Tattoo Removal

• What type of tattoos can be treated?

• What other skin lesions/marks can be treated with the laser?

• What colors can you treat?

• How many treatments does it take?

• Will my tattoo be completely gone?

• How does laser treatment work?

• What happens during a treatment session?

• What type of laser is used?

• What do I do between sessions?

• What side effects can occur with laser tattoo removal?

• Does insurance cover laser tattoo removal?

 

What type of tattoos can be treated?

Most all types of tattoos either done professionally or by an amateur can be treated. The success of the removal depends on many factors including the client's skin integrity, the type of ink used in making the tattoo, and having realistic expectations.

What other skin lesions/marks can be treated with the laser?

Most brown or dark pigmented lesions can be treated with our laser; each with varying degrees of success. Permanent makeup on the face must be treated with caution and can be discussed with your physician in the office on an individual basis. We have a different laser to treat spider varicose veins in the legs and hands

What colors can you treat?

The blacks and grays work best. However, we also have success with the reds and yellows. The blues and greens are slightly more difficult but success can be achieved as well.

How many treatments does it take?

Each client is different. The usual person will require anywhere from six to twelve treatment sessions to make the tattoo disappear. Usually, the most dramatic results can be seen after the fourth or fifth session. Some people will have satisfactory results in as few as three or four sessions.

Will my tattoo be completely gone?

The key is to have "realistic expectations". No treatment will return the skin to "completely normal" and appear as if nothing was ever there. Laser tattoo removal will usually have a "finished product" that appears as a "faint smudge" in the area where the tattoo used to be. Some people are happy to have a "clean slate" for a new tattoo in the same place.

How does laser treatment work?

Selective absorption of very high power peak laser light pulses by tattoo ink in the skin causes the targeted ink particles to breakdown mechanically while significantly decreasing potential damage to surrounding tissues. The fragmented particles are then removed from the skin by the body's immune or lymphatic systems.

What happens during a treatment session?

Your physician and you will discuss beforehand depending on the size of the tattoo whether or not the entire tattoo will be treated or broken up into parts.

You will come into the procedure room and the area to be treated will be cleaned. Then a local anesthetic of lidocaine and bicarbonate will be injected in the skin beneath the tattoo.

What type of laser is used?

Q-switched Nd:YAG laser that delivers 200% higher power than older continuous wave lasers are used in our office. It offers a choice of two wavelengths-a 1064-nm wavelength or a 532-nm wavelength-so we can use the one that's most effective for the type of pigmented lesion or tattoo color intensity being treated.

What do I do between sessions?

After your laser session, you will be encouraged to apply some type of skin lotion or moisturizer over the treated area for the next few weeks. It is not uncommon to have some minor or moderate "itching" in the area and thus the skin lotion.

You can shower within a few hours of the session and if you like, do not need to keep the treated area covered. It is also important to avoid direct sunlight to the treated area for five to seven days top help decrease the risk of permanent discoloration to the treated area.

It is not unexpected to see some minimal bleeding or blistering in the treated area. This usually resolves within ten days.

You are ready for your next session when the skin doesn't feel dry or crusty, and the blistering and itching has resolved.

Usually, Tylenol or ibuprofen is more than adequate if you should experience some discomfort after your treatment session.

What side effects can occur with laser tattoo removal?

Fortunately, most of these are mild and rare. They include some post session rahses,swelling, redness, itching and blistering. With appropriate skin care, these resolve within a few days.

Rarely, one can develop a skin burn or keloid in the treated region. This can usually be treated conservatively and are usually less disfiguring than the tattoo one is trying to remove.

Does insurance cover laser tattoo removal?

Being a cosmetic procedure, insurances do not cover laser tattoo removal.