History of the tattoo.
Decorative tattoos have a history dating back at least 5000 years. The desire to remove them has probably existed for just as long. Early attempts to remove tattoos have had less than desirable results. The use of dermabrasion, saltabrasion and the older Argon or CO2 lasers have left behind scars in place of the tattoo. The advent of Q-Switched lasers has permitted the removal of most tattoo inks with a very low risk of scarring. The
Q-Clear used by our office (is a Q-Switched Nd:YAG) laser is the laser of choice in this class for laser tattoo removal. The Q-Clear can significantly lighten or remove a wide variety of tattoo inks.
How does laser tattoo removal work?
Laser energy is directed at the tattooed area for a fraction of a second, passing harmlessly through the outer layer of the skin and targeting the tattoo ink directly. The laser disrupts the ink, allowing your body to absorb it and break it down naturally. Q-Clear laser tattoo removal is the newest advanced laser technology.
The process is not immediate. After the treatment, the ink that was exposed to the laser will break down and be removed by your body's immune system over a period of weeks. Once that process is complete, you can come in for your next visit, repeating the process until the tattoo is gone. Most tattoos average 4 to 9 treatments for full removal—some take longer and rarely some of these may be complete after just a few visits. Visits are usually spaced about 6 weeks apart. One variance often is whether the tattoo is done by an amateur or a professional, also some ink colors are harder to target and require more sessions than other colors. Since it is your body’s immune system that ultimately breaks down and adsorbs the ink, every person's removal process will be different. Unfortunately, most patients do not know the type of ink components used for their tattoo.
Does it hurt?
Laser tattoo removal is a low-risk, outpatient procedure. The discomfort of the procedure is minor, and has been described as similar to a rubber-band snapping on the skin. The procedure is also described as much less painful than getting the original tattoo in the first place. Prior to your treatment, we often numb the area with a high power topical anesthetic cream mixture. As we treat the area, we may cool the overlying skin with our cooling devices, resulting in additional anesthesia. This combination of topical anesthesia and cooling makes the procedure as comfortable as possible.
Can my tattoo be removed?
Every tattoo is different, so no service available today can guarantee 100% success or zero skin discoloration. Our center uses the most advanced technology available to achieve the highest success rates around for tattoo removal, and all tattoos can be at least significantly reduced in their appearance. The newest technology keeps scarring risk to a minimum, but there always remains a theoretical possibility of scarring with any laser system. The Q-Clear laser provides maximum tattoo removal while leaving the surrounding skin unharmed.
 
Tattoo Before and Tattoo After Laser Removal.
Will the tattoo completely disappear?
In many cases it will. Often greater than 95% fading of the tattoo may be accomplished. However, it is important to know that there are many, many types of tattoo inks in use worldwide today, none of which are regulated by the FDA. Not knowing which tattoo ink was used, or how deeply it was applied, makes it impossible for the physician to predict the degree of removal on any given tattoo.
Lighter skin tones have a higher success rate. Most tattoos are significantly reduced in appearance after the first session. Black, red, dark orange and dark blue tattoos will usually respond relatively quickly to treatments. Green and light blue colors are often the hardest to treat and may require more visits or not respond as completely to treatment, other colors are somewhere in-between for difficulty. Call us today to schedule a complimentary consultation at (913) 962-1869.
What type of post-treatment care is necessary?
An antibacterial ointment and a dressing will be applied to the area immediately after treatment if necessary. Occasionally, there will be pinpoint bleeding associated with the treatment. The treated area should be always kept clean. Follow your physician’s instructions exactly as to what to do during the days following the procedure. A shower can be taken the next day, although the treated area should never be scrubbed. If a scab forms it is vital that you do not pick it or scratch it, and a scab should never be removed prematurely.
How do I get started?
A physician will be happy to discuss this procedure with you. Please feel free to make an appointment for a consultation to discuss your specific needs, call (913) 962-1869.
Note: Our office does not remove cosmetic tattoos. This includes lips, eyebrows, eyeliners, etc. |
