After each treatment, the area may blister; this is quite normal and usually resolves in a few days. Once any blisters or crusts have subsided, the skin around the tattoo will look shiny for a number of weeks. Treatment cannot be repeated until your skin has returned to normal; this will usually take from 4 to 6 weeks.

The highest-risk side effect is skin de-pigmentation . (loss of natural skin colour) Because the laser targets dark pigments, ruby laser energy is also absorbed by the melanin in the skin. The most frequent side effect is for the natural colour in the skin to ?bleach' after a number of treatments. While normal skin pigment will usually recover, it can take months, or even years to do so and, in some, rare cases, the natural colour of the skin may not return at all, or will return in patches. As a general guideline, the darker the skin and the more treatments required, the more risk there is of long term de-pigmentation.

Because of the risk of damage to skin pigment, we will not treat tanned skin and will postpone treatment until any sun-tan has faded. The risks of permanent de-pigmentation is harder to measure than for scarring as the skin usually recovers to at least some degree.

Although there is a risk of scarring with any laser, in most cases, scarring is not a significant risk for tattoo removal with the ruby laser. Tattoo removal has become associated with scarring because the first lasers used for tattoo removal were very aggressive and carried a high risk of scarring. The ruby laser does not heat the surrounding skin significantly and the risk of scarring is much reduced. The risk of scarring is mainly associated with a genetic pre-disposition to forming scar tissue and the presence of resistant, green pigment. To reduce the risk, we carry out an extensive medical evaluation to identify high-risk clients; most clinics also have an adjunct treatment that can stop scar tissue forming and even improve existing scarring.

The honest answer to this is yes, although the amount of pain felt will depend on the type of tattoo, the amount of treatment required and your own pain threshold. Some clients would describe it as no more than uncomfortable where others will describe it as painful. Clients' descriptions range from an elastic band flicked against the skin to splashes of chip fat and even red-hot needles. The truth is that you will only know how painful you find it until you try it! Advice on pain relief will be given during your assessment.

This depends on the size of the tattoo; a small tattoo might take 5 minutes, where a large, or multiple tattoos could take an hour or more of treatment. Again, the assessment will provide this information.

In most cases it will be apparent to the assessor whether there is likely to be a problem. Where the practitioner is any doubt, Laserase clinics will often perform a test patch to determine the likelihood of successful treatment. There is usually a charge of £50 for a test (please check with your local clinic) but, in our experience, it is better to find out about potential problems before the whole tattoo has been treated and a larger sum of money has already been spent.

Unfortunately not; most pigments, especially blacks and blues, do respond very well to Ruby laser treatment. However, some pigments, usually greens, can be resistant to treatment and some pigments, usually reds, are transparent to ruby laser light and do not respond at all.

As the tattoo fades away, the size of the tattoo will normally reduce, although this is not always the case; some tattoos will fade evenly without reducing in size. Consequently, treatment cost is re-assessed on an individual basis as the treatment progresses. If the size of the tattoo reduces significantly during treatment, the price will be reduced accordingly.

The cost of a single treatment will depend solely on the size of the tattoo. The bigger the area, the more time it will take to treat and the higher the charge. Again, until we can see the tattoo, we cannot measure the area or price the treatment. The minimum treatment charge is generally £60 per session (please check with your local clinic).

There is no such thing as an average tattoo; every tattoo is different and every individual responds differently. As a guide, amateur tattoos can take anywhere from 1-10 treatments; professional tattoos from 5-20, although they may take more than this. Without seeing the tattoo it is impossible to be more accurate and even then, we will only be able to give an estimate.

Only very rarely; some amateur (pin and ink) tattoos may disappear after only a small number of treatments; professional tattoos usually take a higher number.

In some cases Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) systems are advertised for tattoo removal. These systems were designed to target melanin in hair follicles for hair removal and differ from lasers in producing a wide range of wavelengths in the red end of the spectrum rather than a single frequency. In addition, these systems are not Q-switched and more energy is absorbed and accumulates in the skin tissue than is the case with the Ruby laser. More energy in the skin equates to skin damage and an increased risk of scarring.

The tattoo pigment injected into the lower layers of skin (the dermis) becomes sealed away by a tough network of collagen fibres. It is very difficult to remove the tattoo pigment without affecting the surrounding tissue. The alternatives to laser treatment are highlighted in do's and don'ts , and involve either physically removing the pigment and the surrounding skin by surgical excision and skin grafting, or chemically destroy the pigment using salts, acids or ?organic' solutions. In either case the surrounding skin is damaged and will require significant aftercare. Significant scarring would be an expected outcome of non-laser removal methods.

Lasers are the preferred method of tattoo removal and tattoo lightening. Lasers produce superior results, minimize pain and reduce the chance of scarring. The VersaPulse Q-Switch Laser, with three wavelengths built into the one machine, is by far the leader in safe tattoo removal.

The VersaPulse laser emits extremely short, but powerful pulses of light through the skin's surface shattering the pigment below into tiny particles which are harmlessly removed by the body's immune system in the weeks following treatment. Each laser pulse feels like the snap of a rubber band against the skin. Many patients say the treatment is equivalent to getting the tattoo put on.

Each tattoo pigment (such as black, blue, red or green) absorbs a specific wavelength of light. Dark inks usually responds quicker then the bright inks because they absorb light better.

The number of treatments required to remove an unwanted tattoo varies. Several variables come into play such as, the type of ink used, how deep the ink was injected and the location of the tattoo. Removing a professionally applied tattoo requires 6-12 treatments spaced out 5 weeks apart. Most amateur, otherwise known as "street tattoos", can be removed with as little as 4-8 treatments scheduled 5 weeks apart.

Now is the time to remove your unwanted tattoo.

Those who regret getting a tattoo have three choices: hide it, cover it with a better tattoo, or have it removed. The most effective form of tattoo removal is the use of a laser to destroy the ink itself. Multiple treatments may be needed, depending on the size of the piece and the inks used. Some tattoos cannot be completely removed with lasers, and lasers may scar some types of skin. Your best choice is prevention: don't get a tattoo you can't live with forever.

Thanks to newer technology, treatment of tattoos with laser systems has become much more effective with very little risk of scarring. Laser treatment is often safer than many traditional methods such as excision, dermabrasion or salabrasion (using moist gauze pads saturated with a salt solution to abrade the tattooed area by rubbing) because of its unique ability to selectively treat pigment involved in the tattoo.

In many cases, certain colors may be more effectively removed than others. It is known that blue/black tattoos respond particularly well to laser treatment -- the response of other colors is under investigation.

Remember, the information provided here is designed to provide general information only and is not a replacement for a physician's advice. For details pertaining to your specific case, please arrange a consultation with a physician experienced in the use of tattoo lasers.

Tattoo Removal (cont.)

In this Article
Who Can Benefit From Laser Tattoo Removal?
How Do I Find a Reputable Doctor to Do Laser Tattoo Removal?
What Can I Expect During the Laser Tattoo Removal?
What Are The Possible Side Effects of Tattoo Removal?
Is Laser Tattoo Removal Safe?
Does Insurance Cover Laser Tattoo Removal?
Tattoo Removal Center

What Are The Possible Side Effects?

There are minimal side effects to tattoo removal by lasers. However, you should consider these factors in your decision:

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.

Depending on the size and color of your tattoo, the number of treatments will vary. Your tattoo may be removed in two to four visits, though many more sessions may be necessary. You should schedule a consultation, during which time a trained professional will evaluate your personal situation and advise you on the process.

Treatment with the laser varies from patient to patient depending on the age, size and type of tattoo (amateur or professional). The color of the patient's skin, as well as the depth to which the tattoo pigment extends, will also affect the removal technique.

In general, this is what will happen during an office visit for tattoo removal using the newer lasers:

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. As many patients describe it, each pulse feels like a grease splatter or the snapping of a rubber band against the skin.
Smaller tattoos require fewer pulses while larger ones require more. In either case, the tattoo requires several treatments and multiple visits. At each treatment, the tattoo should become progressively lighter.
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, the physician may elect to use some form of anesthesia (topical anesthesia cream, painkiller injections at the site of the procedure).

You want to make sure you find a reputable dermatologist or cosmetic surgery center to ensure proper treatment and care. If possible, you should obtain a recommendation from your family physician for a dermatologist or skin surgery center that specializes in tattoo removal.

Because each tattoo is unique, removal techniques must be tailored to suit each individual case. In the past, tattoos could be removed by a wide variety of methods but, in many cases, the scars 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.

Tattoo Pigments: Throughout history, diverse materials have been used as tattoo pigment, most notably carbon particles (as in soot), plant derived pigments, and various metal oxides and salts. Aetius of Amida published a recipe for tattoo pigment consisting of Acacia wood, gall, and vitriol (sulphuric acid) mixed with ground corroded bronze treated with vinegar, which was rubbed in over a pattern pricked by needles. In contrast to drugs and cosmetics, tattoo pigments have never been controlled or regulated in any way, and the exact composition of a given tattoo pigment is often kept a "trade secret" by the manufacturer. In most cases, neither the tattoo artist nor the tattooed patient have any idea of the composition of the tattoo pigment.

"Traditional" Tattoo Pigments: Until recently, most coloring agents in tattoo pigment were inorganic heavy metal salts and oxides, many of which were also used in paints and dyes. Cadmium, Chromium, Cobalt, Iron, Lead, and Mercury all figured prominently in these pigments, with a high incidence of allergic and phototoxic reactions, as well as scarring.

"Modern" Tattoo Pigments: Because of the potential toxicity of heavy metal -containing pigments, there has been a shift in recent years away from these agents, and toward industrial organic pigments, especially azo- and polycyclic compounds. These pigments are considered safer and well tolerated by the skin, although allergic reactions and phototoxicity can and do occur. With laser treatment, these complex molecules may be cleave into smaller molecules, some of which are considered possible carcinogens.