Does pico laser hurt?
If you're thinking of having laser tattoo removal, it's only natural to wonder 'does pico laser hurt'? Pico laser treatments are one of the more popular options for unwanted tattoo removal - but not all lasers are the same. So, the answer to the question about how painful they are also differs - read on to find out why the LightSense™ laser system is the least painful pico laser technology on the market.
Pain is a subjective phenomenon and the ways that people describe their experiences with the LightSense™ laser system vary.
Some of our clients compare the sensation of laser tattoo removal to the pain they felt when getting their tattoo in the first place. Others describe the process as entirely free of pain.
There are various ways of measuring pain, such as the Wong-Baker scale, a series of caricatured faces, and more recently, brain scans, but none are entirely reliable or accurate. We rely on subjective accounts of how tattoo removal feels from our clients, as well as the scientific studies that underpin our laser technology.
In this blog post we’ll look first at how the LightSense™ laser system has been designed and tested so as to provide near pain-free tattoo removal, and second, at the clients who have given their accounts of what tattoo removal feels like with this new tech.
For a firsthand experience of how pico laser treatment feels, visit our clean, modern studio in the heart of London and try out a patch test.
Talk to one of our experts to start your removal journey
The reason NAAMA Studios can offer gentle tattoo removal is down to the specialist tech that we have unique access to.
The strongest indicators of how painful a laser tattoo removal treatment will be are the amount of energy used and the amount of time the laser beam touches the skin for.
LightSense™ is a type of picosecond laser, just an extremely low energy one. The LightSense™ pico laser works differently - it uses 34X less energy than the average pico laser. This means it causes less damage to the skin.
It also differs from all of the other technologies on the market because it has a pulse width that is 92X shorter than the average pico laser.
That means the beam of light touches the skin for as short a time as possible.
If you want to reduce pain you use a little energy as possible and apply it to sensitive skin for as short a time as possible. That’s the logic behind LightSense™.
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“Traditional laser tattoo removal is like someone taking a hot poker and stabbing you multiple times around the area until you can’t take it anymore; leaving you blistered and sore for weeks. I don’t even know how the skin repairs from it, it’s so bad.”
“With NAAMA, it’s like little, short, sharp bursts of light that sting a little bit at first and then it’s done in minutes. There isn’t any blistering, raised skin or pigmentation issues. It’s just a bit raw for a day or two. You use the aftercare creams, then you go back to your normal life and come in two to three weeks later for another session.”
After laser removal treatments you should moisturise your skin for the best healing results. We have collaborated on skincare products as part of our NAAMA Plus offering. Enjoying gentle exercise, staying hydrated, and eating right will help to supercharge your results.
The LightSense™ laser puts skin safety at the forefront of the tattoo removal process. The initial research that underpins the laser system, undertaken at Princeton University, identified the need for a skin-safe and pain-free laser tattoo removal technology.
Before picosecond lasers, tattoo removal was attempted using lasers with pulse widths measured in nanoseconds. This longer pulse of light can potentially cause skin damage and pain. We are happy to point to studies that examine the multiple benefits of using picosecond lasers over nanosecond lasers.
The LightSense™ laser system is a type of pico laser. It has an extremely short pulse width of eight picoseconds, 89x shorter when compared to the average pico laser.
Stay hydrated, rest well, and enjoy exercise. The better the state of your general health, the more likely your immune system will respond positively to treatment.
Additionally, we advise that you protect your skin with a sun-safe skincare routine and use a moisturising sunscreen with high SPF when exposing your treatment area to direct sunlight within two weeks of your treatment.
You might also like to explore our highly-curated range of NAAMA Plus treatments, paired with laser tattoo removal to supercharge your results.
You may be asked to shave if the removal area is densely covered with hair. We will not ask you to shave your eyebrows. Speak to our expert consultants for more information.
Permanent makeup removal is not ‘one size fits all’ and each case is completely unique.
As a guide, we suggest 1-3 sessions for light microblading removal and 3 minimum for machine brows or denser eyebrow tattoos. Many clients get their desired results in 3-5 sessions, but this varies. Our removal packages are a great option to explore for better value per session. The timescale is similar if you’re looking to come to NAAMA for lip blushing and lip tattoo removal, too.
Your consultant will advise when to return for your next laser tattoo removal session at the end of each appointment.
The gentle LightSense™ laser system uses significantly less energy than traditional laser tattoo removal devices and clients can return for treatment as often as every 2-3 weeks in some cases* for faster results.
*Your specific amount of downtime will be assessed during your initial consultation and may change during the course of treatment. We can only treat as often as every 2-3 weeks for Fitzpatrick 1-3 skin types.
Talk to one of our experts to start your removal journey
