In an earlier article, we elaborated upon the various advancement in tattoo removal (Read our article on Advancement In Tatoo Removal).
In today’s article, we will help educate you further on various things to remember during laser tattoo removal treatment procedures.
About tattoo removal
Laser tattoo removal is an innovative procedure that uses advanced laser light technology to remove unwanted ink from the skin.
Laser treatments are designed to use heat to break apart tattoo pigment. This allows the body to naturally remove the particles in the weeks that follow the treatment session.
Tattoo removal procedure
The procedure should only be performed by a skilled aesthetic practitioner with a sound understanding of skin tissue’s overall physiology and anatomy. It is crucial for aesthetic practitioners to be well trained in terms of the principle of laser, their types, various techniquesused, the accurate depth of penetration that should be applied, as well as laser-tissue interaction so that they can administer the laser treatment properly. Complications of laser include thermal burns, which can be so intense that they may cause discolouration of the skin, scarring, infection, reactivation of herpes simplex infections, and even skin disfigurement. Thus, proper education is very important to not only avoid but also to teach them to manage these complications.
During a laser tattoo removal procedure, the practitioner guides a laser over the tattoo area. Unlike a laser pointer that produces a continuous beam of light, tattoo removal lasers produce pulses of light energy.
Each energy pulse penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the tattoo ink. As the tattoo ink particles absorb the energy, they heat up and shatter into tiny fragments. Then, over the weeks following treatment, the body’s immune system flushes the tattoo ink particles away from the location, lightening the appearance of the tattoo. Each laser treatment breaks down more and more of the tattoo ink until none remains.
Laser devices for tattoo removal
The type of laser and wavelength chosen for removal largely depends on the patient’s tattoo colour and skin type. Q-switched (QS) lasers such as the QS Ruby, QS Nd: YAG, and QS Alexandrite until recently were the most effective devices for tattoo removal.
Q-switched (QS) lasers work by delivering high-powered pulses in very short pulse durations, which results in the fragmentation of the tattoo particles.
Due to their shorter pulse durations, picosecond lasers have also become the mainstay of tattoo removal. The picosecond pulse duration is considerably less than the thermal relaxation time of the tattoo pigment particles (< 10 nanoseconds), leading to rapid heating of the chromophore with minimal surrounding thermal damage.
(Read our article on Q-switched (QS) lasers Vs Pico Lasers).
How to prepare
Before laser tattoo removal, the aesthetic practitioner carefully goes through the patient’s medical history, including medication use, history of skin disorders or scarring, and past laser treatment procedures, if any. After that, the appropriate treatment option is determined.
The aesthetic practitioner also tends to offer specific instructions to prepare for laser tattoo removal, such as –
- The patient should follow his/her doctor`s directive and stop taking aspirin, Advil, or other blood-thinning medications for at least two weeks before and after the laser tattoo removal treatment to prevent excessive bleeding.
- Patients must clean and shave the hair on the treatment area(s) the day before laser treatment. There is no need to moisturise the skin before treatment, as that has no impact on how the skin will accept the laser. In reality, all we need is for the area to be completely clean and clear.
Post laser tattoo removal procedure
It is to be noted that laser tattoo removal treatment often tends to cause mild redness and bruising, which generally takes around 1–2 weeks to go away completely. Depending on the individual needs, additional post-care treatment instructions are given to the patient by the aesthetic practitioner. These may include-
- Patients can apply ice or cold compress to the treated area(s) as required for any burning or irritation associated with the laser tattoo removal treatment.
- One should not engage in any kind of strenuous exercise for at least 2-3 days after treatment because it may aggravate the inflammation and cause the skin to become highly inflamed.
- It is advised not to apply any chemical products such as Retin-AⓇ, TazoracⓇ, RenovaⓇ, AtralinⓇ, ZianaⓇ, VeltinⓇ, DifferinⓇ, the antibiotic Doxycycline, AHAs (lactic, glycolic, tartaric, etc.), BHAs (salicylic), benzoyl peroxide, vitamin C products, or tweeze, pick, rub, exfoliate, wax, use a depilatory on the treated area(s) for at least a few weeks after the laser tattoo removal treatment to reduce the risk of scarring.
- Patients are advised to avoid excessive heat on the treatment area(s); avoiding direct sun exposure of any kind also helps achieve better results. They are advised to use broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen after laser tattoo removal treatment.
About IIWAM training in laser tattoo removal treatment procedure
It is prudent that all Aesthetic practitioners undergo proper training in Aesthetic Medicine. The practitioner must balance between benefits & risks of the Aesthetic procedure and steps to mitigate complications if it occurs. At IIWAM, we call it understanding the procedure, the product, and the patient, and our trainers pay utmost attention to teaching the following subjects of laser tattoo removal under our best Cosmetic Dermatology Online Courses.
- What are the types of lasers?
- What are the layers of the skin?
- What are the principles of lasers?
- What is laser-tissue interaction?
- How do lasers work?
- What are laser complications?
- How to avoid laser complications?
- How to treat laser burns?
- Which are the safest lasers?
Apply for the best online aesthetic courses from IIWAM today.
About IIWAM Aesthetic Education
At IIWAM, we provide an International Aesthetic Certification program and also Advanced Online Aesthetic Courses for Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Aestheticians, and Spa Owners in the field of Aesthetic Medicine.
Our Institute is based in Malaysia and has international students from the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and other parts of Asia. With our insignia of “Be Certified, Be Recognized”, we develop knowledgeable, skilled, and confident aesthetic practitioners of international repute. Our Aesthetic training focuses on teaching the principles of Aesthetic procedures before venturing into Aesthetic clinical skills. IIWAM training Programs are a combination of Onsite Training, LIVE Online Webinars, and Online Learning. IIWAM is the first Institute in the World to have its Programs assured by City & Guilds of London and certified by European International University. IIWAM is also a registered CPD Training provider with CPD Standards Office in the UK and by CPD Malaysian Medical Association.
Onboard is our Assoc. Prof Dr. Morthy, the lead trainer, medical director of the International Institute of Wellness & Aesthetic Medicine (IIWAM), formerly known as Aesthetic Academy Asia (http://www.iiwam.ac/).
In the Aesthetic part of our Institute, we provide Advanced Aesthetic Medical Procedures that are Safe, Effective, and Affordable, offering a wide range of specialized treatment for All Your Aesthetic Needs.