Laser tattoo removal works by focusing light energy on ink particles under the skin, breaking them up so that they’re small enough for the immune system to scavenge and eliminate.
Provided the laser treatment is successful, tattoo removal is permanent. The ink can never return.
*Individual results may vary
About Laser Tattoo Removal
Laser tattoo removal is a treatment that gets rid of unwanted tattoos using laser technology. The procedure is entirely non-invasive. A specialist at the Laser Skin Care Center directs a Q-switch laser at your skin, breaking down blobs of tattoo ink into smaller chunks. With sufficient exposure, the particles become small enough for white blood cells to transport to other areas of the body for disposal.
Interestingly, you won’t notice much difference in the appearance of your tattoo immediately following treatment. However, as immune cells clear errant ink particles over the coming days and weeks, the ink will start to fade. With sufficient treatments and the correct protocol, the tattoo should disappear entirely.
How long removal takes depends on the size and color of the tattoo. We recommend that patients wait six to eight weeks for the skin’s healing process to take effect before getting another session.
How Permanent Is It?
Laser tattoo removal relies on firing the correct wavelengths of laser light at ink particles lodged in the skin. The type of wavelength depends on the color of the ink. Blacks and browns are typically the easiest to eliminate, but brighter colors require specialist lasers.
If treatment is successful, laser tattoo removal is permanent. The tattoo can never return because the immune system removes ink from the skin.
Success rates, however, depend on a range of factors. For instance, if you have darker skin, it can be more difficult to remove tattoos. Pigment chemicals in the dermis attract and absorb the laser light, deflecting it from target ink particles.
Similarly, lighter colors, such as orange, green, and blue, are more difficult to remove because they do not absorb light energy readily. In these cases, you may need to return to the Laser Skin Care Center for several rounds of treatment to ensure that all of the ink breaks down and leaves the dermis.
Interestingly, older tattoos are easier to remove because the body can break down some of the ink over time. New tattoos have more fresh ink, meaning that you may require more sessions to eliminate them.
Am I a Candidate for Laser Tattoo Removal?
If you’re not happy with a tattoo on your body and want to remove it, then you could be a suitable candidate for laser tattoo removal. Because the procedure is entirely non-invasive, the vast majority of patients who come to the Laser Skin Care Center can benefit from it.
Take the Next Step
If you’d like to learn more about laser tattoo removal, please fill out the form on this page or call (562) 997-1144. Laser Skin Care Center proudly serves the Long Beach, CA area and offers a variety of cosmetic dermatology services.
