Laser Removal of Tattoos

Are you having second thoughts about your tattoo? If so, you're not alone. Every day patients are seen from every walk of life that have second thoughts about their tattoos. What once seemed like a good idea may not fit your new image, and you wish it would just go away. Now your wish can come true. Utilizing our advanced laser systems, we can remove tattoos safely without leaving a scar.

Different lasers are required for removing different colors of tattoos. At Chernoff Plastic Surgery, Laser and Wellness Center, a multi wavelength approach to tattoos is possible utilizing our large array of lasers. Medical lasers utilize an intense beam of light to significantly lighten the tattoo with each treatment. The light energy may be delivered as a continuous wave of light or in pulses, depending upon the treatment and the type of laser utilized. When the ink particles of the tattoo absorb the light from the laser, they are broken up into smaller fragments. These fragments are then absorbed by your body's white blood cells and carried away by your body's natural cleansing mechanism. The cleansing process usually takes four to six weeks. Pigment that is deeper in the dermis and more concentrated will require numerous treatments to remove.

Most patients describe a mild to moderate pain similar to the snapping of a rubber band on the skin followed by the feeling of a bad sunburn. The majority of treatments require no anesthetic. Some patients do feel more comfortable with a local numbing cream or ice on the area prior to treatment. Immediately after a treatment, the skin has a white discoloration and the area around the tattoo may be red and could have some swelling. This will normally disappear over time. The white crust then turns into a flake which falls off over four to six days. The tattoo will then lighten gradually over the next four to six weeks. Occasionally hypopigmentation, or lightening of the skin, may occur. On normal skin, tone should return within 6 to 12 months following your last treatment session. Since the ink used in tattooing is not regulated, some patients have only partial clearing after several laser sessions. There is no way to predict for a patient how many treatments will be required. On average, 6 to 10 treatments are required, spaced six weeks apart. The number of treatments required for maximum improvement depends on the size, location, depth and color of the tattoo. Treatments are typically placed four to eight weeks apart to allow the body to remove the maximum amount of tattooed pigment from each treatment. Treatment sessions usually take from 10 to 30 minutes. Most patients will see improvement in their tattoos with each treatment. Large or heavy pigmented tattoos applied by a professional tattooist can require several treatments for optimum results.

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