LASER TATTOO REMOVAL
Tattoo is made by inserting pigment particles into the dermis layer of the skin at such a depth that it is virtually impossible to peel off. Phagocyte is unable to remove the pigment, and it remains forever in the skin, although over time, some tattoo pigments may fade away and contours become blurred. We distinguish two kinds of tattoos according to the methods of tattooing, i.e. professional and amateur. The difference between those two is in the depth of the tattoo and kind of applied ink. Amateur tattoo, usually in a single color, can be applied at varying depths underneath the skin. A professional tattoo, often comprised of several colors, is applied to the skin at a particular depth by a special tattoo machine. Sometimes the tattoo covers a large area of the skin.
A special kind of tattoo is permanent makeup that is a form of cosmetic tattoo in which pigment is applied at a very shallow depth in order to enhance eyebrows and lips contours. Also, this kind of tattoo as well as a traumatic tattoo can be removed by laser.
Laser treatment is currently the only method of removing a tattoo with minimal risk of skin damage and, consequently, scarring.
The effective laser tattoo removal involves using a specific function of Q-switch laser whose main advantage is very short pulse and high energy.
1. Very short pulse causing heating of surrounding tissues is minimal and, therefore there is no thermal skin damage. After the treatment, the skin remains unchanged; there are no scars, depigmentation or discoloration.
2. The laser beam breaks down the pigment into tiny particles. Within about 20 minutes pigment particles evaporate and the tattoo becomes lighter. Over the next few weeks, the loosened particles of pigment undergo the process of phagocytosis (contributing to further lightening the tattoo).
3. After each treatment, the pigment is gradually removed from the upper layers of the skin and the tattoo becomes lighter.
4. The effect of the treatment depends on the amount of pigment in the skin. The darker the tattoo is, the more treatments are needed.
5. Initial treatment sessions should be performed at intervals of about four weeks. In the course of time, the intervals between treatments should be extended.
6. The laser can remove tattoos with dark pigments (black, gray-navy, pewter, gray, dark-brown etc.) and red. Bright colors (yellow, white, orange, etc.) do not respond to the laser treatment.
7. Immediately after the laser exposure for the next few hours, the treated area may swell and stay red. Other adverse effects of the laser treatment that can occur are temporary bruising and scabbing caused by rapid localized emission of radiation, which damages the epidermis.
8. If the tattoo color is very deep, sometimes no affect on the treated tattoo may be noted. In some cases the laser beam may change the color. Therefore, a test is required prior to the treatment.
9. Individual approach to every laser treatment and a prior test are necessary as there are different responds to laser radiation.
All laser tests and consultations are free of charge. In our practice, we use the Q-Switch Nd-YAG laser operating at wavelength 1064nm and 532nm.
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