TATTOO REMOVAL

Decorative tattoos have a history dating back at least 5000 years. The desire to remove them has probably existed just as long.

Tattoos are made up of inks or pigments, which are injected under the skin to form a picture. Over time, the body surrounds these particles with a protective wall of collagen - a natural protein in the skin - sealing the particles permanently into position.

Early attempts to remove tattoos have had less than desirable results. The advent of lasers has permitted the removal of most tattoo inks with a very low risk of scarring. The laser can significantly lighten or remove many tattoo inks and is particularly advanced in the removal of blue and black inks.

How does IPL treat my tattoo?
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) energy is absorbed by the pigmented lesion or colored ink and converted to heat to selectively destroy unwanted pigment without damaging the surrounding skin tissue. This enhanced selectivity also allows our doctor to treat all skin types, light and dark. Our doctor can also adjust the light energy to penetrate the skin at the correct level of the pigmentation - a shorter wavelength is used to treat lesions near the skin surface, while deeper pigmentation is treated with a longer wavelength. The destroyed pigment is then absorbed by the body's natural filtering system.

Patient Benefits
• Successful removal of wide range of pigmented lesions and tattoos
• Even color of skin, with minimal risk of scarring
• Reduced likelihood of recurrence
• Customized treatment parameters for different skin types
• Speed and convenience
• Virtually no after-care and rapid return to regular activities
• Non-invasive, skin refresher

How many treatments are needed?
Tattoos are particularly challenging for both doctors and patients. Since light therapy is based on the color of the target, the multiple ink colors in most tattoos often require many treatments for complete removal. The number of treatments depends on the amount and type of ink used, and the depth of ink in the skin. Our doctors can help determine the number of treatments you may require.

Do all colors of ink disappear equally well?
No. Dark (blue/black) and red inks fade the best. Oranges and purples usually respond well. Green and yellow inks are the most difficult to remove, although additional treatments can produce significant fading.

What is a treatment like? Is it painful?
A pulse of laser energy feels like a pinch similar to a snapped rubber band. Chilled gel on the skin and numbing creams help to relieve this discomfort. The entire procedure is brief and non-invasive - no needles are used at any time.

How long does this last?
IPL treatments are long-lasting because the pigments are resorbed and removed permanently.

What preparations must I make?
There are no changes in activities, before or after treatment. Prior to and following any treatment, you must limit your exposure to the sun. Treatment should not be performed on tanned skin.

What kind of results should I expect?
Some immediate improvement is typically visible, with blemishes and tattoos fading over two to three weeks. Maximum fading of the tattoo will occur in the 4 to 6 weeks between treatments. Complications, such as scarring, bleeding and pigment loss, are very rare. Most patients return to their regular routines quickly with virtually no after-care required. However, you may experience some redness around the treated area, similar to a mild sunburn. This usually goes away in just a few days.

Will there be any side effects?
In most cases, there will be no significant side effects. However, since the ink used in tattoos is so variable, some patients may only have partial clearing after multiple treatments. Occasionally, hypopigmentation (whitening) of the skin may also occur. However, normal skin color should return within 6 to 12 months after treatment.