Tattoo removal is a non-invasive procedure. During San Luis Obispo County tattoo removal treatments, lasers target the ink within the skin with a high intensity beam meant to scatter the pigment and allow your body to resorb it. For this reason, you will see the most improvement four to six weeks after your session. A PFD patch will also help extract some of the pigment at the time of your laser session. Our laser (Rohrer Aesthetics Q-switched Nd: YAG 1064 nm & 532 nm) works best on black and dark inks, but can target some colors. The hardest colors to remove are yellows, oranges, and reds.
Laser tattoo removal is notoriously uncomfortable, but most patients comment to us that it is no worse than receiving the tattoo in the first place – plus it is quicker! We do everything in our power to help minimize discomfort. First, we apply topical numbing cream and allow it to sit on the tattoo for 60 minutes. (Bring some reading materials!) Then, we perform the laser treatment which, depending on the size of the tattoo, lasts between five to 35 minutes.
A PFD patch is a square of silicone infused with perfluorodecalin (PFD), a harmless liquid that allows us to treat your tattoo with our laser multiple times in a single treatment session. It helps protect the skin without disrupting the laser, allowing us to safely make multiple passes on your ink. Because of this, you often require fewer treatment sessions than those who choose not to use the patch. Often, patients also report improved comfort during their treatment sessions.
Complete removal of a black or dark ink tattoo can be accomplished with laser tattoo removal in San Luis Obispo County in six to ten sessions, fewer with the PFD patch.
As with any heat or energy-based device, the same risks apply. These include but are not limited to increased susceptibility to sun damage, burns, blistering, or scarring, prolonged redness or sensitivity, hair loss, pain, unsatisfactory outcome, or the need for additional procedures. Our laser machine is only operated by our physician and physician assistant in order to minimize these risks.
There are three types of Q-switched laser tattoo removal systems on the market today: Nd: YAG (our system, and considered the most widely used), Alexandrite laser (755nm), and Ruby laser (694 nm). The Alexandrite and Ruby lasers are lesser-used systems for stubborn, difficult-to-remove pigments. Common laser tattoo removal systems include Rohrer Spectrum Laser System (our machine), Astanza Duality, Candela PicoWay, Quanta Pico Discovery, PicoSure by Cynosure, Lutronic Spectra Nano, Cynosure RevLite SI, and Quanta Q Plus C.
Tattoos do not always have to be permanent. If you have ink that you regret, consider contacting us to schedule a consultation for San Luis Obispo County tattoo removal treatments and to learn more about the other surgical and non-invasive treatments we offer.
Dr. Charles Chalekson offers patients from across the country and throughout California, including Paso Robles & Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Cambria, Santa Barbara, Templeton, and Santa Maria.
