Lasers can erase regret of unwanted tattoos

Regret that tattoo you thought you’d love forever? A scarless removal is possible, but Dr. Ramsey Markus, director of laser surgery and dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine, says there is some pain with the procedure. 

“A lot of people are interested in tattoo removal, but it’s not fun,” he said. “Most patients have to be really motivated.”

The number of treatment sessions needed for tattoo removal can be variable depending on several factors:

• Amount of ink
• Color of the ink
• Location of the tattoo
• Skin type
• Type of laser technology used

Most laser technology is not made specifically for tattoo removal and would tend to causes scarring leading to poor cosmetic result.

Newer technology, used by Dr. Markus, delivers very short pulses of laser energy to break apart the tattoo ink allowing the body to gradually remove it from the skin. Picosure, the laser technology, allows Dr. Markus to make the pulses as short as 500 picoseconds (trillionths of a second).

The treatment preserves the skin and selectively targets the tattoo ink. The picosound laser is more effective than any other past treatment option and, in general, does not require as many treatments.

“This technology is gentle on the skin, so the risk of scarring is extremely low,” Markus explained.

For additional information on the removal process or to make an appointment for a laser consultation, call 713-798-6925.

-By Julia Parsons