Laser Tattoo Removal

What it is

Laser tattoo removal uses very short pulses of light that target the tattoo ink in the skin, breaking it into smaller particles that the body clears gradually over time. This usually needs several sessions spaced apart, and the tattoo fades in stages. The doctor decides after an assessment whether the procedure is suitable, and what to expect based on the tattoo and the skin type.

Who may benefit, and why people ask about it

• Wanting to remove a tattoo that is no longer wanted, or make it less visible.
• Wanting to lighten an old tattoo before a new one is drawn over it.
• A cosmetic tattoo, such as eyebrow or lip tattooing, after a specific assessment.
• A tattoo caused by an injury, in some cases, after a careful assessment.

Laser can help some people lighten a tattoo or remove much of it, and the response depends on the ink colour, depth and amount, the skin type and where the tattoo is.

What the consultation covers

• An examination of the tattoo: its colours, size, age and location, and whether it is professional, amateur or cosmetic.
• A review of your health history, including medicines that make the skin more sensitive to light, a tendency to raised scars (keloids), skin conditions, and any known allergies.
• Questions about any previous attempts to remove the tattoo, and any reaction to the ink.
• An assessment of your skin type and how likely its colour is to change after laser.
• A test on a small area may be done in some cases, especially with cosmetic tattoos or light colours.
• A discussion of realistic expectations and an explanation of the risks, followed by informed consent.

Questions you may want to ask the doctor:

• How much could my tattoo fade?
• Why does the number of sessions differ from person to person, and what affects it in my case?
• Are there colours in my tattoo that may respond less?
• What side effects are possible, and how do I care for the area after the session?

What a visit looks like

1. Registration, and review of the health-history and consent forms.
2. Clinical photos may be taken with your consent to track change; they are kept in your medical file only and never published.
3. Everyone in the room wears protective eyewear.
4. The skin is cleaned, and a topical numbing cream or cooling may be used in some cases.
5. Laser pulses are directed over the tattoo, section by section.
6. The skin is soothed, the area is covered if needed, and aftercare instructions are given.

The session may be carried out by the doctor, or by a trained member of the medical team under the doctor's supervision, following clinic protocols. The number of sessions, their length and the interval between them vary with the tattoo and the skin, and are set by the doctor based on the assessment.

Preparation

• Please avoid sun exposure and tanning on the tattooed area before the session, following the doctor's instructions.
• Please tell the doctor about all medicines, especially those that make the skin more sensitive to light.
• Please tell the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding; tattoo removal is usually postponed in these situations as a precaution.
• It helps for the area to be clean on the day of the session, without creams or make-up.
• You may be asked to shave the hair over the tattoo before the session, following clinic instructions.
• For tattoos on or around the lips, please tell the doctor about any history of cold sores.

After the session and possible side effects

Common effects, usually temporary:

• A surface whitening of the tattoo that usually fades within a short time.
• Redness, swelling and tenderness.
• Small blisters or crusting over the following days.
• Pinpoint bleeding in some cases.

Less common effects:

• Darkening or lightening of the treated skin, which may last for some time in some cases, especially in darker skin.
• A change in skin texture.
• Infection in the treated area.

Rare effects:

• Scarring.
• An allergic reaction to the ink particles after they are broken up.
• Some cosmetic tattoo colours darkening rather than fading, which is why a test may be done first.

Aftercare instructions may include keeping the area clean and covered as directed, not picking crusts or opening blisters, and avoiding sun, swimming and intense heat for a period the doctor specifies. Contact the clinic if you notice increasing pain, signs of infection or a marked change in skin colour.

The doctor explains the full list of risks during the consultation.

Limitations

• Results vary from person to person; complete removal cannot be promised, and a faint trace or shadow of the tattoo may remain in some people.
• It usually takes several sessions spaced apart, because the body clears the ink gradually between sessions.
• The response depends on the ink colour, depth and amount, the skin type and where the tattoo is; some colours respond less than others.
• Darker skin needs specific settings and precautions, and the doctor decides what is suitable.
• The doctor may advise against laser or postpone it in situations including: pregnancy or breastfeeding, an active infection or skin condition in the area, a recent tan, some medicines that make the skin more sensitive to light, a tendency to keloids, or expectations the procedure cannot meet.