Tattoo Removal

What is Tattoo Removal?
It may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but many people go on to regret getting a tattoo - particularly if you're left with a permanent reminder of a past love.There are a number of different options available to remove tattoos, including Microdermabrasion, but the most successful and popular treatment is laser tattoo removal.

The procedure has been carried out for over 20 years although individual success is usually determined by the type of tattoo and which colours or inks have been used.

The laser produces a beam of light that targets pigment in the skin - the pigments in the tattoo are ‘exploded' into small particles, which the body can then absorb. A number of treatments are required for complete tattoo removal

Who is suitable for Tattoo Removal?
For those with darker skin, laser tattoo removal may not be ideal as you could be left with a much lighter patch of skin in the same shape as the tattoo.

As the laser is attracted to pigment, it is also important that you don't have a tan as that can cause pigment changes in the surrounding skin.

What's Tattoo Removal like?
A local anaesthetic cream is applied to the skin before treatment commences. As the laser is fired at the treatment area you will usually feel a stinging sensation (often described as being flicked by an elastic band).

Depending on the size of the tattoo, this procedure can last anything from five minutes to an hour. Repeat procedures are required in almost all cases and can run to 20 sessions. It is usually necessary to wait at least four weeks between sessions.

What happens after Tattoo Removal?
The area may be a little tender and may need a dressing for up to a week post treatment but most patients can return to work immediately.

There may be some residual redness, swelling and discharge but this should only last a few days and the skin will scab or crust over. The most important thing is not to pick at the scabs as this might result in scarring.

Will I have a scar?
The risk of scarring is minimal after a laser tattoo removal as the skin is not heated up to any great degree - any scarring is usually because the patient has picked at the scabs that form post treatment.

A more common side effect is hypopigmentation as the laser targets the natural melanin in the skin at the same time as the tattoo pigments.

Patients can be left with a ‘bleached' look following treatment and in some cases the skin might never recover its normal tone. Those with darker skin colour need to be made aware of this complication before embarking on treatment.

Different tattoos mean different lasers
For simple blue or black tattoos, any laser (Ruby, Alexandrite or Nd:YAG) will work, but different colour pigments demand different lasers.

Make sure your practitioner is experienced and is aware of the distinctions. For coloured tattoos, seek a clinic that offers more than one Q-switched laser as there is more chance that all the colour pigments will be targeted by the different wavelengths.

Some pigments – particularly green – do not respond well to any laser treatment so best not to get that Kermit the Frog tattoo in the first place.

Beware any clinic that offers IPL procedures for tattoo removal as they are neither safe nor suitable.

  Plastic Surgeon  Cosmetic Doctor  Cosmetic Dermatologist