Lasers and Tattoo Removal

As an Oak Brook laser tattoo removal studio we are endlessly interested in laser tattoo removal and lasers in general.  We've had patients ask us about how lasers came to be used for tattoo removal purposes in the first place and the origins of removal are nothing short of remarkable. While the use of lasers for medical technology date back to the 1960s, lasers being used for laser tattoo removal date back to the late 1980s.  Yes, it was not all that long ago in retrospect, but since the 1980s laser technology has advanced in incredible ways.

In the 1980s pulsed laser lights were first approved for a variety of medical treatments and eventually in the 1990s one laser in particular was approved for tattoo removal.  The Q-Switched Ruby laser was able to to effectively break down green tattoo ink, which we now know can be quite difficult for a laser to break down.

In 1991 an even better laser came onto the scene.  The Q-Switched Nd, or YAG, had the ability to use a wider range of wavelengths.  This new laser was able to eliminate blue, black, red and orange ink.  Its ability to break down a multitude of colors made it quite popular in the laser tattoo removal realm.

In 1992 the Q-Switched Alexandrite Laser was approved for laser tattoo removal proving it had the ability to break down some of the most stubborn of tattoo inks and colors.  That was just what the laser tattoo removal industry needed, a laser that could better break down the difficult ink particles.

Typically these lasers will be used in combination during a laser tattoo removal procedure.  If not used in combination with one another a tattoo removal studio may use a variation of these types of lasers.

Our Laser

Here at Erase we use the Asclepion TattooStar Effect laser.  The Asclepion TattooStar Effect laser specifically targets and breaks up ink particles better than the lasers of the past.  The results our patients get from our laser is powerful and unlike the results earned in the past from lasers.  Before undergoing laser tattoo removal it is always best to speak with your chosen removal studio staff about the laser(s) that will be used during the procedure.

Comment or questions about the use of lasers and tattoo removal?  Feel free to leave us a comment below or contact us.

Great Before and After Tattoo Removal Results

One of the most important parts of the tattoo removal procedure and the overall tattoo removal process are the tattoo removal before and after photos, there's no doubt about that.  Who doesn't want to see incredible results after under going laser tattoo removal?  As an Oak Brook tattoo removal studio we have seen some patients experience incredible results from laser tattoo removal.  While seeing optimal results may take a series of treatments, the end results often makes it incredibly worth it for patients.  We frequently see great tattoo removal before and after photos, so we thought we'd share some before and after photos and talk a little bit about how a patient knows they've gotten good results.

The picture above particularly catches our eye.  This patient had particularly dark ink on the back of his/her hand and here you can see the back of his/her is clear and the knuckles still may need another treatment or two. Overall, it looks quite good and the back of the patient's hand looks like new.

We loved this results picture since it shows the original tattoo and what it looks like after receiving treatments three months and six months in to treatments.  If this particular patient wanted to just fade the tattoo to place another tattoo on top, they could most certainly do that after their three month results.

We like this removal results picture as well because it shows some of the truth of tattoo removal in the form of this patient having red/pink skin as a result of the removal.  This is common and is truly a part of the healing process.  You can see in the fourth picture that the red/pink coloring is beginning to fade quite well.

The following are good indicators that you have had good removal results:

1- Improvements with every treatment: While not every patient will experience a noticeable difference with every laser treatment, it appears that patients who experience a noticeable difference in their tattoos after each treatment tend to have some of the best results in the long run.

2- Minimal complications: There are a whole host of complications that could arise from any form of tattoo removal, which includes laser tattoo removal.  While laser tattoo removal is known for lower risk of complications that doesn't mean patients won't experience complications.  Patients who experience minimal complications are typically the ones that end up with the best results.

3- Achieved desired outcome: The obvious sign that you have good results is the overall end outcome from laser tattoo removal, which would be achieving the desired results which is either full removal or partial removal.

Have any before and after pictures you'd like to share with us?  Feel free to contact us, leave us a comment or post a link below.

Risks Associated with Tattoo Removal

Depending on the method a patient seeks to remove a tattoo, there are always risks that are associated.  Any medical procedure comes with a whole host of risks, which are sometimes unavoidable.  When it comes to tattoo removal, risks may vary depending on the method a person opts to use to remove a tattoo.  Here are a few of the main risks associated with the various tattoo removal procedures:

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion, as we talked about before, is what many people refer to as the sanding down of the skin.  Dermabrasion relies on an abrasive tool that removes the layers of skin that hold the tattoo ink. Patients who have undergone dermabrasion talk about how it feels as if the skin has been burned.

What are the risks associated with dermabrasion?

Skin sensitivity-- Right after the procedure the skin will be sensitive and the sensitivity may last for weeks, even months, following the procedure.  The skin that has undergone the dermabrasion procedure will be a red/pink color for a while following the procedure and can take months to fade and return to a normal skin color.

Skin color change-- Dermabrasion can cause the skin to either become lighter than normal or darker than normal, respectively this is known as hyper/hypopigmentation.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen to freeze the skin directly above the tattoo. Freezing the skin destroys the cells, which allows the skin to be peeled away.  The frozen tissue is destroyed and the body eventually takes over and heals the area. This form of tattoo removal is related to having frostbite.

What are the risks associated with cryosurgery?

Damage to surrounding skin tissue-- With cryosurgery there is a risk for damaging nearby tissues and nerve cells.

Skin color change-- Similar to dermabrasion, there is a risk of the skin experiencing hyper/hypopigmentation following the cryosurgery procedure.

Excision

Excision is essentially the surgical removal of the skin. Once skin is surgically removed, surrounding skin is drawn together and stitched up. Excision is not recommended for patients with larger tattoos since removing a large portion of skin can be extremely dangerous when it comes to bleeding risks.

What are the risks associated with excision?

Heavy bleeding-- The larger the area of skin being removed, the more at risk a patient is for experiencing heavy bleeding.  Excision can be quite dangerous when it comes to a large tattoo being removed, which is why it is not recommended for removing large tattoos.

Scarring-- Excision can result in scarring from the incision that is made.  This form of removal takes time to heal from.  

Risk of infection-- Depending on the size of the tattoo undergoing excision, the risk of infection can be quite high.  Since the skin is being removed it is more vulnerable to bacteria, so patients must exercise caution in caring for their skin following excision removal.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Yes, we are a laser tattoo removal studio and our staff members are all big advocates for laser tattoo removal.  So what is about laser tattoo removal that we find so great?  We like the results it gives patients, the fact there is no down time following a procedure, and the low risk for complications.  Even with that in mind, it is still a medical procedure and with that there is always going to be a risk for complications, such as the following:

What are the risks associated with laser tattoo removal?

Skin sensitivity-- Because the skin will typically undergo a few procedures to get desired results, the skin can become sensitive from the procedure.  This is why it is important to care for the skin following the laser tattoo removal procedure, which is something we teach our patients before even undergoing the procedure.

Luckily, risk of infection, scarring and other complications is extremely low with laser tattoo removal, making it a popular method of removal and a favorite amongst removal patients.  Before undergoing any type of tattoo removal, we suggest doing research on all the method available to help choose the right one for you.  Have comments or questions? Feel free to leave them below or contact us.

Dealing with Discomfort from Laser Tattoo Removal

As an Oak Brook laser tattoo removal studio we are well aware that laser tattoo removal can cause some discomfort.  Discomfort typically occurs immediately after a laser tattoo removal procedure is done on a tattoo. Discomfort is different for everyone as some people will experience a slight stinging, burning or a throbbing.  Depending on the laser tattoo removal studio staff's instructions, there are typically quite a few things a patient can do to ease the discomfort.  Here are a few tips on easing the discomfort following a laser tattoo removal procedure:

1- Ice, ice and more ice: A lot of our patients swear by an ice compress applied right to the area that has been treated by laser removal.  Some removal studios even apply ice during the actual procedure for immediate relief.  Ice is one of the best ways to ease pain as the relief is immediate rather than delayed.

2- Aloe vera: Aloe vera is known to have skin healing and soothing properties, which is why some laser tattoo removal studios will suggest that patients use aloe vera to soothe discomfort such as stinging or burning.  Aloe vera is a natural soothing agent and a majority of removal studios recommend aloe.

2- Topical antiseptic cream and dressings: We aren't just talking about pain when it comes to discomfort stemming from laser tattoo removal, we are also talking about itching.  Patients can experience itching following the procedure, which is where a topical antiseptic cream and dressings can come in handy.  Aside from helping ease discomfort, antiseptic cream and dressings will help the area to heal faster and will help keep skin infection and scar free.

Looking for more tips on dealing with discomfort following a laser tattoo removal procedure? Feel free to leave us a comment or contact us.

Laser Tattoo Removal Versus the Alternatives

It is obvious that we, as laser tattoo removal experts, are advocates for laser tattoo removal versus alternative methods. The advantages to laser tattoo removal, in our eyes, far exceed the advantages with other procedures.  The ability to truly target ink particles with lasers makes it a more exact procedure, causing less damage to the skin, lower chance for complications, and better results.  While, yes, we feel laser is the best, there a whole crop of other methods patients may consider when thinking about removing a tattoo.  Here are a few alternative tattoo removal methods:

Excision

Excision removal involves surgically removing the tattooed skin and then stitching up the skin. Excision is typically best suited for small tattoos. How does it work? An injection of an aesthetic is applied first to numb the area and then a surgeon removes the first couple layers of skin that hold the tattoo ink. Once the skin is removed it is drawn together and stitched.  If a patient chooses to do excision with a large tattoo, a skin graft is needed to cover up the area.  Cauterization is needed to control bleeding.  This form of removal can be a bit dangerous and can leave scars. It truly isn't advised if a patient is looking to remove a large tattoo as the risk for complication is too great.  However, for small tattoos the procedure can truly be a good quick fix.

Dermabrasion

Another method of tattoo removal is dermabrasion.  Dermabrasion involves removing the layers of skin holding the tattoo ink using an abrasive tool.  A surgeon will apply an aesthetic to numb the area and ice the skin to keep it firm. The instrument used will peel back the skin. Ointment and gauze will be used to cover the skin in order to keep dirt and bacteria out, but the risk for infection to the area can still be quite high.  The skin will look and feel burned, be raw and susceptible to bacteria, which can be dangerous if it is not cared for properly.

Cryosurgery

Cryosurgery freezes and really, freeze-burns, the tattooed skin using liquid nitrogen. Liquid nitrogen is used to treat other skin ailments as well.  After the area has been frozen by the liquid nitrogen, the tissue is destroyed and gets peeled away by using a specialized light.  This form of removal is known to leave white spots or some skin discoloration to the area being treated.  It can also damage bordering skin tissue.

No method of tattoo removal is perfect, that is for sure.  Laser tattoo removal boasts good results, less complications, less damage to the skin, and is probably the best method there is when it comes to tattoo removal procedures.  Patients still need to know what other options they have when it comes to tattoo removal in order to figure out which is best for them.  Feel free to comment below or contact us.