Unwanted tattoos can cause psychological problems,
especially if they are easily visible. In the past, tattoo removal
almost always led to unacceptable scarring of the skin. The development
of modern lasers means that tattoos can be safely and effectively
removed in most cases.
Old versus new methods of tattoo removal
Early methods of tattoo removal were less than
successful. Surgery, acid injection, dermabrasion (removing the
top layers of skin) and skin grafts were painful and often leave
scars. Some modern methods now promoted are just as alarming.
Lasers were looked to for the answer, however early versions of
these such as Argon and CO2 had a mixed success and have since
been abandoned. These treatments caused scarring in a large number
of cases. The good news is that lasers have now been developed
specifically for tattoo removal and have been highly successful
in removing ink without scarring. We use the very latest equipment
available designed for tattoo removal.
The Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser, first developed
in the USA in 1992, was one of the first lasers to be developed
that could safely and effectively remove tattoos without scarring!
Up until then, all methods of tattoo removal, including even earlier
lasers, carried an unacceptably high risk of scarring. In many
cases the resulting scars were more unsightly than the original
tattoo. Earlier lasers caused scarring because, apart from destroying
the tattoo ink, they also destroyed the surrounding healthy skin.
However, the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser works in a totally different
way: it targets only the tattoo pigment without destroying the
overlying skin and surrounding tissue. In this way the risk of
any scarring is negligible. Each treatment breaks up the clumps
of tattoo ink into smaller fragments which the body's scavenger
cells then transport away and the tattoo progressively fades with
each treatment session.
Types of tattoos
There are three main types of tattoos:
- Decorative tattoos are made by repeatedly puncturing the
skin with a needle saturated with coloured ink.
- Traumatic tattoos can occur if the skin is grazed along the
surface of a road and tiny pieces of grit and carbon powder
enter the skin.
- Gunpowder explosions can cause tattooing if the gunpowder
penetrates the skin.
The Q-switched Nd:YAG laser can effectively remove the following
types of tattoos:
- Amateur and Professional Tattoos
- Cosmetic Tattooing eg eyeliner, eyebrows and lip-liner
- Accidental Tattooing from trauma
Why tattoos are permanent
Tattoos appear under a microscope as tiny granules
of colour (pigment). These granules are located in a skin cell
known as a macrophage. Macrophages normally remove foreign objects
(for example, bacteria) from the body. The pigment, grit or carbon
powder that has caused the tattoo ‘freezes’ the macrophage
cell so that it can’t do its job. As a result, the pigment
remains in the skin and the tattoo becomes permanent.
How the new treatments work
Q-switched lasers work by penetrating the
skin and breaking up the tattoo pigments into smaller pieces.
The macrophage cells are then able to clear these smaller pigments
from the skin. The laser feels like a snapping rubber band. It
will not damage the normal skin surrounding the tattoo.
Tattoos take weeks or months to fade
The tattoo will take weeks or months to fade
after treatment. Several treatments will be required before the
tattoo fades.
In general:
- Self-applied tattoos require three to four treatments.
- Tattoos applied by a professional tattooist and involving
several colours will require more than 10 treatments.
A low risk of scarring
As with all medical or surgical treatments,
tattoo removal involves some risks:
- In less than five per cent of cases, some very minor scarring
may be seen.
- Some patients also develop some lightening of the skin.
Things to remember
- Most tattoos can be safely and effectively removed using
Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser
- It will take weeks or months after treatment before the tattoo
fades.
- Possible complications of tattoo removal include minor scarring
and lightening of the skin.
How Many Treatment Sessions Are Usually Necessary?
Generally, Amateur Tattoos require 2-8 treatments
whilst most Professional Tattoos need anywhere between 10 and
20 treatments, sometimes more. However, as inks and individual
responses to treatment vary, the required number of treatments
for any given tattoo can only be approximated.
It is recommended that treatments be carried
out 6 weeks apart to allow the skin to completely recover between
sessions. You may leave more time between treatments should you
wish, but treatment sessions should not be more frequent.
Will The Tattoo Completely Disappear?
In most instances, YES. However, as there
are worldwide over 100 different types of tattoo ink in use, the
response to treatment can vary. Accordingly, it is sometimes impossible
to completely remove all traces of ink. In such instances the
tattoo, although very much faded, may still be faintly visible.
As regards tattoo ink colours, each currently
available laser is only effective against a limited range of colours.
Black and red inks are the easiest to remove with this laser.
Green ink is difficult to remove with the Q-Switched YAG Laser
and is more suited to either a Q-switched Ruby or Alexandrite
Laser. However, the latter do not remove red inks as effectively.
Therefore, if you have both red and green inks you will need two
different lasers.
Other colours such as mid-blue, yellow, purple
and orange can be very difficult, if not impossible, to remove
with any laser currently available in the world.
Does it hurt?
It can sting a little and feels like having
an elastic band flicked against your skin. For sensitive areas
or if you prefer we can recommend a topical anaesthetic that will
make a treatment quite comfortable. Please contact us for details.
Are there any side effects?
In rare cases pigmentation changes can occur
but these are most often only temporary and usually resolve within
a few months of treatment. If you prefer we offer to do a test
patch to ensure that you can see the results in a small area before
going ahead with further treatment.
What Is The Approximate Cost?
The cost of each treatment session will basically
depend on the length of that session and therefore on the size
and number of your tattoos starting from $90 for a small tattoo
to $500 A4 SIZE tattoo . The technician will give you the cost
of each treatment at your initial consultation once she has assessed
the size and complexity of your tattoo design.
