Tattoo Removal FAQs

Most patients describe the treatment as quick snapping sensations against the skin, often compared to a rubber band. Some areas are more sensitive than others, but treatment is fast and tolerance varies from person to person.

PicoWay can be used on a wide range of skin types, but treatment settings must be selected carefully based on your skin tone, tattoo color, and treatment area. During your consultation, we determine whether treatment is appropriate for you.

Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds for about 2 weeks before and after treatment. Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and certain supplements that can increase bruising when medically appropriate. Topical numbing cream, local anesthetic, or cold compresses may be used before treatment if needed.

Keep the treated area clean, protected, and out of the sun while it heals. Avoid pools, lakes, hot tubs, baths, and other soaking until the skin has healed. Apply the recommended recovery balm, follow bandaging instructions, avoid irritating products or makeup on the area, and do not shave over treated skin until it has healed.

Tattoo removal is a gradual process, and most tattoos require multiple sessions. The number of treatments depends on the ink colors, depth of ink, age of the tattoo, whether it is professional or amateur, skin type, and how your body clears the pigment. Many tattoos need 8 to 12 or more treatments.

PicoWay can treat a wide range of tattoo colors. Black and darker inks are usually the easiest to remove. Blue and green can often be treated effectively, while red, orange, yellow, purple, pastel, and multicolor tattoos may require more sessions depending on the pigment and wavelength used.

Some tattoos can be removed very successfully, but complete removal cannot be guaranteed. Results depend on the ink colors, tattoo depth, skin type, age of the tattoo, and whether there is any existing scar tissue.

Tattoo removal takes time. Ink particles must be broken down and gradually cleared by your immune system, so visible fading usually happens over multiple sessions rather than immediately.

It can look darker, frosted, or more noticeable right after treatment as part of the skin’s normal response. This usually improves as the area heals and the body starts clearing the shattered ink.

Blistering can happen after treatment and is a normal healing response. Do not pop the blisters. Keep the area clean, protected, and follow your aftercare instructions closely to reduce the risk of irritation or infection.

Healing and fading happen slowly. Your body continues clearing ink for several weeks after each session, so improvement can continue between treatments.

Some tattoos are more difficult to remove than others, especially those with dense professional ink, certain light colors, layered work, or scar tissue. In those cases, more sessions or treatment adjustments may be needed.

Different ink colors, ink depths, and areas of the tattoo can respond at different speeds. Uneven fading is common during the tattoo removal process, especially in earlier sessions.

The Describe PFD Patch is a transparent perfluorodecalin-infused patch used during some tattoo removal treatments. It allows for multiple laser passes in a single session, which can improve treatment efficiency and support faster ink clearance in appropriate cases while helping protect the skin surface.

Missing a session may slow your overall progress, but it does not erase the fading you have already achieved. It is best to resume treatment as recommended so your results stay on track.