Removal of tattoos and permanent makeup has never been easier.
Today, there is an increasing demand for the removal of tattoos. For most people, a tattoo will seem outdated or misrepresent one’s self-image 10 years after getting it. This may be because fashion trends change often or simply because one gets older and their views on themselves changes too.
For a number of years, various types of nano-lasers have been used to remove tattoos to get the best results. When comparing it to other methods, this treatment is beneficial in having the risk of scarring being quite low. These lasers are also used to remove permanent makeup as well. Treatments done with this laser are typically less painful and can provide a quicker recovery time.
Choosing the right wavelength: a decisive factor for the success of the treatment
A decisive factor for the success of laser tattoo removal, is choosing the right wavelength. When determining which colour pigments may or may not respond to treatment, the decisive factor is the type of laser used for removal.
How It Works
At the Brantford Laser Clinic, we assist our clients to achieve the beautiful unblemished skin they’ve always wanted.
Proven almost universally deployable in practice, the wavelengths of Ruby lasers (694 nm) are strongly absorbed by dark colours in general as well as green coloured pigments. In addition, the strong absorption of the ruby laser beam by the melanin of the skin pigment, these devices are also used to treat natural pigmented lesions. Generally, patients tolerate the treatment without the use of an anesthetic. In rare cases, a local anesthetic is used.
The Nd:YAG laser (532;1064 nm)’s light is greatly absorbed by blue, red, and dark colours. This laser can be used to remove lesions that are benign pigmented.
How Treatment Works
Either of the laser’s wavelength, laser light is absorbed specifically by the tattoo’s colour pigments. The energy from the laser is transferred and from the connective tissue, ink particles are fragmented. The fragmented particles are then degraded both lymphatically and epidermally. Immediately after treatment, the irradiated area of the skin will appear whitish for 10 to 20 minutes. A slight crust will form on the area that will slough off after a week or two. Commonly, the removal of a tattoo requires several sessions at intervals of several weeks between them.
FAQ’s
Penetrating through the upper layer of the skin, the laser beam is absorbed by the tattoo’s colour particles. Due to these devices having high-energy laser pulses that last only nanoseconds, they don’t cause any coincident thermal damage to the surrounding tissue by being absorbed by the pigment particles selectively. The laser irradiation fragments the ink particles and the body’s own lymph system removes the broken-down ink.
To destroy all of the pigments of ink several treatments are necessary. The exact number of treatments depends on several factors including the size, location, colour depth, density, or tone of the tattoo. For the removal or permanent makeup, colour changes in new tattoos may occur. Try to provide your doctor with a colour sample before treatment to test the attributes of the colour. A period of six to eight weeks between treatments is integral for proper healing time.
There is no medical treatment that is risk-free completely. Generally, laser-treatment is very low-risk. Hyper-pigmentation or lightening of the skin may occur temporarily. All these effects will disappear in a few weeks or months and are reversible.
Once the distance holder of the laser handpiece is placed on the skin and the laser is activated via the foot switch, a light impulse is sent, resulting in a pricking feeling. The handpiece of the laser moves over to the other areas to be treated. The treated area will display blisters and appear white, which some call the “popcorn effect” immediately after treatment. A strong sensation of wheals or warmth or redness of the skin may occur following treatment. The treated areas may darken and a small crust may form after a few hours, but within a few days should clear up.
Lasers break down black ink most readily. In contrast, green and yellow-based ink are the most difficult to remove. Due to the lower quantity and quality of the ink, amateur tattoos are easier to remove than those performed by a professional.