Tattoos

Tattoos are meant to be permanent, so removing them is difficult. Unfortunately, what can seem like a great idea at the time can be hard to deal with as one ages and one’s professional and personal situation changes. Various lasers can be used to lighten and fade tattoos. Some colors of tattoos are harder to remove than others; professional tattoos are usually harder to remove than amateur tattoos. As dermatologic surgeons, the physicians of MDLSVI have seen that in many instances complete tattoo removal may not be possible. It is much easier to have a small tattoo removed than a big one. The risk of scarring is always present. Both getting a tattoo and having it removed can be uncomfortable. The impact of the energy from the laser's powerful pulse of light has been described as similar to getting hot specks of bacon grease on your skin or being snapped by a thin rubber band. Because black pigment absorbs all laser wavelengths, it's the easiest to remove. Other colors, such as green, selectively absorb laser light and can only be treated by selected lasers based on the pigment color. Red tattoos are the most difficult to treat with laser. Topical anesthetic creams are usually applied approximately an hour before the treatment. Some patients prefer to have a local anesthetic injected into the tattoo prior to laser therapy. Pinpoint bleeding, crusting and occasional blistering can be associated with the procedure. Pulses of laser energy are directed onto the tattoo, breaking up the pigment. Over the next few weeks, the body's scavenger cells remove pigment residues. A prescription medication called Aldara may help your body eliminate the tattoo pigment quicker. More than one treatment, (each treatment actually only takes minutes), is usually needed to remove an entire tattoo -- the number of sessions depends on the amount and type of ink used and how deeply it was injected. Four to six week intervals between sessions are required to allow pigment residue to be absorbed by the body. Anywhere from 6 to more than 10 treatments may be necessary to achieve maximum lightening. Patients must not be tan during their treatment sessions. Following treatment, wound care and sun protection of the treated area are necessary. A change in the color of the treated area is likely, and may be permanent. If the area gets infected, there is a risk of scar. Please schedule a consult with one of the providers to see if laser tattoo removal is right for you.