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The Skin and Cancer Center of New York
The Corinthian Building
345 East 37th Street
Suite 317
New York, NY 10016
The American Skin and Cancer Center
25 First Avenue
Suite 113
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
West Coast Skin and Cancer Medical Center
7055 North Fresno Street
Suite 310
Fresno, CA 93720
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Laser Tattoo Removal
Laser surgery is one of the best methods of tattoo removal. Today, the
Q-switched Nd:Yag, Q-switched Alexandrite and the Q-switched Ruby are
among the most frequently used lasers today for the removal of unwanted
tattoos. They are all employed in a similar manner. If necessary, a cream
to numb the skin can be applied prior to the treatment. Pulses of light
from the laser are directed onto the tattoo breaking up the tattoo
pigment. Over the next several weeks the body's scavenger cells remove the
treated pigmented areas. More then one treatment is usually necessary to
remove all of the tattoo.
Lasers remove tattoos by vaporizing the pigment colors with a
high-intensity light beam. Black tattoo pigment absorbs all laser
wavelengths, making it the easiest to treat. Other colors, such as green,
selectively absorb laser light. These colors can only be treated by
selected lasers based upon the pigment color.
Lasers have become the standard treatment for
tattoo removal because they offer a "bloodless," low risk, highly
effective alternative with minimal side effects. Each procedure is done on
an outpatient basis during a single or series of visits.
How Tattoo Laser Removal Does it Work?
Lasers work by producing short pulses of intense light that pass
harmlessly through the top layers of the skin to be selectively absorbed
by the tattoo pigment. This laser energy causes the tattoo pigment to
fragment into smaller particles that are then removed by the body's immune
system. Researchers have determined which wavelengths of light to use and
how to deliver the laser's output to best remove tattoo ink. The laser
selectively targets the pigment of the tattoo without damaging the
surrounding skin.
The depth and density of the ink is probably the biggest determining
factor involved in successfully removing a tattoo. With each treatment,
the laser fragments more ink and penetrates a little deeper into your
skin; blistering and scabbing often follow. Taking care of the treated
area is the most important factor in removing a tattoo without a scar.
Post laser treatment will determine the success rate. Since using the
laser cannot regulate the speed of the fading process, it's better to
treat more conservatively than aggressively, allowing the surrounding
tissues to relax during the weeks between treatments.
Who is a Candidate for Laser Tattoo Removal?
Good candidates for tattoo removal without scarring are those with medium
to fair skin, dark but not dense ink, and a superficial ink depth. The
preferred locations include arms, chest, buttocks, and anywhere else on
the body with good circulation. Medium- or fair-skinned patients react
well because the light will be able to selectively target the ink instead
of the dark skin. Dark ink that is not dense is favorable because the
light is more attracted to darker colors so darker ink is fragmented
better than yellow ink. Density is also a factor; the more ink, the more
there is to fade. Superficial ink is also favorable because it is closest
to the surface of the skin so the laser doesn't need to penetrate so many
skin layers to get to it. Results are quicker. Areas such as the arm or
chest have more blood flow and are a better vehicle for the immune system
which is what removes the ink. Areas such as the ankle or fingers have
poor circulation and are tougher to treat.
Is Laser Tattoo Removal Painful?
The unfortunate thing about tattoos is that both getting them and having
them taken off can be uncomfortable. The impact of the energy from the
laser's powerful pulse of light has been described as similar to being
snapped by a thin rubber band. Because black pigment absorbs all laser
wavelengths, it's the easiest to remove. Other colors, such as green,
selectively absorb laser light and can only be treated by selected lasers
based on the pigment color.
In preparation for a laser procedure, Board Certified Dermatologist, Babar
K. Rao may recommend that
non-aspirin products, like Tylenol, be used prior to the procedure.
Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as Ibuprofen are
not recommended because they can produce pronounced bruising after
treatment.
Further pre-treatment steps might include the application of an anesthetic
cream two hours before the laser begins. It is wiped off just before laser
begins. Other patients prefer to have a local anesthetic injected into the
tattoo prior to laser therapy.
How Much Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cost?
Getting a tattoo removed is much more expensive than having one put on.
If you have any questions about
laser tattoo removal, or any questions about our dermatology or
dermatopathology procedures please feel free to contact Board Certified
Dermatologist, Board Certified Dermatopathologist, Babar K. Rao, MD, FAAD
at his Manhattan, New York, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, or Fresno,
California offices.
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