Laser for Tattoo/Pigment Removal

Tattoos used to be considered permanent, but thanks to advances in laser technology, today’s lasers can get rid of tattoos more safely and effectively, including removing tattoo ink with fewer treatments and treating ink colors that were once difficult to remove.

There’s actually a lot to consider before removing a tattoo. This includes:

• How long you’ve had the tattoo
• How deeply the ink penetrates your skin
• The colors in your tattoo
• Where the tattoo appears on your body

• Your health
• The medicines you take
• If you’ve ever had a raised scar

When you get a tattoo, the tattoo artist layers the ink. A laser cannot safely break down all the layers in 1 treatment session.

Time between treatments is also necessary for your health. Your skin needs time to heal. After laser tattoo removal, you may see some redness, swelling, and a little blistering.

Your body also needs time to flush out the ink. Yes, your body rather than the laser eliminates the ink. When the laser’s light hits the ink, the light shatters the ink into tiny particles. Your body must flush out these tiny particles.

After each treatment, your tattoo should lighten.

How It Works

Lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigment colors with a high-intensity light beam. Black tattoo pigment absorbs all laser wavelengths, making it the easiest color to treat. Other colors can only be treated by selected lasers based upon the pigment color.

Immediately following the treatment, use an ice pack to soothe the treated area. And apply an antibiotic cream or ointment and bandage to protect it. You should also be sure it’s covered with sunblock when you’re outside.