Tattoo removal

Q-switched and Pico lasers, are the only lasers that can remove tattoos. These lasers penetrate deep into the skin with minimum risk of forming scars and changes in pigmentations. The body removes those particles by the process of phagocytosis.

Q-switched laser produces an intensive focused light beam that affects the pigment in the tattoo. Afterwards, the pigment absorbs the light energy, which causes it to break into a large number of tiny particles.

Lasers that don’t have Q-switched technology (such as IPL lasers) do not deliver intensive focused wave length energy that the tattoo pigment can absorb in the right way. Therefore, they are inefficient when it comes to skin removal, and they can damage the surrounding skin.

Duration of treatment

Depends on the size and the color of the tattoo

Anesthesia

Topical

Type of skin

All types of skin

Recovery

Redness, dotted bleeding, irritation and itching. You can go back to your regular activities the next day

Contraindications

Proneness to forming hypertrophic scars (keloids), Vitiligo, cancer, active Herpes simplex, active infection, drugs that influence photosensitivity, Roaccutane, tanned skin, pregnancy and breastfeeding

Number of treatments

6 – 20 treatments in a time span of 8 – 10 weeks, depending on the size and the color of the tattoo

Is Q-switched laser treatment suitable for all tattoos?

There are a lot of different types of tattoos – professional, amateur and cosmetic – that react to the laser treatment in different ways. Some pigments may not respond to the treatment, some can become black or brown and will not respond to further treatment.

You will need a doctor’s assessment and a patch test to find out whether it is possible to remove your tattoo.

How to prepare for laser tattoo removal?

Avoid sunbathing a few days before the start of the treatment.

How many treatments do you need?

The number of treatments that you will need depends on the type of tattoo, its size and color.

It takes 6 to 20 treatments for 8 to 10 weeks. This process can last for over a year and even then a portion of the pigment may be left behind.

Is the treatment painful?

Laser tattoo removal can be painful despite the application of topical anesthesia.

What happens during the procedure?

24 hours before every treatment a patch test is conducted. The treated area is photographed so we can follow the progress. During the treatment you will feel a sting sensation, as if an elastic rubber is hitting your skin. Treatments can last from 5 minutes, up to an hour, depending on the size of the tattoo. After the procedure, an antibiotic cream is applied for infection prevention.

What are the side effects?

Skin irritation – may last up to a week depending on the amount of pigment that has been removed
Hyperpigmentation – the skin may appear darker, especially if you have a darker skin type. These dark areas may disappear over time.
Scar tissue – forming scar tissue is highly unlikely because this type of laser doesn’t affect the surrounding skin, but applying an anti-scarring gel may help with the prevention.

Care and recovery after the treatment?

In the following 1 – 2 weeks:

Wash and dry the treated area. Do it gently
Avoid UV rays exposure
Protect the treated area with protective factors. Minimum of SPF59
Avoid difficult workouts
Do not consume alcohol

RESULTS

A gallery containing photos of our acne treatment results can be found here

GALLERY

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