Tattoo Removal
A Skin Tightening Treatment
During a laser tattoo removal procedure, the practitioner guides a laser over the area of the tattoo. Unlike a laser pointer that produces a continuous beam of light, tattoo removal lasers produce pulses of light energy.
Each pulse of energy penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the tattoo ink. As the tattoo ink particles absorb the energy, they heat up and then shatter into tiny fragments. Then, over the weeks following treatment, the body’s immune system flushes the tattoo ink particles away from the location, lightening the appearance of the tattoo. Each laser treatment breaks down more and more of the tattoo ink until none remains.
Each pulse of energy penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the tattoo ink. As the tattoo ink particles absorb the energy, they heat up and then shatter into tiny fragments. Then, over the weeks following treatment, the body’s immune system flushes the tattoo ink particles away from the location, lightening the appearance of the tattoo. Each laser treatment breaks down more and more of the tattoo ink until none remains.
How Laser tattoo Removal WOrks
During a tattoo removal procedure, laser light is applied to the tattooed area of the skin. The light is selectively absorbed by the tattoo ink particles, leaving the surrounding skin tissue and chromophores unharmed.The tattoo ink particles absorb the laser energy, heat up, and split into smaller particles.
In the days and weeks following a laser treatment, the body’s immune system flushes away the shattered ink particles, causing the tattoo to fade. Over a series of treatments, more and more of the ink deteriorates, leaving the skin free of ink.
In the days and weeks following a laser treatment, the body’s immune system flushes away the shattered ink particles, causing the tattoo to fade. Over a series of treatments, more and more of the ink deteriorates, leaving the skin free of ink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it hurt?
It depends on your pain tolerance.
Is tattoo removal an instant fix?
No – it’s usually a several month commitment for patients. Most tattoos require between 5 and 10 treatments to achieve complete removal, and the treatments must be spaced at least 6 weeks apart.
Laser tattoo removal requires multiple treatments because not all of the tattoo ink can be removed in one session. When a tattoo is applied, the ink is injected at different depths within the dermis. As the laser light is applied to the skin, the shallowest layers of ink in the dermis absorb the energy and shatter, but the deeper layers may not have been affected. Only once the body flushes away the top layers of ink can the deeper layers be treated. In effect, every successive tattoo removal treatment affects deeper and deeper layers of ink until none remain.
Why do I have to wait between treatments?
You have to wait between treatments because it takes time for the body to flush away the shattered tattoo ink from the location of the tattoo. Because the body can only flush away the ink at a certain speed, it’s beneficial to wait as long as possible between treatments to see maximum fading from each session. The waiting period allows any scabs to heal, minimizing the possibility of causing unwanted side effects.
It depends on your pain tolerance.
Is tattoo removal an instant fix?
No – it’s usually a several month commitment for patients. Most tattoos require between 5 and 10 treatments to achieve complete removal, and the treatments must be spaced at least 6 weeks apart.
Laser tattoo removal requires multiple treatments because not all of the tattoo ink can be removed in one session. When a tattoo is applied, the ink is injected at different depths within the dermis. As the laser light is applied to the skin, the shallowest layers of ink in the dermis absorb the energy and shatter, but the deeper layers may not have been affected. Only once the body flushes away the top layers of ink can the deeper layers be treated. In effect, every successive tattoo removal treatment affects deeper and deeper layers of ink until none remain.
Why do I have to wait between treatments?
You have to wait between treatments because it takes time for the body to flush away the shattered tattoo ink from the location of the tattoo. Because the body can only flush away the ink at a certain speed, it’s beneficial to wait as long as possible between treatments to see maximum fading from each session. The waiting period allows any scabs to heal, minimizing the possibility of causing unwanted side effects.