How tattoo removal works

The laser energy breaks up the ink particles into very tiny fragments. These fragments are taken up by the scavenger cells in the skin (the macrophages), and carried away from the area, resulting in less tattoo pigment and gradually the tattoo will disappear. Indian ink tattoos may respond to as few as 2 tattoo removal treatments, but usually require 6-10 treatments for them to resolve. Occasionally, however, even with the best laser technology a little 'ghosting' of pigment remains. The reason for this resistance to laser treatment is not known, but it may be that the ink is lying too deeply for the laser to reach.

Whilst the Indian ink and red areas in a tattoo may disappear after 6-10 treatments, the other colours may need considerably more tattoo removal treatments. Sometimes the green pigment in the tattoo may need treating up to 20 times, even with the latest and most modern laser systems that Med-Spa Clinic employ.

Does laser tattoo removal hurt?

Most patients find laser treatment of tattoos not too uncomfortable and experience a pricking sensation in the skin. If this becomes too severe, either a local anaesthetic cream or a local anaesthetic injected into the area may be used. If a local anaesthetic cream is used, it must be applied liberally under an occlusive dressing, 1-2 hours before tattoo removal treatment to produce maximum results.

Possible complications

The commonest complication following laser tattoo removal is a reactive increase in skin pigment. This increased pigment only lasts a relatively short time, usually 3 or 4 months, before it disappears spontaneously. This is more likely to happen in people who tan relatively easily.

Permanent whitening of the skin has been described following laser treatment of tattoos and this is more common if a very high energy level is used, for instance, with the Ruby laser. However, in most people, whitening of the skin is a short-lived phenomenon, which recovers spontaneously over some weeks.

If your tattoo contains iron pigment, immediate pigment darkening sometimes occurs. If this happens, the laser treated area goes black. It is very important therefore, that a test be always carried out first on your tattoo so that this complication of laser treatment, which is fortunately extremely rare, can be predicted.

After tattoo removal treatment

Tattoo removal treatment with certain lasers can produce an immediate whitening of the skin. This is due to the release of microscopic steam bubbles in your skin. This change usually lasts no more than a few minutes before it disappears, and is a sign that the tattoo removal treatment is working.

It is unusual to develop any bleeding in the treated area at the power levels used by Med-Spa Clinic medical staff. However, occasionally higher levels may have to be used on a tattoo, which may result in a little pinpoint bleeding. Usually all this requires is a simple dry dressing following the procedure. This bleeding does not have any other harmful consequences and does not lead to scarring.

It is very unusual to develop any scarring at all following tattoo removal treatments with any of the lasers used at Med-Spa Clinic. Indeed, all the tattoo lasers operated by Med-Spa are in contact with the skin for literally billionths of a second.

Once the whitening of the treated area disappears, it is not unusual for the skin to become quite red and appear inflamed; this may last for several hours. Any discomfort is minimal, and may be controlled using standard painkillers, and the area treated with an ice pack. Aloe Vera gel is beneficial in reducing inflammation.

It is rare for the treated area to become infected because the surface of the skin is not usually broken following laser treatment of your tattoo.

It is important, however, to make sure that the areas of your tattoo that have been treated are not exposed to strong ultraviolet light or sunshine after the procedure. We recommend the use of an SPF30 sun protection cream, available at the clinic.