Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

A great tattoo artist is a gem of a find because a bad tattoo is forever, right? Not quite! While finding a talented and professional artist is a must, no tattoo – good or bad – is forever. Laser tattoo removal works. But finding the right removal professional is as important as locating a great tattoo artist. Why? Because it impacts results.

I Don’t Want My Tattoo Anymore

There are many reasons to want a tattoo removed. Laser tattoo removal is the safer and more effective way to erase ink, but how well it works depends on a few factors. The age and type (professional or amateur) of a tattoo impact results. Your skin type is also a factor.

Technology plays a big part in successful removal, as does the rate at which it is done. The laser used needs to operate on multiple wavelengths that will penetrate the tattoo’s pigments. Multi-color tats require a laser capable of using multiple wavelengths to address each color – and our Quanta Discovery Pico laser uses three wavelengths to target each color.  But there are still five other factors a licensed professional must consider before safely treating a tattoo.

Factor 1: Fitzpatrick Skin Type

For most lasers it easier to remove tattoos from lighter skin tones or those that are a type I to type II on the Fitzpatrick scale. The darker the pigment, the easier the light from the laser is absorbed. Black ink on light skin is the easier tat to remove. Darker skin tones, or skin with more melanin, need special consideration to ensure the heat from the laser is absorbed by the ink and not the skin’s natural dark pigment. However, the Quanta Discovery Pico laser uses three wavelengths and two modes and can safely treat all colors on all skin types. 

Factor 2: Tattoo Layering

Layered tats, also referred to as cover-ups, are created when one tattoo is used to cover another. Layering adds density and volume to the ink. As a result, removal takes more treatment and more time.

Factor 3: Tattoo Location

Lightening a tat involves breaking up the ink into small particles that the body can naturally absorb and flush away. Tattoos found in areas with good vascular supply and high blood count – the face, neck, and back – will respond better to treatment than those found elsewhere.

Factor 4: Tattoo Ink

Ink colors and the amount of ink used impact how rapidly and effectively a tattoo is removed. Professionally applied tats usually take more treatments to reverse. Whereas amateur or homemade tats take fewer and less aggressive treatments. Older tattoos are typically faded while newer ones are vivid; both impact treatment time and intensity.

Factor 5: Pre-Existing Scarring

If the area where the tattoo is located has pre-existing scarring, laser removal can be more difficult. Scar tissue produces collagen deposits, which can be more difficult to penetrate with the laser. A tat that resulted in scarring will be harder to treat but not impossible. There are laser removal systems designed to improve scar tissue while breaking down and fading away the tattoo.

Laser Tattoo Removal Works

Tattoos are designed to last a lifetime. While they will fade over time, it’s rare for them to disappear altogether without removal treatment. Laser-based treatment works, and can produce rapid, safe, and effective results.

Are you thinking about having a tattoo removed? Why not contact us directly for a free, personalized consultation?