Tattoo removal is easier and more effective than it used to be thanks to advanced lasers such as the PicoSure®. The doctors at the Eye Care Center of Kauai, in Lihue, Hawaii, use the PicoSure to remove tattoos because it works on multicolored tattoos, hard-to-remove ink colors, and tattoos that stick around in spite of an earlier attempt to diminish their appearance. Contact the Eye Care Center of Kauai for an evaluation of your tattoo and to learn more about how this safe technology can eliminate unwanted tattoos with fewer treatments.
Lasers have become the first-line treatment for tattoo removal and for good reasons, they’re more effective, leave little-to-no scarring, and they require fewer treatments compared to older methods.
When lasers are set at precise wavelengths, the energy is absorbed by colored ink particles but not the rest of your skin. As a result, tattoos can be targeted and as the colored ink absorbs the energy, the ink particles get hot enough to break apart. Then the tiny pieces are naturally eliminated by the body.
The doctors at the Eye Care Center of Kauai, use a state-of-the-art laser called PicoSure®, which is FDA-approved for the removal of tattoos. The PicoSure emits lasers at a super-fast pace. Each pulse lasts one picosecond (one-trillionth of a second), so each pulse is very rapidly followed by another pulse.
Short-pulse lasers are especially beneficial for removing tattoos because they pulverize the ink into smaller pieces that are easier for the body to absorb. Short-pulse lasers also make it possible to remove tattoos with fewer treatments.
PicoSure is effective for the difficult-to-remove dark ink colors and multicolored tattoos. It also removes tattoos that were previously treated but haven’t disappeared.
Laser removal always requires multiple treatment sessions, but the number you’ll need depends on the size, colors, and age of your tattoo. A small tattoo requires fewer sessions than a large tattoo. Tattoos with several colors, green or blue ink are harder to remove and take more treatments.
New tattoos need extra laser treatments because the ink is more concentrated compared to old tattoos because some of the ink is absorbed into the body over time. After examining your tattoo, the doctors at the Eye Care Center of Kauai will be able to recommend a treatment plan.
Each laser removal session lasts about 30-60 minutes. Some patients can tolerate the laser, while others prefer to use a topical numbing cream, so you’ll discuss ways to ensure your comfort with the doctor before treatment begins.
After laser tattoo removal, most patients have some redness and mild swelling. Your doctor at the Eye Care Center of Kauai will give you care instructions to follow after the session is finished, but expect to apply an ointment and keep the area covered for a week. Treatments are scheduled 6-8 weeks apart so that the tissue can heal and the ink particles can be absorbed before the next laser session.
