By Dr Jeffrey Hall – Follow me on Google+
I am very excited to offer the PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal to patients in my practice. My office is one of the first in the world to offer this cutting edge technology, and we have been treating patients since spring of 2013. One of the most common questions I get in the office is what makes PicoSure different from other tattoo removal technologies. The simplest answer is that not all laser tattoo removal devices are created equal, and from the research and results I’ve seen in my practice, PicoSure stands in a league of its own.
- When it comes to pulse duration, size matters. PicoSure is unique to other tattoo removal machines because of its picosecond pulse. This ultra-short and quick pulse duraction is 100 times shorter than traditional nanosecond technology. Ultra short pulse duration is the ONLY way to safely trigger a photomechanical effect. What does this mean for your tattoo? Better clearance with fewer treatments needed, less injury to the surrounding skin, and a greater advantage for clearing stubborn colors like blue and green inks. With the Q Switch laser, removing blue and green inks could take as many as10-20 sessions. With PicoSure, most tattoos can have complete removal in 3-6 treatments or less.
- When it comes to tattoos and your skin, lots of heat is not your friend. Traditional nanosecond lasers like the Q Switch rely on photothermal action which delivers heat to the pigment of the tattoo and to surrounding tissue. This intense heat can translate to more painful treatments, greater injury to the skin, increased inflammation to the treated areas, and leaves higher potential for scarring. PicoSure uses a PressureWave Technology that shatters the targeted ink into particles that are easily and naturally eliminated from the body. This greatly cuts down pain and inflammation during and after the treatment, as well as reducing potential for any scarring.
- Need more than my word for it? How about 20 years of research and development? The PicoSure laser has been in the works since the early 90s when it was first published by the Harvard Wellman group. Out of 15 patients who enrolled in the first clinical studies, three-fourths showed a clearance of greater than 75 percent within three to four treatments. A separate study analyzed 22 subjects with multicolored, difficult-to-remove tattoos. After two weeks of treatment, the patients had a tattoo clearance greater than 80 percent and on average, 94 percent clearance was obtained when the device was used on blue and green ink.
For those considering PicoSure Laser Tattoo Removal it’s important to seek out qualified, experienced professionals who have been specifically trained in tattoo removal. With the right technician and the PicoSure tattoo removal device, patients can expect great, lasting results in half the time of traditional lasers.