Laser Tattoo Removal

Do you have buyer’s remorse when it comes to your tattoo? A lot of individuals come to loathe their tattoo, for several reasons. These reasons could include a failed relationship, where the ink serves as a constant reminder of the emotional pain. Many people get tattoos in their earlier years, as part of a gang, in some instances, and now as adults, are seeking a fresh start. Maybe the tattoo artist failed to do a proper job, and you’re now looking for ways to correct or erase the mess.

Even though the ink appears to be permanent, fortunately, there are many ways how to remove tattoos easily.

The Skin and Vein Center has been practicing tattoo removal for over 25 years and is one of the best clinics for tattoo removal in Michigan. In that time, the Skin and Vein Center has taken out more tattoos than anyone in Michigan, so you know you’re getting the experience you need. We also have multiple different lasers – including PicoSure – so we can take out all colors in tattoos, something you won’t find almost anywhere else. With all this, it’s easy to see why the Skin and Vein Center should be your choice for laser tattoo removal. Also, read about the other procedures we offer.

About Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal techniques have made a lot of progress over the years; those who regret a tattoo that they got years ago can have it completely taken out, with little to no side effects as a result. The lasers target the pigment of the tattoo with a high-intensity beam of light that breaks up the particles of the color where it can be absorbed into the skin.

Are you having second thoughts about your tattoo? Did you realize that the tattoo you got just wasn’t up to the standard that you were expecting? In the past, these kinds of mistakes were absolutely hard to get rid of. After all, short of excision, tattoos’ long-lasting nature makes them near impossible to take out – even with the hundreds of creams, lotions, and potions out there that claim to fade them as time goes by. Fortunately, however, this is a worry of the past; with Skin and Vein and our Michigan laser tattoo removal procedures, that tattoo mistake can be gone after just a few sessions

Here are some of the best tattoo removal methods available:

• Laser Removal – This is one of the most popular and effective ways for removing tattoos. The laser is directed at the ink and then taken out bit-by-bit. It takes several rounds of treatments to complete the entire process, which takes roughly one year, and it’s performed by certified specialists, including dermatologists and cosmetologists. Even though laser tattoo removal is highly effective, one of the downsides is many patients complain about the discomfort experienced during treatment.

• Intense Pulsed Light Therapy – Another effective option for erasing tattoos. It’s a similar process to laser therapy, only an intense light wave is used to break up the ink. This therapy can be fairly expensive, since most providers charge per pulse, and several are required for each session.
• Excision – This is one choice you could use, but the downside is that the skin is taken out and scarring is typical.
• Dermabrasion – Just as how microdermabrasion sloughs away the outer layer of the skin, dermabrasion works to some extent where tattoo removals are concerned.

In addition to these treatment options, over-the-counter creams and gels are available to all, but they’re not really effective for giving you the clear results you need.

Benefits

Our Prices:

What’s the laser tattoo removal cost?  The price depends on your geographic location, the size of your tattoo, and your surgeon.

Tattoo Removal Pricing

With any tattoo removal procedure, it is understandable to expect an incredibly high cost, especially when it takes more than just one treatment to take out. Fortunately, here at the Skin and Vein Center, our laser tattoo removal prices are among the lowest you’ll find anywhere! Prices are as follows

How it Works

Using an aesthetic PicoSure laser that creates an intense photomechanical impact, the PicoSure laser disrupts the target ink and shatters it into dust-like particles. These dust-like particles are then easily absorbed and eliminated through the body’s natural process. Each session is usually just a few minutes and is minimally invasive – resulting in fast recovery times and minimal pain.

The Results

The best tattoo removal results are found in those who have smaller tattoos that are made up of only black ink. Tattoos that are simple in design and use only black ink are the easiest to take out as tattoos that use a lot of colors require stronger efforts and more tattoo removal sessions to break up the pigments. Of course, full-color tattoos can be treated as well, they’ll just require more attention.

The number of overall treatments of removing tattoos will depend upon the tattoo and the patient with some patients seeing full results after just a couple of sessions and other requiring many sessions over the course of many months before the tattoo is fully taken out.  Each tattoo removal process is going to be completely unique depending on the individual’s age, skin, health conditions, and of course their tattoo- how much skin it covers and how intricate the design.

As can be seen by these laser tattoo removal before and after pictures, our procedures can easily fade and take out tattoos after just a couple of sessions. Just remember; sessions must be done every five to six weeks in order to allow ink particles to clear, and you will need more than one treatment: This means you won’t see any immediate results directly after your first treatment. But, because PicoSure is one of the most advanced lasers used today, the number of treatments needed – compared to other lasers – is reduced by half!

Expectations

Tattoo removal has become quite the popular procedure in recent years, as more and more people who got tattoos have decided, for various reasons, that they no longer wish to keep the ink. Usually performed as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia, the most common techniques for tattoo removal include laser removal, surgical removal and/or dermabrasion. Depending on the technique for removal, patients can expect different experiences and even outcomes. Here are some things that a patient of each can expect with their tattoo removal procedures.

Surgical Tattoo Removal Methods

With a surgical removal of tattoos, the skin is given an injection of local anesthetic and the tattoo is then taken out with a scalpel. The edges of the skin are then stitched back together and an antibacterial ointment is applied. This is not among the most popular procedures, because although it’s effective, it does leave a noticeable scar, so it’s only practical for those who are seeking the removal of small tattoos.

Dermabrasion

During a dermabrasion procedure, the tattooed area is chilled until it becomes numb. The skin is then sanded down with a high-speed rotary device and an abrasive wheel that gets down to deeper levels of skin. As the outer layer of skin is taken off, the tattoo is taken with it. Expect the treated area to feel sore and raw for up to two weeks following the procedure.

Laser Tattoo Removal

The most popular method of tattoo removal these days uses lasers, as laser tattoo removal results are typically achieved with less pain and recovery time. Before the treatment begins, the skin is injected with a local anesthetic and numbed appropriately. A powerful pulse of laser energy is then applied to the tattoo to heat and shatter the ink. Tattoos with many colors will likely require various lasers of different wavelengths for full removal. Patients can expect some swelling and possibly some bleeding or blistering post treatment, but antibacterial ointment can help with the healing. Usually, multiple sessions are required to completely erase the tattoo, especially those that are large in size or heavily pigmented.

Lots of people who are looking to take out tattoos, both big and small, are curious about the tattoo removal process, how it works, and what kind of results they can expect. There are several tattoo removal procedures on the market today, all effective in their own way and to some degree, though many experienced dermatologists would definitely vote for some methods over others. Laser tattoo removal procedures are among the most efficient and most sought after methods among dermatologists and patients alike for tattoo removal. They are performed with greater ease and precision than other tattoo removal methods and are effective at removing even deep, dark ink pigments when multiple treatment sessions are performed.

The PicoSure^® laser is among the most advanced modern lasers used in tattoo removal procedures throughout the country. But how do they stack up to other lasers, and what makes some dermatologists prefer them? PicoSure^® results tend to be superior!

PicoSure^® is a type of laser tattoo removal treatment, but rather than using heat, it combines pulses, to divvy up the ink on a molecular level. The result is that our body’s immune system works more rapidly to dispose of these particles.

PicoSure^® only requires roughly 10 sessions, lasting no more than five minutes each and the recovery time is comparatively less.

All Lasers Function Similarly

The first thing to understand is that basically all tattoo laser removal works in essentially the same way. The laser is targeted at the ink of a tattoo and the emitted wavelengths break down the ink pigments into particles small enough to be efficiently absorbed by the body. Since tattoo ink molecules are too large for the body to absorb, they settle on the layers of skin unless they are properly broken down.

The PicoSure^® Laser Difference

PicoSure^® lasers use pressure waves to break down the ink with a laser that is measured in picoseconds (or 1 trillionth of a second, which is about 1,000 times faster than a nanosecond). Many of those who advocate the PicoSure^® laser do so because they believe that because the laser of a PicoSure^® fires so much faster than other lasers, it is able to break down the tattoo ink into even smaller particles. Smaller particles mean easier absorption and quicker disappearance. In fact, those who use PicoSure^® lasers claim that they can take out tattoos in half the amount of sessions compared with other lasers.

PicoSure^® is a cosmetic procedure that is revolutionizing the tattoo removal procedures industry. In the traditional methods of laser tattoo removal, heat is applied to break down the ink particles, and this is otherwise known as the Q-switched laser method. With PicoSure^®, energy pulses are delivered faster than a nanosecond. If you’re like most of us, math is complicated, but a nanosecond is superfast. But, there’s an even faster unit of time – the picosecond, and hence the name: PicoSure^®.

PicoSure^® Removal Side Effects

With PicoSure^®, you can expect fewer side effects and recovery times. The chance of scarring is fairly minimal compared to other tattoo removal methods, however, hyperpigmentation and swelling may occur, which will fade over time.

PicoSure^® Cost

The cost of PicoSure^® is influenced by the size of the tattoo and the types of ink used. An initial consultation will usually be offered by the provider, after which time cost is determined. While most insurance plans won’t cover the cost of tattoo removal services, many cosmetic treatment centers partner with CareCredit to offer flexible payment options.

PicoSure^® Aftercare

After PicoSure^®, doctors will advise patients to stay out of the sun to prevent sunburn.

The Skin and Vein Center is an authorized provider of PicoSure^® treatments. Dr. Seiger is a reputable dermatologist at our center, who takes pride in giving his patients renewed hope and purpose following a tattoo removal.

Pressure & Heat

PicoSure^® tattoo removal advocates will also say that the pressure wave energy used by PicoSure^® lasers is better than the thermal energy of other lasers because thermal energy has a greater chance of damaging surrounding skin tissue. However, it’s important to note that PicoSure^® users should be properly trained and well experienced because misuse of PicoSure^® lasers can cause a lot of damage to the skin, even if they are overall less risky than other lasers.

If you’re interested in learning more about PicoSure^® results, give the Skin & Vein Center a call today! We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. Also, read more about other procedures we offer.

Gone For Good Program

SKIN DOC’S FREEDOM INK PROGRAM HELPS EX-GANG MEMBERS CLEAN UP

Eric Seiger, D.O., is one busy guy. As a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, Seiger bounces between offices in Fenton and Sterling Heights, delivering expert skin care and rejuvenating cosmetic enhancement to clients at his bustling Skin & Vein Center practice.

A nationally recognized physician trainer and faculty member with the dermatology residency program at Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital, Dr. Seiger excels in providing innovative procedures to keep metro Detroiters looking gorgeous and youthful. He specializes in one-hour mini-facelifts, lightningfast laser hair reduction, and specialized yet affordable three-process microdermabrasion acne treatments.
Yet, Dr. Seiger’s professional passion is much more than skin deep. Six years ago, Dr. Seiger searched for a community service program that would utilize his skills and make a difference in the lives of individuals working hard to turn their lives around. Aware that former Detroit gang members and ex-convicts bear daily reminders of their past in the form of tattoos, he connected with the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation in southwest Detroit and put his skills to work. Through his nonprofit organization Freedom Ink, Dr. Seiger removes gang tattoos in order to help individuals leave violent lifestyles behind – once and for all.

“Once a month, I’d bring a laser and remove tattoos from ex-gang members committed to living a gang-free lifestyle. It’s one of the most rewarding things I get to do,” says Seiger emphatically. “These are not just tattoos; they’re like targets on these people. They may have gone to prison and come out, and now they’re 26 with a 5-year-old child that they walk around with, and they’re targeted. Not having visible tattoos keeps them safer and allows them to get jobs,” Reyes says. “Without his generosity, we would never get rid of gang-related tattoos, many of which grace hands.” “I have been able to help so many people transform their necks and faces, are removed by Freedom Ink at no charge”‘ says Dr. Seiger, noting that about one-fourth of the 30 or so individuals he helps each month are women, and most are recruited into gangs as children.

“So many of these people join gangs because they want a sense of belonging,” Seiger says. “In elementary school or junior high, they’re recruited with a promise that the gang will be their family, but it’s really about exploitation and making money.”

Within the past year, Freedom Ink was able to secure a donated laser, which they now use for the tattoo removal, a process that requires six to 10 treatments of about five minutes each (depending on the size of the tattoo) and spans about a year. It can be fairly painful, says Seiger. “But their eyes well with tears with how grateful they are. It’s a total new beginning for them, a new hope. That constant reminder, the scarlet letter on their skin, it’s gone.”

Now Dr. Seiger instructs residents from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in removal, providing Freedom Ink opportunities for former gang members twice a month.
For those dedicated to transforming their lives, tattoo removal is a huge step that allows people to seek employment, erase social stigma and reintegrate into the community, according to Angela Reyes, founder and executive director of the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation. This process is critical to the positive turnaround for ex-gang members or those returning to the community from prison, she says, crediting Dr. Seiger for his commitment to the program and to those it helps.

“Dr. Seiger is one of the most generous, caring people I know,” Reyes says. “Without his generosity, we would never have been able to help so many people transform their lives.” – Claire Charlton

Contact

Since tattoos are intended to be long lasting, complete laser tattoo removal can be difficult regardless of the method.

Patients should be prepared for some degree of skin color variation afterward, as well as possible scarring. If you’re interested in learning more about tattoo removal and the kind of tattoo removal results you can expect, schedule a consultation with our office to discuss your individual tattoo removal needs.