Rethinking your ink? Let us give you a clean slate with laser tattoo removal.

Aah, to be young and in love – or so enthralled with a person that you want to profess your enduring love in the form of a tattoo.

Getting your significant other’s name tattooed on you is a brave sign of devotion, but what happens if you’re not together anymore? Are you worried about what a new partner will think or just tired of seeing it every day in the mirror?

Some things are forever, but your tattoo doesn’t have to be. Whatever has you rethinking your ink, the laser tattoo removal process can get rid of your unwanted art with minimal side effects. It is a safe and relatively painless procedure –make sure you seek out a reputable dermatologist.

Give yourself a gift this Valentine’s Day, and let us give you a clean slate using our PicoWay laser for tattoo removal.

How laser tattoo removal works

APDerm uses PicoWay laser technology, which shatters the tattoo ink into minuscule particles. This laser system uses a high peak power and ultra-short pulse durations to reach below the skin’s surface to target pigments such as dark spots or tattoo ink. The laser breaks the ink down into tiny particles that are nearly invisible to the naked eye. The body then removes most of the tiny ink particles.

Unlike older lasers, PicoWay can remove a variety of ink colors, including stubborn blue and green ink. Want to see for yourself? Watch the video below that details the process.

While you may see initial improvement after the first treatment, multiple treatment sessions are usually needed. PicoWay has the most advanced technology allowing us to treat all skin tones and achieve better results with fewer treatments.  The number of treatments you will need depends on various factors, including the age, size, and color of your tattoo.

Even if you don’t have a tattoo, PicoWay is FDA approved for other uses:

• acne scars
• wrinkles
• sun spots

Things to consider with laser tattoo removal

Consult with your dermatologist before beginning the process to make sure you are a good candidate. Most patients report high satisfaction and low-to-no downtime. Some of the most common side effects include:

• localized pain
• redness
• swelling
• pinpoint bleeding
• blistering or scabbing

It is important to follow your clinician’s guidelines to care for the affected area at home and in between treatments. It can take several sessions to get the tattoo to fade, and you will typically need to wait four to eight weeks between sessions for the best results. Laser tattoo removal comes with some discomfort and inconvenience, but most experts recommend laser removal as the most successful and cost-effective option.

Reasons to consider tattoo removal

There are a variety of reasons you may want to start the laser tattoo removal process:

1. You’re unhappy with the outcome of your art. Maybe you let your tattoo-artist-in-training cousin practice on you or didn’t do your research on a reputable tattoo studio or the exact design of your tattoo. You don’t have to live with a botched or unfinished tattoo!
2. Location. Location. Location. Have you entered the corporate world or medical profession and hate having to hide that tattoo on your forearm, wrist, or neck?
3. You made an impulsive decision. Perhaps you wanted to defy your parents as a teenager and got a tattoo on spring break or after a personal crisis.
4. You had instant regret. We all make foolish decisions. It’s easy to succumb to peer pressure, do something rash during an emotional low, or not think through the placement or permanency of a tattoo.
5. Your coverup didn’t go as planned. Having your tattoo artist turn the design into something else is sometimes an option, but it can also make a bad tattoo worse.

If you have been living with regret since the ink dried, don’t keep putting off tattoo removal. Having something tattooed on you that does not align with your life anymore keeps you present in a story that you’ve outgrown. Stop waking up with a tattoo you hate or replaying bad memories. It’s a new year and time for a new you!

APDerm offers consultations to discuss each person’s unique needs. Find a clinician or location near you that offers tattoo removal, or to learn how laser technology can treat other skin issues and get ready to reveal the skin you have been hiding.

Author: Natalie Jones, MPAS, PA-C

Natalie Jones, a Physician Assistant with APDerm, treats patients at the Boston Dermatology and Laser Center office located at 30 Lancaster Street, Suite 400, Boston.