRIBE® PFD Patch for Tattoo Removal
The DESCRIBE® PFD Patch is an innovative technique that can offer patients a faster and more effective tattoo removal experience, dramatically reducing the number of office visits required to reduce the appearance of a tattoo. This option involves a silicone patch infused with Perfluorodecalin (PFD) liquid, a non-toxic substance that works to reduce the tattoo inks. The DESCRIBE® Patch is designed to serve as an adjunct to laser tattoo removal therapy, ultimately helping to facilitate reduction of tattoo visibility and minimize the number of laser treatment sessions necessary for optimal results. The PFD solution and the patch are placed on the targeted area before the application of the laser. The patch allows the laser energy to be increased in each session while still safely treating the tattoo. This can make it possible to effectively reduce signs of the tattoo in fewer treatment sessions. In addition, the DESCRIBE® Patch can protect the skin from the laser’s heat, resulting in less discomfort during the procedure. With the DESCRIBE® Patch used in conjunction with laser tattoo removal techniques, many patients can experience a more convenient and less lengthy treatment process, ultimately seeing the best results in a shorter amount of time.
Tattoo Removal FAQ’s
- How does the laser work?
- What kinds of tattoos can be treated?
- Does tattoo removal hurt?
- How many treatments will I need?
- What happens after treatment?
- Will I have any scarring from the tattoo removal process?
- How much will it cost?
- How long does each session take?
- Are there any side effects?
Q: How does the laser work?
A: Today, lasers are the most effective method of tattoo removal. They work by targeting the ink with pulses of highly concentrated laser energy, breaking the ink into tiny particles, which are then cleared away by your own immune system.
The number of treatments needed depends upon the ink that was used to create the tattoo. There are no standardized inks. They all vary and may even have fluorescing agents and additives to prolong their color and intensity, requiring more treatments to effectively lighten the tattoo.
Q: Can all tattoos be treated?
A: Most tattoos can be treated, but some may require more treatment sessions than others. There are a number of factors that impact the efficacy of laser tattoo removal. For example, certain pigment colors, such as black, dark blue, red, and dark orange are more responsive to laser treatment. Colors like light blue, green, light orange, brown, and purple sometimes require additional treatments. The depth of the tattoo pigment and the composition of the ink may also make certain tattoos more or less responsive to laser treatment.
Q: Does tattoo removal hurt?
A: The PicoWay™ laser that we use for tattoo removal only targets undesired pigments, other tissues are mostly unaffected by our treatment. This, combined with the use of the DESCRIBE® PFD Patch, makes it possible for us to remove tattoos with very little discomfort. Patients often report that the sensation they experience during treatment is similar to the feeling of a rubber band snapping on the skin. Our patients’ comfort is important to us, so we do offer topical and injectable lidocaine numbing for our patients.
Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: Depending on the size and makeup of your tattoo, it may take several sessions of laser therapy to completely remove a tattoo.
Q: What can I expect after treatment?
A: Skin may appear slightly white and swollen immediately after laser treatment. The discoloration will subside within a few hours, but swelling may persist a bit longer and can be eased with the use of an ice pack. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see the treated tattoo or pigmented area gradually fade.
Q: Will I have any scarring from the tattoo removal process?
A: The risk of scarring is minimal.
Q: How much will it cost?
A: A: Treatment costs vary and increase with tattoo size. With the use of the DESCRIBE® Patch, fewer sessions may be necessary.
Q: How long does each session take?
A: The average laser removal treatment takes between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the location and size of the tattoo or area of discoloration. Occasionally patients experience complete fading of tattoos or pigmented lesions after a single treatment, though the majority require three or more treatments. Because the body’s “scavenger cells” need time to eliminate the particles of ink or pigment loosened during treatment, we generally schedule sessions six to eight weeks apart.
Q: Are there any side effects?
A: In the rare cases that our laser tattoo removal patients experience side effects, they are mild and confined to the treatment area.
Contact Dermatology & Laser Surgery for Tattoo Removal in Houston
Please contact Dermatology & Laser Surgery Center today for more information on laser tattoo removal, or to schedule a consultation.