Laser Tattoo Removal FAQs

Answers to your most frequent questions about Laser Tattoo Removal treatments..

• What is Laser Tattoo Removal?
• How does Laser Tattoo Removal work?
• What kinds of tattoos and pigmented lesions can be treated?
• Who Can Benefit From Laser Tattoo Removal?
• What Can I Expect During the Laser Tattoo Removal?
• How many Laser Tattoo Removal treatments will be needed?
• What results should I expect from Laser Tattoo Removal treatments?
• Are there any pre-treatment requirements?
• How long does a Laser Tattoo Removal treatment take?
• Are Laser Tattoo Removal treatments safe?
• Are Laser Tattoo Removal treatments painful?
• How soon are the results of Laser Tattoo Removal noticeable?
• Are there side effects from Laser Tattoo Removal?

What is Laser Tattoo Removal?
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Today, cosmetic medical lasers designed for tattoo removal range from a single wavelength of light to a broad spectrum of light. All are intended to remove the ink in the tattoo without damaging the skin. Certain colors of light are absorbed by specific colors of the tattoo ink. The light energy vaporizes or fragments the ink particles. Your body then absorbs these ink fragments naturally and the color fades over the next couple of weeks. This laser tattoo removal treatment is very similar to treatment that has been done for years to treat birthmarks.

How does Laser Tattoo Removal work?
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The area to be treated is cleansed and a gel applied along with a numbing cream or local anesthetic in some cases. Both IPL and lasers use light energy that passes through the skin, but is absorbed by the pigment of the tattoo ink. Emitting laser energy in nanoseconds, the laser hand piece glides over the surface of the tattoo. Our cosmetic medical lasers emit a highly focused beam of laser light, which passes harmlessly through the outer layer of the skin and is absorbed primarily by the tattoo ink or the excess pigment within the lesion.

As this laser light is absorbed, it is quickly converted to heat. The sudden rise in temperature within the treatment target fractures the ink or pigment into tiny particles. Tattoo ink fragments are carried away by the lymphatic system, while pigmented lesions are naturally shed from the skin one to two weeks after treatment.

What kinds of tattoos can be treated?
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A tattoo's color, depth, and the chemical composition of the ink all affect how it responds to laser light. Black, red, dark orange, and dark blue tattoos will usually respond relatively quickly to treatments with the YAG Lasers. However, green, purple, brown, light orange, and light blue colors may require more treatments. In general, most tattoos can be successfully treated, given a sufficient number of treatments.

Who Can Benefit From Laser Tattoo Removal?
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Because each tattoo is unique, removal techniques must be tailored to suit each individual case. Before today's lasers, tattoos were removed by a wide variety of methods that in many cases created scars that were more unsightly than the tattoo itself. Patients with previously treated tattoos may also be candidates for laser therapy. Tattoos that have not been effectively removed by other treatments or through home remedies may respond well to laser therapy providing the prior treatments did not result in excessive scarring.

Laser tattoo removal is not performed on tanned skin, as the energy is also then absorbed by the darkened skin instead of focusing in the targeted pigment. Tanned skin increases the possibility of developing worsening scars, as well as making the therapy less effective.

What Can I Expect During the Laser Tattoo Removal?
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• Protective eye shields are placed on the patient.
• The skin's reaction to the laser is tested to determine the most effective energy for treatment.
• The treatment itself consists of placing a hand piece against the surface of the skin and activating the laser light.
• Smaller tattoos require fewer pulses while larger ones require more. In either case, the tattoo requires several treatments and multiple visits.
• Immediately following treatment, an ice pack is applied to soothe the treated area. The patient will then be asked to apply a topical antibiotic cream or ointment.
• A bandage or patch will be used to protect the site and it should likewise be covered with a sun block when out in the sun.
• Most patients do not require any anesthesia. However, depending on the location of the tattoo and the pain threshold for the patient, we may elect to use some form of anesthesia (topical anesthesia cream, painkiller injections at the site of the procedure).

How many Laser Tattoo Removal treatments will be needed?
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The number of tattoo removal treatments required for maximum improvement depends on the size, location, depth, and color of your tattoo. Treatments should be done four to eight weeks apart to allow your body to remove the maximum amount of tattoo pigment.

Professional tattoos may require 1-10 treatments, with the average being 5-10 treatments. Homemade tattoos usually require 1-4 treatments. The number of treatments depends on the amount of ink used, the type of ink used, the depth of the ink in the skin, the location of the tattoo, and the patient's individual health considerations.

What results should I expect from Laser Tattoo Removal treatments?
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The results and appearance of the tattoo vary from patient to patient. After each treatment session you will see the tattoo become lighter. However, it is very important to know that over 100 tattoo inks are in use worldwide today, none of which are regulated by the FDA. Not knowing which tattoo ink, how deep or how much was used, makes it difficult to predict the degree of removal on any given tattoo

Are there any pre-treatment requirements?
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Before Laser Tattoo Removal treatments, it is advisable to avoid tanning and sunless tanners.

How long does a Laser Tattoo Removal treatment take?
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Depending on the size and location of the tattoo or lesion, each treatment usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes.

Are Laser Tattoo Removal treatments safe?
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Yes. Laser Tattoo Removal is a very safe treatment with few side effects. Side effects are rare. When side effects do occur, they are usually mild and confined to the treatment target. Refer to Laser Tattoo Removal Side Effects.

Are Laser Tattoo Removal treatments painful?
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Since the laser light selectively targets the undesired ink or pigment, other tissues remain largely unaffected, and therefore most patients report little discomfort. Many people compare the sensation of the pulses entering the skin to the snap of a rubber band.

Some patients request a topical anesthetic cream that when applied prior to a treatment, can minimize the stinging effect of the laser. AesthetiCare also uses "cold air anesthesia" during the treatment which greatly reduces any discomfort.

How soon are the results of Laser Tattoo Removal noticeable?
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Some faint tattoos and pigmented lesions will fade completely after only one treatment, though most may require five treatments or more.

Are there side effects from Laser Tattoo Removal?
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There are minimal side effects to tattoo removal by lasers. However, you should consider these factors in your decision:

• Although it is not typical, occasionally hypo-pigmentation or whitening of the skin, may occur. But normal skin tone should return within 6-12 months following your last tattoo removal session. Since the ink used in tattooing is not regulated, some patients have only partial clearing, even after several laser sessions.
• Some patients experience redness, swelling, tenderness, crusting, sunburn sensation, or itching immediately following treatment. Our experienced staff will discuss your treatment program with you at the time of your consultation and be happy to tell you more about what you can expect from laser tattoo removal
• The tattoo removal site is at risk for infection. You may also risk lack of complete pigment removal, and there is a slight chance that the treatment can leave you with a permanent scar.
• You may also risk hypopigmentation, where the treated skin is paler than surrounding skin, or hyperpigmentation, where the treated skin is darker than surrounding skin.
• Cosmetic tattoos like lip liner, eyeliner and eyebrows may darken following treatment with tattoo removal lasers. Further treatment of the darkened tattoos usually results in fading.

For more information about Laser Tattoo Removal treatments...

We'll be glad to answer your Laser Tattoo Removal questions personally, so don't hesitate to call or email DermaVogue.