Tattoo Removal

A tattoo you once loved doesn’t always hold the same shine as you age. If you’re no longer happy with your tattoo, laser tattoo removal is a safe and effective treatment to permanently get rid of unwanted ink. After a series of quick, comfortable treatments, your tattoo will fade, leaving behind clear skin.

Laser tattoo removal requires expert precision to prevent damage to the skin. At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania in the greater Philadelphia area on the Main Line in Devon, Jordan V. Wang, MD, MBE, MBA and our team of board-certified dermatologists have advanced training in all types of laser therapy, including tattoo removal. Our expert team can eliminate your unwanted tattoo in the safest way possible with minimal downtime.

At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania, our board-certified dermatologists use the state-of-the-art PicoPlus® picosecond laser to break up and remove unwanted tattoo pigment. The high-energy device operates at two wavelengths (532nm and 1064nm) to effectively eliminate tattoos.

Unlike single wavelength devices, the PicoPlus combines nanosecond and picosecond wavelengths to shatter tattoo ink. With only microscopic particles left behind, the body can safely eliminate them through your normal lymphatic system. 

This powerful laser offers enhanced control and precision to target tattoo ink of various colors without damaging the surrounding tissue. In this way, the PicoPlus laser can remove unwanted tattoos with fewer treatments than less powerful and single wavelength devices.

PicoPlus is the most common type of laser we use at our facility to remove unwanted tattoos. However, our Fraxel Dual® device can often help to eliminate remnants of ink. After a careful evaluation from one of our board-certified dermatologists, your physician can determine the appropriate combination of treatments to remove your tattoo.

Click here to learn more about available treatments for tattoo removal.

Our dermatologists prioritize patient comfort and safety. We offer topical and local anesthetics prior to treatment to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible. Once the treatment area is sufficiently numb, your dermatologist precisely directs the device toward the tattoo pigment to break it up into microscopic particles without harming the surrounding tissue. How long your treatment session takes depends on the size and color of your tattoo.

At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania, our dermatologists perform comprehensive evaluations before performing laser tattoo removal. In general, removing tattoos from darker skin tones is more challenging than their fairer counterparts. However, we always create individualized treatment plans to ensure your tattoo is removed in the quickest, safest way possible.

Common side effects of laser tattoo removal include:

• Swelling
• Redness
• Bruising
• Scabbing
• Tenderness
• Irregular pigmentation
• Blistering

While most of these side effects should subside within 1-5 days, blistering and scabbing can persist for up to one week after treatment.

Applying a topical or local anesthetic before treatment helps to minimize discomfort during laser tattoo removal. Most patients compare the sensation to the feeling of snapping a rubber band against the skin or feel nothing at all. Laser tattoo removal at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania should feel comfortable compared to more invasive methods.

Permanent removal of a tattoo typically takes a few treatments, with sessions spaced around 4-6 weeks apart. At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania, our physicians use a powerful, state-of-the-art picosecond laser, which can offer effective results.

Yes. At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania, our board-certified dermatologists frequently perform laser tattoo removal treatments on men. We customize each treatment plan to ensure our patients are satisfied with their results. Our team understands the unique differences between male and female skin in terms of tone and texture, and we take these differences into account with each treatment.

Publications

Suggs AK, Wang JV, Friedman PM. Experiences with corrective laser tattoo removal: Dangers of nonphysician operators. Dermatol Surg 2021;47(7):1035-7.

Sodha P, Wang JV, Friedman PM. Acoustic shockwave therapy as an adjunct to picosecond laser for multi-colored tattoo removal: A procedural overview and case series. Dermatol Surg. (In Review).