Having second thoughts about your tattoo?

If so, you're not alone. Every day, patients from every walk of life have second thoughts about their tattoos. What once seemed like a good idea just doesn't fit your new image, and you wish it would just go away. Now, your wish can come true. Using an advanced laser system, your tattoo can be removed safely without leaving a scar.

How are tattoos removed?

Medical lasers use an intense beam of light to significantly lighten or completely remove your tattoo. When the ink particles of your tattoo absorb the light from the laser, they are broken up into tiny fragments. These fragments are then absorbed through your body’s natural cleansing mechanism. This cleansing process generally takes a few weeks. Larger ink particles may require multiple treatments.

Tattoo removal by Infrared Coagulation uses infrared light to burn the skin layer that contains the tattoo’s ink. The treated area scabs over. After several days, the scab falls off taking the ink with it.

How does the laser remove my tattoo?

The word LASER is an acronym meaning Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Medical lasers use an intense beam of light to significantly lighten or completely remove your tattoo, without harming the surrounding healthy cells. The light energy may be delivered as a continuous wave of light or in pulses, depending on the treatment and the type of laser used. When the ink particles of your tattoo absorb the light from the laser, they are broken up into tiny fragments. These fragments are then absorbed through your body's natural cleansing mechanism. This cleansing process generally takes a few weeks. Larger ink particles may require multiple treatments.

How do laser treatments compare to other methods of tattoo removal?

Your other treatment options for removing your tattoo include surgical excision, dermabrasion (or sanding) and chemical peels. These methods are more invasive and painful, and can often result in scarring. Laser tattoo removal is safer. It is non-invasive and only targets the ink used in the tattoo process. It does not affect the tissue surrounding the tattoo.

What are the treatments like?

Some patients say they feel a slight sting, like the snap of a rubber band on the skin, followed by the feeling of sunburn. Many treatments do not require anesthetics. However, some patients feel more comfortable with a local numbing agent like ice or an anesthetic cream. For others, a local anesthetic injection may be beneficial.

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments required for maximum improvement depends on the size, location, depth and color of your tattoo. Treatments should be placed 4 to 8 weeks apart to allow your body to remove the maximum amount of tattoo pigment. Treatment sessions usually take from 10 to 30 minutes. You will continue to see a lightening of your tattoo after each treatment as your body disposes of more pigment. Most patients will see improvement in their tattoos. The improvement can be quite dramatic. However, large or heavily pigmented tattoos applied by a professional tattooist can require several treatments for optimum results.

What will my skin look like after treatment?

Right after your treatment, your skin may have a white discoloration, and the area around the tattoo may be reddish and could have some swelling. This is normal and will disappear slowly over time. Maximum treatment results take about 5 – 6 weeks. Following infrared treatment, an anti-bacterial
ointment and gauze will be applied to the treated area to minimize infection.

Are there any side effects?

Occasionally, hypopigmentation, or a whitening of the skin, may occur. But, normal skin tone should return within 6 – 12 months following your last treatment session. Since the ink used in tattooing is not regulated, some patients have only partial clearing even after several laser sessions.

This information is intended to supplement, not replace, a consultation with a board certified physician. To find out if you could be a candidate for one of these procedures or to learn more information about these procedures, we invite you to contact one of our doctors for a private consultation.