Oregon Laser & Wellness Center
Oregon Laser & Wellness Center
Beauty From The Inside Out
4370 SE King Road, Suite 105, Milwaukie OR 97222
Phone: 971 263 7679
Laser Tattoo Removal
Laser Tattoo Removal
Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser Therapy Systems
Principle
Treatment principle for pigmented dermatosis of Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser.Therapy system lies in selective photothermolysis with melanin as the chromophore. Q-Switched Nd:YAG has higher Peak power and nanoseconds-level pulse width.Melanin in melanophore and cuticle formed cells have short hot relaxation time.It could immediately make small selectively energy absorbed granules (tattoo pigment and melanin) blast without injuring surrounded normal tissues. The blasted pigment granules will be excreted from body through circulatory system.
About Tattoos
Decorative tattoos have a history dating back from ancient times. Currently, almost twenty percent of people in the United States have tattoos and the number is still growing. For the younger generation, tattoos are considered a symbol of freedom, but with advancing age, more and more wish to remove them because of the negative connotation associated with tattoos. Tattoos are also removed simply because of an individual’s desire to replace the existing tattoo with a newer design.
FAQs
How Are Tattoos Removed?
Medical lasers use a beam of light to significantly lighten or completely remove your tattoo. When the ink particles absorb the light from the laser, they are broken up into fragments and then absorbed through your body’s immune system. This process generally takes a few weeks. The larger the tattoo, the more sessions it will take to break down the ink particles.
What Will My Skin Look Like After Treatment?
Right after your treatment, your skin will have a white discoloration, and the area around the tattoo may become reddish and appear swollen. This is normal and will disappear slowly over time. Results take about 5 weeks after each treatment. Immediately after treatment, antibacterial ointment and gauze will be applied to the treated area to minimize infection.
Does laser tattoo removal hurt?
Patients have described treatments as feeling similar to the actual tattooing process. Your provider may offer numbing cream to minimize any possible discomfort throughout the treatment.
How long are the treatments?
Each session usually takes 10 - 30 minutes. You will continue to see lightening of your tattoo after each treatment as your body disposes of more pigment. Most patients will see improvement in their tattoos and results can be quite dramatic.
How many treatments are needed?
While your tattoo will begin fading after a single treatment, laser tattoo removal is a gradual process that usually takes a series of treatments. Depending on the size of your tattoo, as well as the colors, depth, and type of ink used, you will likely need about 4 to 10 treatments, spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart. Some tattoos cannot be removed completely, but most can at least be lightened significantly.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Occasionally, a whitening of the skin may occur. However, normal skin tone should return within 6 -12 months following your last treatment session. Since the ink used in tattooing can vary from tattoo to tattoo, some patients have only partial clearing even after several sessions.
Tattoo Removal Options
Before the advent of the medical laser, common techniques included cryosurgery, dermabrasion or excision. These methods can be painful and may often result in scarring. Laser treatments are safer. They are minimally invasive and only target the ink used in the tattoo process. Lasers are now the modern standard for tattoo removal, specifically the Q-switched laser.