How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

According to a 2017 study by Statista, four out of 10 adults have at least one tattoo. Interestingly, another survey found that 70% of business owners dislike tattoos on employees, and 11% of people with tattoos opt to have them removed.

Since tattoo removal clinics have grown by a staggering 400% over the past 10 years and their success rates continue to increase, just how does laser tattoo removal work?

Before we answer this question, there’s a more important one to consider.

What Makes Tattoos Permanent?

Today’s tattoos are applied using a needle that punctures into the epidermis and deposits pigments deep inside the dermis. With every puncture, a wound is created as the ink is deposited. The body’s inflammatory process is triggered.

Essentially, the body’s immune system steps up to remove the foreign pigments. While it succeeds in driving out some, ink will remain. This is why tattoos last for life but fade with time.

How Lasers Remove Tattoos

The body’s immune response works to slowly fade a tattoo over time as it chips away at the foreign pigments. To remove a tattoo completely, it needs help. This is where laser technology assists.

Lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigments with a high-intensity light beam.

As it is directed into the skin, it is selectively absorbed by the ink particles trapped in the dermis of the skin. When these particles absorb the laser’s light energy, they instantly shatter into tiny fragments.

Once the laser has broken the ink into smaller pieces, the body’s immune system begins to remove the ink over the weeks that follow, flushing it away from the tattooed area. The results manifest as the tattoo lightens in appearance.

Each additional laser treatment breaks down more and more of the ink until the tattoo is no longer visible. The laser and immune system work together to fade it.

How Long Does Laser Tattoo Removal Take?

The number of treatments necessary to remove a tattoo varies.

The amount and type of ink used and the depth of the ink in the skin all impact how many treatments a tattoo will need.

Ink color also plays a factor with black being the easiest to treat.

Dermacare of Hampton Roads’s Quanta Discovery Pico laser removes ink by producing an assortment of wavelengths targeting different ink colors. The light passes into the skin and is absorbed by the pigment, causing it to shatter into small particles, which are then flushed through the lymphatic system, the body’s natural filtering system.

Professional tattoos can take six to 12 treatments and amateur four to five, but Dermacare of Hampton Roads has something that can speed up the tattoo removal process.

Trust the Right Care Provider

If you have a tattoo, then you know the importance of finding a professional and experienced tattoo artist. When a tattoo is amateurly applied, complications can happen. Sometimes, those complications can cause serious health issues.

Who you choose to remove a tattoo is equally important for the same reasons. Amateur, inexperienced, or unsanitary tattoo removal can cause serious cosmetic and health complications. Unfortunately, with the growth of laser tattoo removal clinics has come a rise in shady and dangerous clinics focused on immediate profit versus positive patient outcome.

Dermacare of Hampton Roads specializes in the safe and effective laser removal of professional, amateur (homemade), traumatic, and surgical tattoos. Our nurses have over 15 years of combined experience in laser tattoo removal, and our staff members are all highly trained medical professionals.

Our focus is on achieving the best outcomes for our patients at a reasonable cost, which is precisely why we use technology like the DeScribe Patch. We support the military, law enforcement, and first responders with a 10% discount on laser tattoo removal packages and interest-free financing for six to 12 months through Care Credit and Greensky.

Get a Consultation First

Every tattoo removal is unique, which is why you see so many before and after images stating that results may vary. Regardless of whether you want to get rid of a tattoo or invest in tattoo lightening for a cover-up, booking a consultation with us is essential.

At your consultation, we will discuss your desired outcome and explore factors that may impact it. Together, we will choose the best removal option for you and consider the range of results possible.

Laser tattoo removal is the safest and most effective way to treat an otherwise permanent mark with limited side effects and no downtime.

Let’s talk about your tattoo today!