The Enlighten PICO gets its name from the duration of its energy bursts in 2 picoseconds (2 trillionths of a second) — 100 times shorter than typical nanosecond lasers — which means it sends out very high energy laser pulses in very short durations.

The Enlighten PICO has three different lasers. Each laser operates at a different wavelength to treat different ink colors. Revive’s PICO can treat all ink colors. The PICO laser eliminates tattoos without harming surrounding tissues.

When the PICO laser pulse hit the tattoo ink the laser energy is converted to acoustical energy. The high-energy sound waves shatter the pigments into sizes small enough to be carried away by the body. Revive’s PICO treats tattoos in fewer treatments than any other PICO or Q-Swtich laser. Six to eight treatments are average for most tattoos compared to 25-30 treatments, or more, needed by other lasers.

You’ll be glad to know that The Enlighten PICO treatments are shorter than most laser skin treatments, and there’s no special preparation necessary.

The treatment usually takes no more than 15 minutes. The medical providers at Revive can provide a variety of pre-numbing options. The providers can inject the tattoo area with lidocaine, put on topical numbing cream, providing ice for numbing and using cold air chilling before and during the PICO treatment. Most patients can’t tell the difference between having topical numbing or a minute of cold air before their PICO treatment.

The PICO pulses can feel like a strong rubber band snap. After the session, your skin might be red for a few days, and a lingering hotspot sensation for a day or two. Both symptoms can be improved by holding ice periodically on the treated area. There is no downtime. Our body can take 4-8 weeks to process the pigments shattered by the PICO. Another treatment can be done 4-8 weeks if additional treatments are required.

The number of treatments required depends on the tattoo itself: Its size, the colors in the tattoo, the age of the tattoo, or whether the tattoo was done by a professional or an amateur tattoo “artist”. Professional tattoos applied in the U.S. tend to settle into the skin at equal depths. This makes them easier to remove and probably won’t have metals in the inks. Tattoos received outside of the U.S. can have a variety of components, including metals. These types of pigments require more expertise and possibly additional treatment sessions.

While Revive’s Enlighten PICO works well for tattoos that are almost impossible to remove by other methods, you will still need to plan for multiple sessions. Tattoos are applied in layers, and with other types lasers they need to be removed the same way: one session at a time. With the PICO at Revive, all ink colors can be treated at the same appointment. This reduces the number of appointments needed unlike other practices who haven’t invested in the Enlighten PICO laser system.

Chances are you’ll need 5-10 or more treatments and you may need to wait 6-8 weeks between treatments. In other words, be prepared for the process to take time.

One of the most important variables in tattoo removal is the expertise of the person operating the Enlighten PICO Lasers. Every tattoo and every patient is different. The experienced providers at Revive can let you know about how many treatments it will take to treat your unwanted tattoo.

It’s also good to know that you’re in the hands of advance practitioners because you in California you must be medically screened before getting your tattoo treated. PICO has not been tested for use if you are pregnant. You can be treated if you have certain medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders or uncontrolled diabetes. For your safety you can be treated at a lower energy setting and may need additional treatments.