Is there more trauma to the skin with the R20 Method?

Yes, there is more trauma to the skin and possible scarring and thickening of the skin, especially if performed by someone without extensive experience and knowledge of skin physiology and laser physics. R20 involves multiple sessions spaced 20 - 60 minutes apart. The laser used for colors must include three different lasers: Ruby, 1064 and 532. With the Ruby, there may be blistering with multiple treatments on the same day (targets blues and greens). Tattoos are meant to be permanent and are best treated with caution, time, and patience. If the skin is allowed to heal for 6-8 weeks between treatments, they will be more effective.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The R20 method can be done on any tattoo, but will have more effect on some colors than others in a shorter amount of time. We also have other lasers in addition to the Picosure that we can fine tune results with if need be. Scarring can always be a risk, but the goal is to treat in a manner that lessens the likelihood of that happening, which may mean more sessions than a tattoo that is only one color.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

Yes, the laser wavelength best suited to black ink is 1064nm and is the only one we use for R20. However, patients should expect more trauma, and there is higher risk of possible scarring in our opinion. We have not seen scarring after we have performed R20; we have not done it enough for our results to be statistically significant. R20 is NOT advisable for tattoos with multiple colors.

Published on Jul 11, 2012