Tattoo Removal
Provided by InkOff.MD℠ in Honolulu Hawaii
Picosure - Better & Faster Technology
The art of tattooing has become increasingly popular ever since the beginning of modern civilization. Currently 21% of the U.S. population has at least one tattoo and this number is rising! Tattoos are an expression and reflection of ourselves. However, as people grow and develop in life, there is also a change in perception of the permanent ink on their skin.
It is estimated that there has been a 32% increase in tattoo removal and that 20-50% of tattooed Americans are regretting their tattoo. For many of these individuals, the tattoo can be embarrassing or may actually be a barrier for job advancement.
Medical lasers use a beam of light to break up the ink particles of the tattoo into tiny fragments and then the particles are absorbed through the body’s immune system. The laser treatments are safer than other treatment options such as surgical excision, dermabrasion (or sanding), and chemical peels because they are non-invasive and only target the ink used in the tattoo process to minimize scarring.The number of treatments for optimal results depends on the size, location, depth and color of the tattoo.Current methods of tattoo removal utilize Q-switch lasers, however multiple treatments are required to remove the tattoo.
Sometimes up to 10-20 treatments may be required and this process can take up to a year or more. We are still able to completely or nearly completely remove the majority of tattoos utilizing the Q-switch laser. The laser is a safe and effective way to remove tattoos and gives us the versatility and success to treat multi-colored tattoos on nearly all skin types (from light skin to dark skin). The patient will continue to see a lightening of the tattoo after each session as the body removes more of the pigment. Most patients will see improvement in their tattoos and results can be quite dramatic. Our patients have been satisfied with the ease of removing unwanted tattoos with the least amount of discomfort and adverse effects.
However, THERE IS A BETTER WAY NOW. The old laser removal process can be lengthy and sometimes complete removal cannot occur because the tattoo may be a recalcitrant tattoo. A recalcitrant tattoo is defined as a tattoo with clinically apparent pigment after at least 10 previous treatments. Therefore InkOff.MD℠ brought to Hawaii a laser that can remove all tattoos (including recalcitrant tattoos) in an average of ONLY 3-4 months. InkOff.MD℠ is the FIRST and ONLY laser center in Hawaii to utilize the PicoSure™ Laser by Cynosure and its PressureWave™ technology to remove the tattoo RAPIDLY and SAFELY.
The PicoSure™ laser utilizes ultra-short pulse durations to take advantage of an intense photomechanical impact (PressureWave™), instead of heat, to shatter the pigment into tiny particles. This allows us to use less energy compared to Q-switch lasers, resulting in fewer treatments with significantly better removal of the pigments with less complications of scarring and hypopigmentation. Research results demonstrated greater than 80% overall tattoo clearance of pigment and the most difficult colors, green and blue ink, 94% clearance of pigment was achieved. The PicoSure™ laser is able to remove pigment with improved recovery and less complications to surrounding skin because there is no heating of the skin. We are confident that you will be satisfied with the treatment results performed at our clinic.
Typical treatment is every 4-8 weeks and each session usually takes only a few minutes. There is minimal pain with the procedure and most treatments do not require anesthetics. However, if patients feel more comfortable with an anesthetic, we can easily apply a topical anesthetic to minimize discomfort. Our patients have been satisfied with the ease of removing unwanted tattoos with the least amount of discomfort and adverse effects. We offer the latest laser technology to our patients to get the best results. Please schedule your complimentary consultation for evaluation by Dr. Chung. We will tailor a personal treatment plan for successful removal of the unwanted tattoo.