How Effective Is Laser Tattoo Removal?

Technology has made our lives a lot easier and happier. We have been able to achieve satisfying results from cosmetic procedures that have helped us to feel beautiful and have boosted our self-esteem. Consequently, laser tattoo removal in Melbourne has become a popular treatment for eliminating undesirable tattoos among all the age groups.

Although a few people are still sceptical about the procedure as they are not aware of its success rate. In fact, the most common question asked about laser treatment is related to its effectiveness. If you too are planning to get rid of a tattoo and want to know if the laser would work or not, then here is a rundown on the efficiency of the procedure.

Let us understand the concept in detail to comprehend its results.

How Does The Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

Although there are treatments like removal creams, dermabrasion and salabrasion, laser tattoo removal has become the most sought-after procedure. The reason behind this is that most of the other therapies are not as effective in the removal of the ink, which is seated below the epidermis.

They all work only on the epidermis and fade the appearance of the ink a bit. However, laser utilises a high-intensity light beam that penetrates the epidermis and reaches the dermal layer and targets the ink pigment without causing any scarring or disruption of the surrounding tissues.

The procedure involves minimal pain which can be reduced by applying topical anaesthesia to make the process comfortable. It works on all skin tones and types and tattoo ink colours.

It is a lengthy process which involves 8-12 sessions that are spaced 6-8 weeks apart, which give ample time to the skin to heal. The duration of laser tattoo removal is dependent on the age, size, location and colour of the tattoo.

What Happens To The Ink?

The ink deposited in the skin is made up of heavy metals, such as lead and copper. As soon as the ink enters our body, it is identified as a foreign body by the immune system, which breaks into action immediately.

Thus white blood cells start moving the ink particles to the liver from where they get excreted through the natural filtration process of the human body. This is the reason why tattoos begin fading after a while.

However, the white blood cells are too small in comparison to the big ink particles and are not able to transfer them to the liver. Thus you need a laser to break them into tiny particles that are easily flushed out of the system.

Q-Switched Laser And Its Potency

Q-Switched lasers are ultra-short pulse lasers that are very hot and have tremendously narrow frequency and work exceptionally swiftly. The advanced medical-grade Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser therapy system has four wavelengths which target different ink colours and thus works perfectly on multi-coloured tattoos.

Also, it effortlessly works on people with a dark skin tone, which was considered a challenge earlier and had resulted in skin discolouration and blistering. However, the latest technology allows the use of single nanosecond pulses which can penetrate deeper without hurting the skin tissues.

They are highly successful in removing ink as compared to all other procedures and eliminate the tattoo. You might notice some inflammation after the treatment, but it goes away within a day or two, and your technician can prescribe some soothing ointments to heal the area quickly.

Who Can Get A Tattoo Removed Using Laser?

Everyone who wants to get a tattoo removed or faded can get in touch with a licensed laser technician to discuss their case. You will be provided with the details of the treatment and the duration after examining the tattoo.

Your skin tone or type will not affect the treatment as Q-switched lasers are highly targeted and do not affect the skin cells. The traditional lasers were not able to differentiate between dark skin and ink pigment.

However, the advancements in laser technology have eliminated that problem, and now dark-skinned people can also leverage laser therapy without any side-effects.

If you only want to fade your tattoo or get a part of it removed, then you can share your requirements with the practitioner who will help you in achieving the desired look. Lasers are useful in fading as well as partial removal of tattoos.

Post Treatment Care

Since laser tattoo removal is a long process, the person undergoing the treatment has to be careful about aftercare to make sure the treatment succeeds. Thus you must avoid the exposure of the treated area to direct sunlight and keep it covered while venturing out as tanning interferes with the procedure.

You should apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and above when going out. Also, you must wait for 1-2 days before soaking the treated area in water or getting involved in strenuous physical activity that may cause sweating. These precautions are necessary to avoid infections.

Conclusion

If you are considering laser tattoo removal in Melbourne, then you have made the right choice as the high-intensity light beam is the only way to breakdown the ink pigment and eliminate it from the body. So go ahead and book your appointment with an experienced clinician to begin the removal process.