Tattoo Removal
Serving Danville, Oakland, Walnut Creek, Dublin, Livermore, and across the East Bay metro area
When you are ready to part with that “temporary feeling”, Blackhawk Plastic Surgery offers the most advanced laser available for tattoo-removal procedures.
From small, single-colored tattoos to large, multi-colored tattoos, you can be assured your tattoo removal experience will require fewer treatments and quicker recovery.
When it comes to laser tattoo removal, the best results come from the best technology. This is why we have invested in multiple lasers with multiple spot sizes, pulse durations, and power controls.
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*Individual results may vary
The tattoo ink particles from tattoos are scattering within the dermis layer of the skin. Lasers are used to explode the pigment particles into sizes that macrophage cells (scavengers in your body) can swallow and remove. The laser energy causes the pigment to vibrate so fast that it fractures into pieces (photoacoustic mechanism). Each treatment will remove pigment up to the limitation of the particular laser used.
Professional tattoos involve placing multiple colors at multiple depths in the skin. We need to get them all out. We need to be able to explode different colors of pigment at different levels in the skin without damaging the surrounding skin (scar or color change).
The pigment absorbs the laser energy and heats up. If the pigment is heated to slowly (longer pulse duration), then the heat from the pigment has time to heat the surrounding skin and cause injury (scar or pigmentation changes). So, short pulse duration lasers are preferable.
As the pigment explodes during successive treatments, the size of the pigment fragments gets smaller. The shorter the pulse duration, the smaller the fragment you can treat. This is why longer pulse duration lasers can only partially remove the pigment after many treatments and tend to have more scarring and pigment changes. The pulse duration needs to be smaller in order to explode the smaller fragments of pigment and completely treat the tattoo. Our laser measures pulse durations in BILLIONTHS of a second! This technology allows us to safely, quickly and thoroughly remove tattoos with minimal skin damage.
Each laser emits energy in a certain wavelength. The wavelength will only interact with certain colors of pigment. For example, black and blue tattoos are best treated with a 1064nm (Nd:YAG) laser, reds are best treated with a 532nm (frequently doubled with Nd:YAG) laser, and greens are best treated with a 694nm (ruby) laser. It doesn’t matter how many times you treat a red pigment with a 755cm (Picosure) laser: it will not produce good results.
Therefore, you want to get your treatment in a center that has the right wavelengths to treat your tattoo. Don’t get stuck with part of your tattoo removed and have to start over with treatment somewhere else. With our Enlighten (1064/532) and Asclepion (694), we can treat ANY color of tattoo. The Picosure laser only has one wavelength (755nm). This means that it cannot effectively remove all tattoo colors, especially reds (the second most popular tattoo color). With our three wavelengths (532, 694, and 1064), we can treat all colors of tattoos.
The laser must deliver the right amount of energy at the precise depth of the pigment. The spot size of the laser determines the depth of the focus of the laser. The amount of energy delivered must be adjusted to the spot size. We are fortunate to have the most powerful tattoo laser on the market. It allows us to treat deeper pigment than other lasers.
Number of treatments: Some types of lasers need 20 treatments to get a partial or full removal of the pigment. Our lasers typically do the job in 3-6 treatments. This is something you should consider when evaluating the price of removal.
Tattoo removal has gone through various generations of development over the years.
The tattoo is removed using our FDA-approved laser. It is a safe and effective way to remove all colors in about 3-6 treatments. The energy from the machine is absorbed by the tattoo pigment, which breaks into smaller pieces. The smaller pieces of pigment are absorbed by the body (macrophages) and removed. The laser puts the energy into the tattoo pigment in a billionth of a second, which is why there is little to no scarring.
Other methods include salabrasion, dermabrasion, surgery, or other lasers.
The typical tattoo is removed in about 3-6 treatments. Compare this with 10-20 treatments for other lasers on the market, and you quickly see why going with a better laser saves you time and money.
Yes. All colors are removed with our method. Compare this with other lasers that do not remove all colors (for example, the Picosure can’t remove red pigment).
In most cases, nearly all or all of the pigment will be removed. In some patients, there is little sign of a previous tattoo. Many patients are left with skin that is a bit lighter than the surrounding skin. A few patients will have some scarring associated with removal. Strict adherence to our after-care regimen reduces the chance of scarring and minimizes its appearance.
The pain associated with this laser is much less than with previous lasers. Some patients choose numbing medicine, while others use ice.
Afterward, we treat the area with an antibiotic cream, non-stick dressing, and pressure for about 7-10 days. Then, we apply a steroid cream and a pressure dressing. This is continued until the next treatment (30 days after the first treatment). The process is repeated until the tattoo is gone (usually about 3-5 treatments). Sun on the area should be avoided.
Hypopigmentation (treated skin is lighter than the surrounding area) is likely in most patients. Scarring or hypertrophic scarring is possible. Adherence to the after-care program will limit or lessen scarring. Remember this laser was specifically designed to decrease the complication rates.
The cost is based on the size of the tattoo. The cost consists of complete treatment (usually 3-5 treatments) and not individual sessions. The price includes initial dressings and some supplies. Additional dressings may be purchased if necessary. You will be given a prescription for steroid cream. The total cost is typically lower than the cost of most laser-based removal systems, and there are fewer treatments necessary.
When it comes to plastic surgery, proper care happens before, during, and after surgery day. That’s why we’ve created blueprints outlining what patients and providers need to consider to ensure success. Our pre-care and post-care guides are here to help our patients and all patients take the necessary steps to maximize their chances of safe surgery and beautiful results.
Located in Danville’s Blackhawk Plaza, Blackhawk Plastic Surgery & MedSpa is Northern California’s largest, most advanced plastic surgery and medspa center.
Patients choose our state-of-the-art facility for leading-edge surgical and non-surgical treatments—all in a luxurious, private setting. We are conveniently located in the San Francisco Bay Area to serve patients from the following locations:
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