Laser Tattoo Removal

A tattoo can be easily defined as a decorative body design. Tattooing is an art which used indelible inks and attractive designs.   Tattooing has a long history. Lots of indigenous people’s around the world had some kind of tattoos on their body. The history reveals that tattooing is a part of the culture of indigenous people. Therefore you can say that tattooing has been descending from the indigenous peoples.

However the history of tattooing as such, in the modern world tattooing is a mania. Actually it is a culture. More than 50% of Americans are having at least a one tattoo on their body. Those days, a person who is having a tattoo on their body was rated as strange persons. One of the reasons for that was its popularity among the underrated people in the society such as gangsters, thugs and murderers. However, in the modern society having a tattoo is only a passion. Sometimes tattoos represent the taste and culture of the person. There are some people who have tattoos on their whole body. Some prefers to have tattoos on secret places. That purely depends on the taste of the person who is having the tattoo. Lots of famous celebrities are having tattoos on their bodies. Those tattoos have become their identities than their artistic work.  The most famous Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie is the best example for that. The tattoos on her lower back and forearms   are world-famous ones.

Even though tattooing has become that popular, lot of people after a certain time try to remove or modify their tattoos. Indeed that is the nature of the humans. That is the driven force of fashions. People never satisfy with the things that they have. They always need the changes. However, the removing of tattoo is a cumbersome thing. The ink that use to tattoo is very hard and indelible. That makes it difficult to remove.

However, there are plenty of techniques that have been used to remove those permanent tattoos.  The traditional ways are sometimes dangerous and has some kind of harmful side effects. Those traditional methods involves in using chemicals and some harmful scrubbers. This can be seriously harmful to your skin. One of the most advanced and successful technique of removing a permanent tattoo is the laser technique. This laser technique has become more popular as it has minimal side effects.

• What is laser therapy of tattoo removal - The lifetime of the tattoo is mainly depend on the Ink which used for the tattoo and the experience of the tattoo artist. Some tattoos are almost impossible to remove. Sometimes they need surgeries. However surgeries are very scaring things. The laser therapy does not include any complicated processes. The therapy is completely a bloodless one.  The laser radiant’s release an unbroken light beam on to the tattoo.  That results of breaking the color lines of the tattoo in to tiny parts. Once the color lines are broken in to tiny parts the tattoo become fragile. However, sometimes you may need to apply the laser treatment few sessions to get the expected results.   This is purely depending on the depth and old of the tattoo.
• What kind of tattoos can be removed easily - people who is having fair skin has more chances of getting removed the tattoo than the people who is having dark skins. Fair skins easily absorb the laser radiants than the dark skins. The tattoos on the areas such as chest, arms and thighs can be easily removed than the tattoos on other areas such as ankle, fingers and on head. The tattoos on the areas were there have high body fats can be removed easier than the  tattoos on other places.
• Does the laser tattoo removal hurt you – as you all know, placing a tattoo on the body is a painful experience. Likewise, the removing is also a very hurting experience if you didn’t select the right method. However the pain is very nominal comparing to other tattoo removing alternatives such as chemical removers and hard scrubbings.
• Does it have any side effects – side effects of the laser treatment can be disregard comparing to the side effects of other alternatives. However, there may be some side effects such as fading of the color of the skin.

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

When I think of LASER, a picture of Dr. Evil from Austin Powers comes to mind making his usual hand gesture and demanding the world leaders a ransom of a zillion dollars. But that is beyond the concept of laser treatment when it comes to tattoo removal. Yes, permanent tattoo removal is now possible thanks to laser treatment. Gone are the days when you have to wait for creams to lighten and erase your unwanted ex’s name. Say goodbye to permanent scarring too by salabrasion and surgical removal. The treatment might be quite expensive and is determined by the complexity of design, age and size of the tattoo. Many who have had treatment swear that it was really worth it.

So how does a destructive “LASER” do it? Well as mentioned it is unlike a destructive, atom-splitting laser at all. A low impulse laser is used to target the tattoo ink pigments. The impulse or the beat of the laser excites the ink pigments and cause them to break up into tiny fragments. After they break up, they can easily be absorbed by our circulatory system. This treatment may be repeated or done in sessions if the tattoo is a little old or too complicated to erase in just one session. The treatment is bloodless, painless with no incisions at all. That is why many prefer this method among others.

You might have heard that if you look at a laser directly you might get your eyes damaged. This is somewhat true. When you go to your dentist for a filling or a teeth whitening they use blue laser to cure or whiten. A blindfold or protective goggles are used to protect your eyes. Same is true for tattoo removal. A small handheld device is used against the skin to apply the laser pulses. You might feel and hear the pulses like a snapping rubber band. Localized anesthetic is applied to the area so you can’t feel a thing at all. A simple treatment for a small tattoo on your upper arm, the common site for I Love Mom tattoo designs, could take just a few minutes to half an hour. If the tattoo requires further sessions there is a 4 to 8 week period time frame after the next treatment.

The dermatologist will be prescribing antibiotic ointments for the area and may bandage it if necessary. Sun block must be worn all the time to prevent damage to the area. Also limitation of movement for the area may be advised to promote proper healing of the skin.

Depending on the number of sessions, scarring may result. Scar removal creams are available to prevent these.

The risk of infection is extremely low also for laser tattoo removal since there are no incisions. Some report a little darkening to sometime whitening of the affected area after the skins healing process and this is quite normal.

Consider researching on the credibility of the skin clinic that you would like to go to have the treatment. It is better to shop for clinics first for the dermatologist and staff’s experience on laser treatment before you choose. Also is budget is into consideration you might also check on the pricing of the treatment before you proceed.

So a word of caution again, before you go out and shop for a design for your tattoo, think of it a dozen times. It is just a sudden idea or a fad. You might regret it if you don’t want to see the tattoo anymore and it would add to your worries to know that it is quite expensive removing a tattoo that even getting one in the first place.

The Old Way of Tattoo Removal

With the boom of technology today, there are so many up-to-date tattoo removal techniques or procedures that are out in the market. With these newer tattoo removal technologies, it made tattoo removal easier and less painful as compared to the old way to remove tattoos. Some examples of new tattoo removal techniques are the laser tattoo removal procedure, the intense pulse light therapy (IPL), TCA (trichloroacetic Acid) tattoo removal and many more. But during the late 90s, these tattoo removal techniques are not really evident. The old ways to tattoo removal are the trend during those times. This article would show you the different old tattoo removal procedures that once been effective in the past.

There are few tattoo removal techniques that can be considered old already. The most popular tattoo removal methods about ten to twenty years ago are dermabrasion, cryosurgery and excision. They are once popular but are now considered as an old way for tattoo removal. If you want to learn more about these old tattoo removal techniques, you better keep reading.

Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that involves the controlled wearing away of the upper layer of the skin with mechanical means such as the use of sandpaper. Since the procedure requires sanding off of the upper layer of the skin, it usually entails pain. It is for this reason why local anesthetics are required before undergoing such procedures. Redness of the skin might follow after the procedure. The process of dermabrasion works as a smoothing procedure to remove your ink pigments of your tattoo. It usually requires the skin of the patient who underwent on this procedure to be healed after several months. Usual side effects of dermabrasion are increase in sun sensitivity, dryness of the skin and temporary bruising in the area of skin treated. However, during the past, it was preferred because of its affordability and quality output.

Cryosurgery is another old tattoo removal procedure that doctors used in the past. This is somehow similar to dermabrasion except that freezing of the tattoo skin is required first before attempting to use dermabrasion on it. The effect of freezing the skin makes the procedure relatively painless during removal but as soon as the skin freeze melts, the pain will soon set in. In cryosurgery, liquid nitrogen is used as the cooling solution. The cooled solution may be sprayed on the skin which is often circulated through a tube or just through the use of cotton.  With the advancement of technology today, newer solutions are developed such as the use of argon gas to drive ice formation. This method of tattoo removal is often preferred because of its minimal pain, scarring and cost. Common side effects of cryosurgery are damage to nerve tissue and damage to nearby skin portions without tattoo ink pigments.

Excision is another type of an old tattoo removal procedure. The procedure is like cutting out and removing the tattoo with a scalpel, after which, the remaining skin is stitched together with sutures leaving behind a scar. Large tattoos often require skin grafts in order to close area where the tattoo once existed and now remains a wound. This must be the oldest tattoo removal procedure known. Apart from the oldest, it can be considered as the most painful tattoo removal procedure of all. Because of a painful procedure, it requires local anesthetics.

These are three of the most common old school tattoo removal procedures. Dermabrasion, Cryosurgery and Excision have really left a mark in the history of tattoo removal measures. Tattoo removal has most surely made noteworthy improvement making it much easier and less painful to remove tattoos today. However, it does not always mean that old school ways of tattoo removals are now gone. In fact, there are still some countries which employ these old ways of tattoo removal. But soon, they will all transcend to a much higher state of tattoo removal procedure that is a better fit for our generation today.

How to Get Rid Of Tattoos Safely ?

Tattoos have become part of human society. It is an expression of art, freedom and individuality. While some could not wait to get their first tattoo, others are quite distressed on how to get of their unwanted tattoos.

A lot of factors should be considered on tattoo removal: cost, effectivity, time involved. But above it all, safety must be the overall item to think about.

There are slot of tattoo removal methods out in the market. They range from home made brews to old fashioned creams. From surgical procedures, dermabarasions to laser tattoo removal. The price range from $10 creams to thousands of dollars for laser treatment.

As I said, the priority is Safety so no matter what the cost is this should be considered above all. An example of this is using salabrasion. It is an old fashioned way to get rid of tattoo that involves rubbing rock salt or a sanding block on the tattoo until it disappears. This might be effective but it is very painful and will result to open wounds and scars. Infection is also a possibility and this may lead to life threatening results. So it is wiser to purchase creams or undergo laser surgery treatment for tattoos which are safer but definitely a bit more expensive.

The safest by far is using a tattoo removal cream. It is definitely non invasive and non surgical. Most of the creams sold in the market are hypoallergenic and non irritant. They can be used on all skin types. Some even have a pleasant scent and a soothing effect. Aside of the greasy feeling, another setback for this method is you have to make several applications to achieve the results you want. Consumers report just fading of the mark is noticed and not really disappearing completely. The reason for this is that we don’t have the same skin types. There are also several things to consider before using tattoo removal creams: skin complexion and type, the fairer you are the better the cream will take effect. The skin area where the tattoo is located, if the tattoo is on the fingers, ankles or on the feet where there are thicker areas of skin, the longer the removal cream will take effect. It is likely the mark will just fade. Last thing to consider is the type of tattoo and the ink used. The more colorful the tattoo and the more intricate the pattern is, the more ink was used to imbed the design onto your skin. It is best to consult your tattoo artist on what cream to use to remove the tattoo or what method he can suggest to safely and permanently remove the mark.

Since it is the decade of technological advancements on medicine there are also improvements on how to remove tattoo effectively and safely. Dermabarsion and laser removal are also becoming popular. This is because many people find them safe and hassle free.

Laser treatment and dermabrasion may cost a lot but guaranteed it is just an outpatient procedure. You might be overwhelmed by the word laser but it is just a low pulse beam of light applied on the skin surface to remove ink pigments and eventually remove the tattoo mark. Dermabrasion is scouring the skin surface but is done by a professional to ensure it is done correct and safely. However the safety of these procedures relies on the overall skin health or the skin’s ability to heal. If the procedure is performed on a younger person the better the healing process is and the better the results. If the person’s health is compromised the procedure could endanger him more.

Overall, people who have tried these procedures reported little to no side effects at all. As long as the doctor’s post procedure advice to take care of the affected skin area is followed then it is completely safe. Reviews also liked the procedure more since it beats gunky, icky creams on the skin and the results are instantaneous!

So in whatever choice you make, keep in mind to keep safe in tattoo removal. It is better than to be sorry in the end.

Who Can Benefit from Laser Tattoo Removal?

Tattoo art has long been a part of human history. It is a sign of tribal affiliation, individuality, self expression and expression of endearment for some. Tattoo designs have long evolved from simple lines and curves to 3 dimensional figures and images. Also tattoo equipment has developed from the simple needle and ink to tattoo equipment and machines. More so, tattoo removal has become a flourishing business. It is now possible to permanently remove a permanent tattoo, along with the affiliations and the memories that goes with the mark. From tattoo removal creams to high profile surgical treatments, consumers have a lot to choose from. Factors that affect their choice are budget, effectivity and necessity.

The most common and review-topping method of all is laser tattoo removal. It is now available as a treatment at your local dermatologist or sometimes in a spa setting. It is a simple, minimally invasive and very effective method to remove those unwanted tattoos. A low frequency laser is applied onto the tattoo and these beams excite and break down ink pigments and thus removing the tattoo. The laser removal method can be repeated depending on the depth of the tattoo coverage and the amount of ink that still has to be broken down. Low frequency lasers are also used for other skin treatments like skin rejuvenation and scar treatment. As mentioned this is an effective method to remove tattoo but no dermatologist can guarantee 100% removal since there are factors to be considered like tattoo size, depth and age of the tattoo.

The cost of a single laser tattoo treatment generally starts at $100-150 per square inch per treatment. You may contact your trusted dermatologist for a discount! But like what they say, perfection knows no price.

But not everyone can benefit from laser tattoo removal method. These are things to consider before booking a session at our local spa or dermatologist:

• If you have fair skin, then go for it. People with fair complexion have higher success rates for the treatment since ink pigments can be seen easily on fairer skin.
• Consider your tattoo location first. Tattoos on the chest, buttocks or chest can easily be removed by laser treatment since they are in flat and broad surfaces of the body that are easily accessible by laser light. Tattoos on the fingers and ankles which have thicker skin layers and irregular shapes are harder to erase. Areas with less body fat are also harder to treat.
• Consider your health and your age. This is a very important factor since a younger person has healthier skin that can regenerate faster than an elderly. Skin compensates after the treatment by regeneration and older people have less skin health and turgor to do this.
• If you have allergies better use creams. The procedure might be on out-patient type one but a local anesthetic will be applied or injected on the treatment site. If you are hypersensitive or sensitive to eggs and other poultry products and also sea food you might get allergic reactions that can be life threatening.
• How old is your tattoo? If you just got your tattoo it is very difficult to remove. Let it dry out and let the ink disperse onto your skin layers first. Also new tattoos are still fresh and prone to infection so better consult your dermatologist when you can have it removed. Older and much deeper tattoos are also very difficult to remove. Consult with your tattoo artist on what pigment, ink and machine he used to embed the design.

Another thing to consider when tempting to erase your tattoo through laser is the place you want to go for the procedure. It should be a reliable clinic that you know someone who personally went there to have the same procedure. Talk to the dermatologist first before the procedure.

Cost of Laser Tattoo Removal

To get rid of tattoo is very expensive. Laser tattoo removal offers the most effective and the safest way to remove unwanted marks. Several skin clinics, dermatologists and even spas now offer this cosmetic surgery. It is now possible to shop around first to get the best value out of your budget.

Laser tattoo removal is a cosmetic procedure and it is not covered by any health or medical insurance. So how much is laser removal then? Most skin clinics and spas could charge up to $500 to $1000 per session depending on several factors:

• The age of the tattoo. The older the tattoo the harder to erase, thus several treatments must be done to completely erase the mark. The treatment could cost from $200 to $500 and if local anesthesia is used to mask the minimal pain felt during the procedure, extra fees could be charged.
• The size of the tattoo. The bigger the area covered by the tattoo design the bigger the cost of the laser tattoo removal procedure. This is also true if the design is intrinsic in pattern, the specialist could give you a quote that could totally blow your budget.
• The brightness of the colors used. The brighter the ink used for the tattoo design the harder to erase. Yellow and turquoise color ink are harder to remove thus several sessions have to be done to completely erase it.
• If you masked the unwanted tattoo before. If you tried to cover the tattoo design with another tattoo or correct it to make it more pleasing then it is harder to get the design off. Another layer of ink was added to the first making the ink pigments harder to dissolve. It is like covering the pigment with another layer. You will need several sessions to finally erase the mark.
• The area where the tattoo is. If the design is on the flat surface of the body like the stomach, the chest and the back the easier to remove thus fewer sessions for laser treatment is needed. If the design is located in the bony and irregular areas of the body like the digits of the hands and the toes or the ankles the more treatments are needed to remove it completely.

Another related factor that consumers need to be aware of is the specialist who will do the procedure or the laser treatment. If the method is to be done by a skin specialist with years of experience in the procedure the professional fee would be a little higher of course as compared to a dermatologist in a spa setting. You can check out the site for the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery for a free physician finder service. This is handy for consumers who don’t know where to start looking for the ideal specialist for laser tattoo removal.

Another related factor is the location of the clinic or the spa. If it is located in a mall it could be more costly compared to a specialist with his own private clinic at home. A doctor’s office in a hospital setting is also a lot cheaper than procedures done in spas. However there are specials or bundles that a spa could offer like you could have a free facial along with laser tattoo removal or a free manicure after the procedure. Watch out for discounted offers too in case the spa or the mall have a sale for the holidays.

Now you know the factors that may influence laser tattoo removal. As a consumer we have to be keen on these to get the best value out of our money.

Post- Care of Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal is a simple yet effective method in removing tattoo. It is both an effective and safe tattoo removal procedure available for consumers either in a spa setting or in an outpatient doctor’s office.

How to remove tattoo could be a tough choice but more and more people trust the effectiveness of laser tattoo removal. The procedure makes use of the latest laser technology that has been in use for cosmetic corrective procedures like hair removal, scar removal and age spots removal. In all of these procedures, laser technology has been able to display the best results. Several sites on the Internet witness to these before and after images of people who have had laser treatment done.

In laser tattoo removal the procedure makes use of laser pulses to target tattoo ink pigments. The frequency dissolves ink pigments making them be absorbed by the body’s immune system. The procedure is painless because of local anesthetic is applied onto the area. The method does not use needles and no incision is needed making it safe since the skin is left unharmed.

There are post-care procedures that must be observed after the treatment. The patient is prescribed topical antibiotics for the minor burn that the treatment creates. Typical antibiotic brands are Bactroban or Bacitracin skin ointment.  This has to be applied for 7 to 10 days. This is to make sure that the area will not be infected and will also facilitate skin healing.

Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher should be applied on to the area to prevent harmful UV rays to penetrate the skin. Plus protective clothing can also be worn to cover the treated area.

Minor skin irritation may occur after the treatment. You may take over the counter medications or if the irritation persists you may consult your skin specialist.

You may use ice packs to counter the swelling that may occur after laser tattoo removal. You may apply ice therapy for 10 to 15 minutes or as necessary to make swelling subside.

Observe cleanliness of the affected area always. Clean it with water and antibacterial soap to prevent skin infection. Apply clean or sterile dressing if needed.

Limitation of movement on the treated area should be done. For example, if the area involved in the upper arm, you must bandage the part to protect it plus limit movement to the upper arm to make healing of the skin faster and even.

Do not engage in any activity that uses the affected part. Limit swimming or diving since the pool may contain chemicals that may harm the treated area.

You may apply skin lightening cream if there is still a shadow of the pigment color left. It may just take you several applications to make the mark completely gone. Yellow and turquoise inks are very difficult to erase and may retain after the laser treatment is done so you can completely take it off with the lightening cream.

Never pick or take off any scabs that cover the wound. This may worsen the wound and infect it. If this happens, consult your skin specialist. 

Keep healthy throughout the entire post treatment process. Eat and sleep well or you may take multivitamins, this facilitate wound healing. If you become sick your body may not cope-up and you can retard skin regeneration. Also limit smoking and keep away from people who are sick and immune compromised.

These are just some of the post treatment care that a skin specialist may advice after laser tattoo removal. A patient may be advised other care procedures depending on the course of treatment of the tattoo removal.

About Q-Switch Laser

The Q in Q-switch laser stands for the word quality. It is used in laser tattoo removal to get rid of tattoo. The treatment is most commonly called laser tattoo removal method.

The use of laser in the field of cosmetic surgery is quite merited; examples of these procedures are laser hair removal, scar removal and age spots removal. Tattoo laser removal treatment certainly meets up to its standards of being the best treatment out in the market because of its effectiveness and safety.

As mentioned, Q stands for quality. This laser is so named because the operator can fine tune the laser quality to emit pulses. This laser pulse is the core of the laser tattoo removal treatment. Pulses are applied, using a hand held device, directly on the tattoo design to breakdown ink pigments. When the ink pigments are small enough they are completely absorbed by the body. An example of this is when you are making a cup of coffee. Coffee granules are large and chunky at first but when you mix it with warm water and use a spoon to stir it up, it breaks down into finer particles. As they breakdown they dissolve completely and turn into a liquid that you can drink.

The Q-Switch laser is effective in completely erasing a tattoo. It is also safe to use because the procedure is bloodless and painless. No needles are used nor incisions made. The skin layers are left intact. Only a mild burn is left on the outer layer of the skin as the laser pulses are applied. A local anesthetic is used to mask the minimal pain felt during the procedure. People who have tried laser tattoo removal describes the pain like snapping rubber bands on the skin as the pulses vibrate to dissolve the tattoo ink pigments. The patient is also made to wear protective eye covering to protect the eyes from the laser light.

After the laser treatment, care of the treated area is a must. Topical antibiotics are applied on the area plus sunscreen with SPF 30 must be worn along with protective clothing to make skin healing faster. Dressing or bandage may be applied on the area to protect it. Redness and tenderness on the area is quite normal and may last up to 7 to 14 days depending on the age and size of the tattoo.

The patient may go back for another treatment after half a month if the tattoo is not completely erased. This is true if the tattoo is quite old or if the mark is too big. This requires several sessions for the mark to be totally removed.

Laser tattoo removal could be a little expensive compared to other removal methods. A single session for a regular sized tattoo could cost to as much as $500. Local spas and skin clinics offer laser tattoo treatment so you just need to shop around for the best deal. A better way to do this is to get acquainted with the services that the spa or clinic offers as well as the specialist years of experience in doing laser treatment for tattoo removal before you book a session. You may ask the opinion too of your tattoo artist for the best skin clinic he can suggest to remove the tattoo.

So it is really wise to think twice about getting a permanent tattoo. You might enjoy the design today but would like to take it off in the future. Remember that is more expensive to remove a tattoo rather than getting one in the first place.