How many sessions does tattoo removal take with Picosure?

At 99 Medispa Sydney, most tattoos require 4-10 Picosure sessions for significant fading or complete removal, spaced 6-8 weeks apart. The exact number depends on ink density, colours, tattoo age, and your body's immune response. This is significantly fewer sessions than the 8-15+ typically required with older Q-switched lasers. During your free consultation, we assess your tattoo and provide a realistic session estimate.

Can Picosure remove coloured tattoos including blue and green?

Yes. At 99 Medispa Sydney, Picosure's 755nm wavelength is uniquely effective for blue and green inks — the colours that older Q-switched lasers struggle with most. Combined with 532nm for reds and 1064nm for blacks, Picosure can address the full spectrum of tattoo ink colours. This multi-wavelength capability is one of the key advantages of picosecond technology over traditional laser removal.

Does tattoo removal hurt?

At 99 Medispa Sydney, most patients describe Picosure tattoo removal as feeling like a rubber band snapping against the skin. It is uncomfortable but tolerable, and each pulse is extremely brief. We use a Zimmer cooling unit that blows chilled air during treatment to manage discomfort. Sessions for small tattoos take as little as 5-10 minutes. Topical numbing cream can be applied 30 minutes before treatment for sensitive areas.

Will tattoo removal leave a scar?

Picosure at 99 Medispa Sydney has a lower risk of scarring than older nanosecond lasers because the ultra-short picosecond pulses fragment ink using a photomechanical (pressure wave) mechanism rather than excessive heat. When treated properly with appropriate settings and adequate healing time between sessions, most patients achieve tattoo clearance without significant scarring. Following aftercare instructions is essential.

Can a partially removed tattoo be covered with a new tattoo?

Yes. At 99 Medispa Sydney, many patients use Picosure to lighten an existing tattoo rather than fully remove it, preparing the area for a cover-up by a tattoo artist. This typically requires fewer sessions (2-4) than complete removal. Lightening the original tattoo gives the artist a cleaner canvas, allowing for more creative freedom and better results in the cover-up design.

Concern

Tattoo
Removal

1 in 4 Australians with a tattoo regrets at least one

Picosure's picosecond technology shatters tattoo ink into particles small enough for your body to clear naturally. Faster results, fewer sessions, and effective across all ink colours — including stubborn blues and greens that older lasers struggle with.

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Understanding the Concern

How Tattoo Ink Sits in Skin & Why Removal Takes Time

When a tattoo is applied, ink particles are deposited into the dermis — the stable layer beneath the epidermis. The body's immune system immediately begins trying to remove these foreign particles, but tattoo ink particles are too large for macrophages (immune cells) to fully engulf and transport away. This is why tattoos are permanent — the particles are trapped.

Laser tattoo removal works by fragmenting these particles into pieces small enough for macrophages to clear via the lymphatic system. Each session breaks down more particles, gradually fading the tattoo. The number of sessions depends on ink density, colours, depth, age of the tattoo, and your immune response.

Ink colour matters. Black and dark blue inks absorb the widest range of laser wavelengths and are the easiest to remove. Green, light blue, and purple inks have historically been the most resistant — they require specific wavelengths for effective absorption. Picosure's 755nm wavelength is particularly effective for these difficult colours, while its 532nm and 1064nm wavelengths handle reds and blacks respectively.

Why Treatment Matters

Modern Laser Technology Has Changed the Game

Older nanosecond lasers (Q-switched) shatter ink using thermal energy, which can cause scarring and requires many sessions for difficult colours. Picosecond lasers like Picosure use a photomechanical (pressure wave) mechanism that is 100 times faster — fragmenting ink into smaller particles with less heat damage to surrounding tissue.

The result: faster clearance, fewer sessions, lower risk of scarring, and effective treatment of colours that older lasers could not adequately address. Complete removal of most tattoos is now achievable rather than just fading.

Treatment Comparison

Tattoo Removal Methods Compared

Picosure

Picosecond laser (755nm/532nm/1064nm)Dermis (tattoo ink layer)

Q-Switched Nd:YAG

Nanosecond laser (1064nm/532nm)Dermis

Surgical Excision

Surgical removalFull thickness skin

Small tattoos can be surgically cut out and the skin sutured closed. This provides complete removal in a single session but leaves a linear scar. For larger tattoos, staged excision or skin grafting may be required. Surgical excision is typically reserved for very small tattoos in locations where a surgical scar is acceptable, or for tattoos that have not responded to laser treatment.

Dermabrasion

Mechanical skin removalEpidermis to upper dermis

Dermabrasion mechanically removes the outer layers of skin using a rotating abrasive device, gradually wearing away the tattoo ink. It is less precise than laser treatment, carries a higher risk of scarring and pigmentation changes, and is rarely used as a primary tattoo removal method today. It may be used in combination with laser for particularly resistant areas.

Why 99 Medispa

Sydney's Picosecond Laser Specialists

At 99 Medispa Sydney, we use the authentic Picosure by Cynosure — the world's first and most clinically validated picosecond aesthetic laser. With over 20 years of experience and TGA and FDA approved technology, our practitioners have treated thousands of tattoos across all colours, sizes, and skin types.

20+

Years Experience

All Colours

Treatable

Picosure

Picosecond Laser

Your Questions Answered

Frequently Asked Questions

Book Your Free Consultation

Your consultation includes a detailed assessment of your tattoo — size, colours, ink density, age, and skin type — to provide an accurate estimate of the sessions needed and the results you can expect.

Your consultation is complimentary — no deposit required

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Location

Sydney, NSW

Technology

Picosure by Cynosure

Sessions

4-10 Typical

Consultation

Complimentary

How Tattoo Ink Sits in Skin & Why Removal Takes Time

Modern Laser Technology Has Changed the Game

Tattoo Removal Methods Compared

Picosure

Q-Switched Nd:YAG

Surgical Excision

Dermabrasion

Sydney's Picosecond Laser Specialists

Frequently Asked Questions

How many sessions does tattoo removal take with Picosure?

Can Picosure remove coloured tattoos including blue and green?

Does tattoo removal hurt?

Will tattoo removal leave a scar?

Can a partially removed tattoo be covered with a new tattoo?

Book Your Free Consultation

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