Sydneys Best Tattoo Removal
Tattoos are of two main types, the Indian ink amateur tattoo or the multi-colored, professional tattoo. The single color, Indian ink amateur tattoo usually responds most satisfactorily to laser treatment. Multi-colored, professional tattoos are much more difficult to eradicate completely. Black, blue and red colors in the tattoo are not unduly difficult to remove, but green, yellow and purple pigment can be particularly troublesome.
Treatment
For Tattoo Removal to be effective the laser energy breaks up the Indian ink particles into very tiny fragments. These fragments are taken up by the scavenger cells in the skin, and carried away from the tattoo site, resulting in less tattoo pigment and a gradual disappearance of the tattoo. Indian ink tattoos may respond to as few as two treatments but usually require between six to ten treatments for them to resolve. Occasionally however, the tattoo will not resolve completely even with the best laser technology, and a little ‘ghosting’ of pigments 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 light to reach.
Whilst the Indian ink and red areas in a tattoo may disappear after six to ten treatments, the other colors may need considerably more treatments. Indeed, sometimes the green pigment will not disappear at all, despite the use of the most advanced laser technology. The scientific reason for this failure to respond is not known, but fortunately it is not common. However, the green pigment in the tattoo may need treating up to twenty times even with the latest and most modern laser systems.
Pain management:
Most clients find laser treatments for tattoos not too uncomfortable and experience a pricking sensation in the skin. It is advisable to take pain relief approximately one hour before the treatment takes place. Topical numbing cream (1 hr prior to treatment) or ice packs can provide relief.
Possible complications
The commonest complication following laser treatment is a reactive increase in skin pigment. This increased pigment only lasts a relatively short length of time, usually three or four 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, the whitening of the skin is just 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 treatment
Treatment with either the Q-switched Frequency-doubled Nd:Yag laser or the Q-switched Ruby laser always produces an immediate whitening of the skin. This is due to the microscopic release of tiny steam bubbles in your skin. This change usually lasts only a few minutes before it disappears and it is a sign that the treatment is working satisfactorily.
Once the whitening on the treated area disappears, it is not unusual for the skin to develop some redness and swelling and look inflamed; this may last for several hours. There is not usually sufficient discomfort to inconvenience clients, but if significant discomfort is experienced, two Paracetamol tablets should be used.
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