162 guides

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Where it goes - visibility, pain and healing all follow from this.

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Belief, remembrance and the pieces people carry for someone else.

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Names, family, lettering and the pieces made for two.

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Before you go

Choosing, paying for, living with and removing a tattoo.

More

Everything else.

Laser tattoo removal

Reviewed & updated First published

The last two decades have seen an increase in tattoo and tattooing business. Tattoos are part of Western conventional culture and in the U.S., for example, 30% of the men have some kind of tattoo. It is, however, unfortunate that more than 50% want them removed. For the last few decades, their removal was done using naive surgery techniques which left several permanent scars. With advances in medical technology, laser tattoo removal has become the standard solution to the scar problems.

How Lasers Remove Tattoos

They direct energy towards the tattoo ink in the skin with concentrated colored light beams. The laser’s beams break the ink particles into fragments that are later cleared by the scavenging cells. The process of fragmenting the ink requires several sessions depending on how deep the ink is. With deep penetrations on the skin and repeated sessions, one should expect some pain and formation of blisters. Black tattoo pigments absorb all laser wavelengths and are the easiest to remove. Other colors are only removed by selected lasers depending on their pigmentation.

Candidates for Laser Tattoo Removal

People with superficially and moderate tattoos placed on the chest, legs, buttocks, and arms are the ideal candidates for tattoo laser removal. Tattoos on black people and those on fingers, ankles, and other parts that have less body fat tend to have problems on their removal. Consulting a tattoo removal specialist can help determine the suitability and success rate of laser technology in removing tattoos from a given skin type. A reputable and professional tattoo specialist who is experienced in using lasers should be consulted to ensure proper candidacy determination and treatment.

Determinants for Successful Laser Tattoo Removal

Successful and complete removal of tattoos depends on several factors. The location, size, age, application, and size of the tattoo are all variables that determine the success of the treatment. The patient should also be in good health for the body to have the ability to heal. New tattoos also present difficulties in their removal.

Duration of Treatment

The duration for laser treatment varies depending on the tattoo, but usually takes a few minutes. Multiple sessions are, however, required to get rid of most tattoos. The sessions are split over a period of up to two months depending on the complexity and size of the tattoo.

Cost

Removing tattoos is a cosmetic procedure that is not covered by medical insurance plans. It is usually expensive than tattoo placement. The cost can be up to thousands of dollars depending on the tattoos’ location, size, type, and the number of sessions required.

Side Effects

There are few if any side effects of the procedure such as hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation of the skins. Infections can also occur and temporary scarring.