Ditch the Ink: Laser Tattoo Removal 101

“My tattoo is of a cannon in Vancouver that I got in a fleeting moment of stupidity maybe 14 years ago.  A lot of people have really beautiful tattoos, and I get real tattoo envy.  But then other people basically just treat them like bumper stickers for their bodies.” – Ryan Reynolds

Sometimes we have moments of pure brilliance only to later realize that we perhaps should have given an idea more thought.  For some, the same can be said about tattoos.  Whether your job discourages visible ink or you’ve outgrown the tattoo you got yourself after high school graduation, nobody should have to live with the remorse of such a permanent piece of art like a tattoo.  At Laser Lights Laser Cosmetic Center we offer the most advanced, medical-grade laser treatments for tattoo removal.  With over 95,000 laser treatments performed in our office since we first opened, we are all too familiar with the questions our patients have regarding the science behind laser tattoo removal.  Below is a quick crash course:

How does laser tattoo removal work?

• Using FDA-approved lasers that are safe for all skin types, our advanced tattoo removal lasers remove tattoos of all colors (including green!).  During treatment, wavelengths of targeted light are aimed towards the specific pigment of each ink color of your tattoo to break the ink into tiny particles.  The broken down particles are then disposed through your body’s natural healing responses.

Are there any risks or side effects with laser tattoo removal?

• There are always inherent risks/side effects when receiving laser treatments.  We do our best to keep you safe but it’s important to do your part at home to ensure you have the best tattoo removal results possible. Under rare occurrence, hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation is possible if the proper pre- and post-treatment instructions are not thoroughly followed.

How many treatments are needed to remove a tattoo and how much will it cost?

• The number of treatments depend on a few specifics: size, where the tattoo is located, how old the tattoo is, how deep the ink goes into the skin and your ability to heal.  First, as a member of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery(ASLMS) our highly-skilled laser technicians will perform a pre-laser skin analysis to see how your skin reacts to the laser.  Generally patients receive 4-6 laser tattoo removal treatments that are spaced 4-6 weeks apart.

If you’re interested in starting your journey to being tattoo-free or are interested in any of the laser services we perform, please contact Laser Lights today.  Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for even more tips and news on skincare.