It’s important to consult with a board certified dermatologist such as Dr. Umar of FineTouch Dermatology for safe, effective laser tattoo removal treatments. Dr. U understands the nuances of tattoo color removal, how to remove large tattoos and how to remove 3D tattoos. The number of tattoo removal sessions, however, depends on a variety of factors, including your tattoo size, color, ink depth placement on your dermis and your individual physiology regarding laser tattoo treatments.

Whether your tattoos decorate your arms, legs, backs or other part of your body, the history of them is traced throughout centuries and a number of cultures. Decorative skin markings date back to 6,000 B.C. in Peru — ancient forms of tattoos, if you will. Now we have tattoos by professional artists, and while the symbolism of tattoos varies between cultures, the artful reflections are usually deeply personal.

As of 2010, 23 percent of Americans had a tattoo, according to Pew Research. For those ages 30 to 45, 32 percent had a tattoo. However, many also eventually want tattoo ink removal, whether it’s due to large tattoos inappropriate for the workplace or outdated imagery. This requires laser tattoo removal.

TATOO INK REMOVAL FOR WHAT’S MEANT TO BE PERMANENT

Unlike jewelry or clothing that are disposable and changeable fashion and cultural statements, tattoos are intended to be permanent. Though few people ever think about the possibility of laser tattoo removal when they get a tattoo, factors play into how difficult eventual tattoo ink removal could potentially be.

A tattoo machine moves a solid needle up and down between 50 to 3,000 times per minute, in which the needle penetrates a millimeter into the skin’s dermis and deposits tattoo ink. The dermis is the second, deeper layer of the skin under the epidermis. Though tattoos fade naturally over time, tattoo ink removal requires laser tattoo removal that is the only way to successfully destroy pigment cells located deep within the skin.

It is worth discussing with a tattoo artist when getting one about the dynamics that could make eventual tattoo removal treatments more difficult due to tattoo color, position and size. For example, tattoo ink removal may be easier when a more experienced tattoo artist does the tattoo since the pigment is evenly injected in the same level of the skin. However, laser tattoo removal may be more difficult on a tattoo that has been on the skin for a considerable length of time.

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Lurtonic’s Spectra is dual-pulsed, Q-switched Nd: YAG laser that offers four wavelength modes, which includes 532, 585, 650 and 1,064 nanometers, and addresses all pigment colors for effective laser tattoo removal.*

FACTORS FOR TATTOO COLOR REMOVAL

Tattoo color removal is targeted specific to each color correlating to laser wavelength. Yellow and green shades are generally the most difficult for tattoo color removal, and blue and black are typically the easiest for tattoo ink removal. Though black ink is the darkest, it’s absorbs all laser wavelengths.

Dr. U uses Lutronic’s Spectra for laser tattoo removal on patients since it removes multicolored and black tattoos in laser one system. This dual-pulsed, Q-switched Nd: YAG laser offers four wavelength modes, which includes 532, 585, 650 and 1,064 nanometers, and addresses all pigment colors for effective tattoo color removal.

After each laser tattoo removal session, you need to wait at least three weeks for another treatment. The tattoo ink initially broken up needs time be absorbed and removed from the body.

To learn more about laser tattoo removal, book a consultation with Dr. U and contact FineTouch Dermatology.