Tattoo Removal (Picosecond Laser)

Tattoo removal with the Enlighten picosecond laser delivers ultra-short pulses of energy that shatter tattoo ink into tiny particles the body can clear over time. The picosecond technology can address black and coloured inks and is also used for permanent-makeup removal. Pricing depends on the size of the tattoo, and a series of sessions spaced several weeks apart is needed for the ink to fade progressively.

Picosecond laser tattoo removal uses extremely short pulses — measured in trillionths of a second — to deliver energy to tattoo ink so rapidly that the pigment is fractured into very fine particles through a primarily photomechanical effect. These tiny fragments are then gradually cleared by the body's immune system over the weeks after each session. Compared with older nanosecond lasers, the picosecond approach is associated with more efficient clearance of a range of ink colours, including stubborn blues and greens, often with fewer sessions. At Klinika dr Stachura the Enlighten laser is passed over the tattoo after the area is prepared and cooled; a session is usually short, with the time depending on the tattoo's size. Afterwards the skin is commonly red and slightly swollen, and a frosting or light blistering can occur as part of the normal response before it settles over the following days. Because the body needs time to clear the fragmented ink, sessions are spaced several weeks apart, and most tattoos need a series of treatments for substantial or complete fading — the exact number varying with the ink type, colour, depth and age of the tattoo. The same technology is used to lighten permanent makeup such as eyebrows and eyeliner. A patch and assessment determine suitable settings, and the clinician will set realistic expectations on the likely number of sessions and aftercare; the treatment is avoided over certain skin conditions and during pregnancy.