Mike Panic

Sorry for the late reply @rocketqueen, I stopped getting email notifications from this thread a while ago and can't figure out why. I will never, as a professional, quote 100% tattoo removal. My idea of 100% is different from yours, and it's not a tangible thing to fight over. Even in my "best case" scenarios, I can still find trace amounts of pigment if I look hard enough. A casual stranger who didn't know the history, wouldn't know though.
Also bear in mind, "dedicated to treatment course" isn't always a factor in how successful any given removal will be. How the tattoo was done (scarring, over worked area, dragging or barbed needles, etc.), pigment used, pigment saturation, liner vs. shader, location on the body, immune system, age, age of tattoo and quality of life will all play roles in how much any given tattoo will be functionally able to be removed. There is no black and white answer with tattoo removal.
Not some lasers, all lasers used for tattoo removal have the possibility of white ink turning black. In fact, many colors shift during removal. Black ink will often fade to brown or sometimes if it's got a deep indigo blue, that starts to show after a few sessions. There is no MSDS for tattoo ink, without knowing the ingredients there's always a possibility of color shift. Moreover, even if we do know the ingredients, there likely hasn't been any long term studies done on the effects caused from exposure to lasers.
To directly answer the question, it doesn't disqualify someone but it does cause for a very serious conversation about realistic expectations in my office.
Please understand that my job is to create very realistic expectations about what can and cannot be accomplished. The ol, "well my friend went here and they had the best and it's now gone after X treatments" simply holds no weight. Every tattoo done on every person is unique.

@pidjones The frosting is normal, and what you explained is very typical in how it appears then fades, usually in 10-20 minutes.  To do a second pass over it is referred to as the R20 method, and it's cloaked in some smoke and mirrors for sure. 
I'd worry less about the methods used and focus on the results, that's what really matter at the end of the day; Be aware though, since you brought up FDA, no tattoo ink on the market is FDA approved and very few cities in America have any health board / health control over what happens inside a tattoo shop, as long as they have a business license and a tax ID. 

@Stu It is almost always suggested to wait longer between treatments.  I'd personally choose the facility that has proven results, with lots of progress / completion photos.  It's one thing to talk about the machine and the waiting time, ask to see results.  They are what matter. 
For aftercare, I'm sorry but I won't discuss it with anyone but clients treatment in my office, for liability reasons. 

Found this explainer video that really accurately shows what happens during tattoo removal... worth the 85 seconds if you're interested http://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-during-laser-tattoo-removal-2016-5
What's not covered though is that ink is not regulated, by anyone, and the application of tattoos is violent and can cause scar tissue.  If the pigment becomes encapsulated with scar tissue from the tattooing process, it's very hard to remove it.  Pigment colors, location on the body, lining vs. shading, age of both the tattoo and the person wearing it and overall immune system health are also variables in how successful each tattoo removal appointment are. 
Have questions about anything, leave a comment. 
 
 

Poorly written article that was barely fact-checked and actually doesn't talk about the real reason the client's tattoo wasn't gone. 

The article simply says the new laser called picosecond, which is the technology, not the laser, but indicates new technology in 2012 which I believe they meant to say PicoSure, as that is a brand name of a laser sold by Cynosure.  At present, there are at least three picosecond capable lasers on the market.
The real reason (I'm assuming) the author was able to continue and get her tattoo removed is not due to the picosecond technology but due to the 755nm wavelength the PicoSure operates at.  That specific wavelength destroys blue, green and blue-based purple pigments.  The only laser on the market that gets close is the Quanta Q+C at 694nm, but it's not a picosecond laser and the picosecond technology doesn't play into why it's not as effective. 

Also, the mention of money is also slightly skewed too. The author started tattoo removal seven years ago, when the technology wasn't being used as much (demand wasn't where it is now) so few clinics bought machines because the ROI was so terrible on them.  The fact she paid $400 / treatment for what appears to be something the size of a quarter seems more of a rip to me. 
 

Poorly written article that was barely fact-checked and actually doesn't talk about the real reason the client's tattoo wasn't gone. 

The article simply says the new laser called picosecond, which is the technology, not the laser, but indicates new technology in 2012 which I believe they meant to say PicoSure, as that is a brand name of a laser sold by Cynosure.  At present, there are at least three picosecond capable lasers on the market.
The real reason (I'm assuming) the author was able to continue and get her tattoo removed is not due to the picosecond technology but due to the 755nm wavelength the PicoSure operates at.  That specific wavelength destroys blue, green and blue-based purple pigments.  The only laser on the market that gets close is the Quanta Q+C at 694nm, but it's not a picosecond laser and the picosecond technology doesn't play into why it's not as effective. 

Also, the mention of money is also slightly skewed too. The author started tattoo removal seven years ago, when the technology wasn't being used as much (demand wasn't where it is now) so few clinics bought machines because the ROI was so terrible on them.  The fact she paid $400 / treatment for what appears to be something the size of a quarter seems more of a rip to me. 
 

Poorly written article that was barely fact-checked and actually doesn't talk about the real reason the client's tattoo wasn't gone. 

The article simply says the new laser called picosecond, which is the technology, not the laser, but indicates new technology in 2012 which I believe they meant to say PicoSure, as that is a brand name of a laser sold by Cynosure.  At present, there are at least three picosecond capable lasers on the market.
The real reason (I'm assuming) the author was able to continue and get her tattoo removed is not due to the picosecond technology but due to the 755nm wavelength the PicoSure operates at.  That specific wavelength destroys blue, green and blue-based purple pigments.  The only laser on the market that gets close is the Quanta Q+C at 694nm, but it's not a picosecond laser and the picosecond technology doesn't play into why it's not as effective. 

Also, the mention of money is also slightly skewed too. The author started tattoo removal seven years ago, when the technology wasn't being used as much (demand wasn't where it is now) so few clinics bought machines because the ROI was so terrible on them.  The fact she paid $400 / treatment for what appears to be something the size of a quarter seems more of a rip to me. 
 

Poorly written article that was barely fact-checked and actually doesn't talk about the real reason the client's tattoo wasn't gone. 

The article simply says the new laser called picosecond, which is the technology, not the laser, but indicates new technology in 2012 which I believe they meant to say PicoSure, as that is a brand name of a laser sold by Cynosure.  At present, there are at least three picosecond capable lasers on the market.
The real reason (I'm assuming) the author was able to continue and get her tattoo removed is not due to the picosecond technology but due to the 755nm wavelength the PicoSure operates at.  That specific wavelength destroys blue, green and blue-based purple pigments.  The only laser on the market that gets close is the Quanta Q+C at 694nm, but it's not a picosecond laser and the picosecond technology doesn't play into why it's not as effective. 

Also, the mention of money is also slightly skewed too. The author started tattoo removal seven years ago, when the technology wasn't being used as much (demand wasn't where it is now) so few clinics bought machines because the ROI was so terrible on them.  The fact she paid $400 / treatment for what appears to be something the size of a quarter seems more of a rip to me. 
 

Poorly written article that was barely fact-checked and actually doesn't talk about the real reason the client's tattoo wasn't gone. 

The article simply says the new laser called picosecond, which is the technology, not the laser, but indicates new technology in 2012 which I believe they meant to say PicoSure, as that is a brand name of a laser sold by Cynosure.  At present, there are at least three picosecond capable lasers on the market.
The real reason (I'm assuming) the author was able to continue and get her tattoo removed is not due to the picosecond technology but due to the 755nm wavelength the PicoSure operates at.  That specific wavelength destroys blue, green and blue-based purple pigments.  The only laser on the market that gets close is the Quanta Q+C at 694nm, but it's not a picosecond laser and the picosecond technology doesn't play into why it's not as effective. 

Also, the mention of money is also slightly skewed too. The author started tattoo removal seven years ago, when the technology wasn't being used as much (demand wasn't where it is now) so few clinics bought machines because the ROI was so terrible on them.  The fact she paid $400 / treatment for what appears to be something the size of a quarter seems more of a rip to me. 
 

I'm really late to this conversation but let me chime in the only time I ever suggest someone getting a tattoo surgically cut out is if the tattoo is smaller than a typical pinky finger nail or smaller than a dime, and it's in a portion of the body where pulling skin together isn't difficult.  I.e., doing this on top of a foot, the side of a wrist, top of shin, etc. are not ideal places.
Aside from that, in an event like a tummy tuck, tattoos are often cut out when the removal of skin happens for that procedure.
The handful of clients I've had come through my office who went and tried the surgical route had horrible results and all wish they didn't do it.
I've had laser treatments, I do it for a living to other people.  It's expensive, slow and painful, I totally get that.  I'm the least pushy "sales" type guy you'll ever meet.  But that the end of the day you have a tattoo you don't love, don't do something else to your skin because you 1. can't wait or 2. can't afford to do it right because in the end, you'll end up a few years down the line not loving the change. 
Most clinics don't make you pay up front for the entire process, in fact it's pretty rare.  The first handful of treatments should be 5-6 weeks apart, at a minimum.  Based on the $1200 you were quoted, that basically means you need to save roughly $20 / week to afford laser (based on the average person needing 10-12 treatments divided by $1200).  And here's the other real truth you should know; Waiting longer between treatments will ultimately get you better results. 

I'm really late to this conversation but let me chime in the only time I ever suggest someone getting a tattoo surgically cut out is if the tattoo is smaller than a typical pinky finger nail or smaller than a dime, and it's in a portion of the body where pulling skin together isn't difficult.  I.e., doing this on top of a foot, the side of a wrist, top of shin, etc. are not ideal places.
Aside from that, in an event like a tummy tuck, tattoos are often cut out when the removal of skin happens for that procedure.
The handful of clients I've had come through my office who went and tried the surgical route had horrible results and all wish they didn't do it.
I've had laser treatments, I do it for a living to other people.  It's expensive, slow and painful, I totally get that.  I'm the least pushy "sales" type guy you'll ever meet.  But that the end of the day you have a tattoo you don't love, don't do something else to your skin because you 1. can't wait or 2. can't afford to do it right because in the end, you'll end up a few years down the line not loving the change. 
Most clinics don't make you pay up front for the entire process, in fact it's pretty rare.  The first handful of treatments should be 5-6 weeks apart, at a minimum.  Based on the $1200 you were quoted, that basically means you need to save roughly $20 / week to afford laser (based on the average person needing 10-12 treatments divided by $1200).  And here's the other real truth you should know; Waiting longer between treatments will ultimately get you better results. 

It's been my experience that people find the money for the things they want. Also,part-time jobs are easier to find than full-time jobs - the companies don't have to pay benefits.
It's your ink, I'm just pointing out that if you want it lazered off bad enough, you'll find a way. Not trying to call you out specifically, but most people will spend more time figuring out the 500 reasons they can't do something than figuring out the 1 way they can do something.

From someone who does laser, my advice for cover-up tattoos is almost always start with laser. With something as dark, heavy and scarred as that it will show through the new piece. Maybe not at first, but a year or two down the road it will, and the scarring will still be felt to finger tips and also visually seen through the new tattoo.
In my experience, a good number of people who come to with similar scarring see a significant reduction from the laser tattoo removal process, so it's more than likely worth a shot.
The other thing to keep in mind here is that the dermis has only so much room. In addition to the pigment that was put in here, it's competing for space with scar tissue. Adding more pigment could result into a less than favorable final product a few years down the road.

Home engineering = cool, real world applications, RUN from this. First and foremost, no gloves?
Next, 808nm is not the proper wavelength, every commercial machine runs at 1064, and 2 others for harder colors, but 95% of tattoos can be removed at that wavelength. There is no talk of pulse control either and his depth gauge is a guess, at best.
Further signs that the guy, while apparently smart enough to rig this up, does not fully understand what he's doing - he states in the first video "dude, I can see the ink changing colors" - which is false. The white you see is actually water vapor, from the laser exploding it within your skin. Lasers do not remove tattoos, they facilitate the body to dispose of the pigments.
You wouldn't go to a kitchen magician for a tattoo, why go to one to have it removed?

This is an unofficial FAQ for Last Sparrow members who want to know more about laser tattoo removal.
I've been doing this for 2 years now and feel I have some authority on the subject. I will not be giving industry specific information out but will do my best to answer your questions. I feel this is needed due to the total lack of real answers for people who collect tattoos. There are sites like realself.com but that demographic doesn't match everyone here. Furthermore, 80% of my clients are referrals from tattoo shops, due to the strong relationships I've been able to build over the last 2 years with them.
As questions get asked and answered I'll update the this first post so new readers won't have to scroll through pages upon pages of content / risk the possibility of asking & answering the same questions over and over. So, fire away!

I've never gotten anything removed either and don't have anything I want to get rid of, but I can say that I have at least three friends that have gone to Mike and Go! and have great things to say about it/him. 

@Mike PanicThanks for posting this and for contributing so thoughtfully, factually, and intelligently to the discussion about laser removal.  I don't have any tattoos I want to remove, but in the case that sometime in the future I do decide to remove some to make way for other tattoos or whatever, I'm going to be a lot more informed of my options largely thanks to you.

Found this explainer video that really accurately shows what happens during tattoo removal... worth the 85 seconds if you're interested http://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-during-laser-tattoo-removal-2016-5
What's not covered though is that ink is not regulated, by anyone, and the application of tattoos is violent and can cause scar tissue.  If the pigment becomes encapsulated with scar tissue from the tattooing process, it's very hard to remove it.  Pigment colors, location on the body, lining vs. shading, age of both the tattoo and the person wearing it and overall immune system health are also variables in how successful each tattoo removal appointment are. 
Have questions about anything, leave a comment. 
 
 

Found this explainer video that really accurately shows what happens during tattoo removal... worth the 85 seconds if you're interested http://www.businessinsider.com/what-happens-during-laser-tattoo-removal-2016-5
What's not covered though is that ink is not regulated, by anyone, and the application of tattoos is violent and can cause scar tissue.  If the pigment becomes encapsulated with scar tissue from the tattooing process, it's very hard to remove it.  Pigment colors, location on the body, lining vs. shading, age of both the tattoo and the person wearing it and overall immune system health are also variables in how successful each tattoo removal appointment are. 
Have questions about anything, leave a comment. 
 
 

Sure wish your studio was closer to Knoxville!

Home engineering = cool, real world applications, RUN from this. First and foremost, no gloves?
Next, 808nm is not the proper wavelength, every commercial machine runs at 1064, and 2 others for harder colors, but 95% of tattoos can be removed at that wavelength. There is no talk of pulse control either and his depth gauge is a guess, at best.
Further signs that the guy, while apparently smart enough to rig this up, does not fully understand what he's doing - he states in the first video "dude, I can see the ink changing colors" - which is false. The white you see is actually water vapor, from the laser exploding it within your skin. Lasers do not remove tattoos, they facilitate the body to dispose of the pigments.
You wouldn't go to a kitchen magician for a tattoo, why go to one to have it removed?

Home engineering = cool, real world applications, RUN from this. First and foremost, no gloves?
Next, 808nm is not the proper wavelength, every commercial machine runs at 1064, and 2 others for harder colors, but 95% of tattoos can be removed at that wavelength. There is no talk of pulse control either and his depth gauge is a guess, at best.
Further signs that the guy, while apparently smart enough to rig this up, does not fully understand what he's doing - he states in the first video "dude, I can see the ink changing colors" - which is false. The white you see is actually water vapor, from the laser exploding it within your skin. Lasers do not remove tattoos, they facilitate the body to dispose of the pigments.
You wouldn't go to a kitchen magician for a tattoo, why go to one to have it removed?

@Blur to answer your questions:
The advancements over the last 4-5 years have been exciting, but they are not perfect. No business should ever offer you 100% without a shadow of a doubt full tattoo removal. Too many variables from getting a tattoo done to your immune system will play a role. It's not just a quality laser and a trained tech.
We call it ghosting but yes, in any full removal situation I always explain on day 1 there may be trace amounts of pigment left.
While it's unlikely for this to happen, being treated by a non-FDA approved laser, or by someone who isn't qualified, or by not following the aftercare and picking / poking / prodding it is possible to scar yourself.
Yes, hyper and hypo-pigmentation are a possibility and should be discussed prior to starting treatment after a skin evaluation has been done.
Laser tattoo removal is the most efficient with the least amount side effects when compared to the other more invasive methods of tattoo removal. There is no best laser though. It's the right tool for the job, just like the best tattoo machine can't give you the best tattoo.

Sorry for the late reply @rocketqueen, I stopped getting email notifications from this thread a while ago and can't figure out why. I will never, as a professional, quote 100% tattoo removal. My idea of 100% is different from yours, and it's not a tangible thing to fight over. Even in my "best case" scenarios, I can still find trace amounts of pigment if I look hard enough. A casual stranger who didn't know the history, wouldn't know though.
Also bear in mind, "dedicated to treatment course" isn't always a factor in how successful any given removal will be. How the tattoo was done (scarring, over worked area, dragging or barbed needles, etc.), pigment used, pigment saturation, liner vs. shader, location on the body, immune system, age, age of tattoo and quality of life will all play roles in how much any given tattoo will be functionally able to be removed. There is no black and white answer with tattoo removal.
Not some lasers, all lasers used for tattoo removal have the possibility of white ink turning black. In fact, many colors shift during removal. Black ink will often fade to brown or sometimes if it's got a deep indigo blue, that starts to show after a few sessions. There is no MSDS for tattoo ink, without knowing the ingredients there's always a possibility of color shift. Moreover, even if we do know the ingredients, there likely hasn't been any long term studies done on the effects caused from exposure to lasers.
To directly answer the question, it doesn't disqualify someone but it does cause for a very serious conversation about realistic expectations in my office.
Please understand that my job is to create very realistic expectations about what can and cannot be accomplished. The ol, "well my friend went here and they had the best and it's now gone after X treatments" simply holds no weight. Every tattoo done on every person is unique.

Sorry for the late reply @rocketqueen, I stopped getting email notifications from this thread a while ago and can't figure out why. I will never, as a professional, quote 100% tattoo removal. My idea of 100% is different from yours, and it's not a tangible thing to fight over. Even in my "best case" scenarios, I can still find trace amounts of pigment if I look hard enough. A casual stranger who didn't know the history, wouldn't know though.
Also bear in mind, "dedicated to treatment course" isn't always a factor in how successful any given removal will be. How the tattoo was done (scarring, over worked area, dragging or barbed needles, etc.), pigment used, pigment saturation, liner vs. shader, location on the body, immune system, age, age of tattoo and quality of life will all play roles in how much any given tattoo will be functionally able to be removed. There is no black and white answer with tattoo removal.
Not some lasers, all lasers used for tattoo removal have the possibility of white ink turning black. In fact, many colors shift during removal. Black ink will often fade to brown or sometimes if it's got a deep indigo blue, that starts to show after a few sessions. There is no MSDS for tattoo ink, without knowing the ingredients there's always a possibility of color shift. Moreover, even if we do know the ingredients, there likely hasn't been any long term studies done on the effects caused from exposure to lasers.
To directly answer the question, it doesn't disqualify someone but it does cause for a very serious conversation about realistic expectations in my office.
Please understand that my job is to create very realistic expectations about what can and cannot be accomplished. The ol, "well my friend went here and they had the best and it's now gone after X treatments" simply holds no weight. Every tattoo done on every person is unique.