Tattoo removal
Tattoo removal is far more complex process than making tattoo. This concerns first of all the amateur
tattoos because they most often lie in the skin deeper than professional ones. The complexity of tattoo
removal also depends on the color of pigments used for making a tattoo pattern.
There exist various methods of tattoo removal, namely:
- Resection;
- Skin resurfacing;
- Infrared coagulation (point infrared irradiation);
- Illumination with a “flash-lamp” generating highly intensive pulse light (IPL technology),
which, however, acts on definite pigment colors;
- Laser treatment – today’s most effective method.
Procedure
In most cases the procedure is not very painful and is usually performed without anesthesia. Only the
removal of facial tattoos or those on other sensitive skin areas require local anesthesia. In the process
of treatment, the paint granules located in the skin absorb laser light energy and get heated to a high
temperature. As a result, they are destructed and disintegrated into small particles that may be
eliminated from the body by autogenic phagocytes.
Cooling during the procedure within a few hours after its completion allows for minimizing possible
damages to healthy skin in the area adjacent to the site of paint granules penetration and decreases the
risk of side effects.
Possible side effects and complications
Laser removal of tattoos, as any other procedure, involves some risk and side effects. Sometimes the
color of paint granules may change into a darker one (“color inversion”) and may not be
removed with laser. Tattoos with the probability of light inversion are impossible to identify before the
procedure.
It also cannot be ruled out that due to pigmentation disorder the treated skin areas may become (most
often just temporarily) lighter or darker. However, in rare cases this pigmentation change may retain for
long. The more pigment is contained in the skin (dark skin type or sun tanning), the higher is the risk of
pigmentation change.
It is possible that on a very sensitive skin small crusts may form whose healing is not problematic.
Rarely, some temporary vesicles may appear, and this may lead to the formation of more visible superficial
crusts or scars.
Therefore it is often recommended to perform a trial treatment of a small area on the tattoo edge to
minimize the risk of light inversion, pigmentation disorder and other side effects.
Due to the procedure, such skin diseases as acne or herpes may be activated.
In case of allergy or hypersensitivity (e.g. to drugs, disinfectants, latex) there may occur temporary
itching, sneezing, skin rashes, vertigo or vomiting, and analogous more light reactions. Severe
complications, associated with vitally important functions (of heart, circulatory and respiratory systems,
kidneys) and long-term damages (e.g. organs failure, paralysis) are very rare.
Preparatory, concomitant or subsequent procedures are also risky to some extent. So, for example,
injections may sometimes be followed by local tissue damages (abscesses on injection sites, necroses,
irritations and/or inflammations of nerves or veins.
Extremely rarely during face treatment, injections may lead to closing the lumens of the central vessels
feeding the ocular or optic nerve, with a long-term vision impairment up to the loss of visual function.
If as an exception, the local or general anesthesia (narcosis) is indicated, you will receive relevant
explanations.
Success of the procedure
Immediately after the procedure the tattoo pigment still remains visible. Elimination of paint particles
lasts up to 2 months. Then you have to agree upon the time of the secondary procedure. The number of
secondary procedures depends on the paint color, skin thickness, tattoo intensity and location in the
skin, and also on the patient skin sensitivity. Paints of different colors react to laser irradiation
differently.
Before the procedure
To minimize the risk of pigmentation change, you should avoid excessive UV-irradiation (solarium/sun
baths) during 4 weeks before the procedure, or use sun-protection cream with SPF = 25 or higher.
After the procedure
After the procedure one can observe more or less pronounced reddening of the treated skin area. The
treated area should be cooled after the procedure for about 2 hours. To this effect, it is best to use
cooling packages storable at home in the refrigerator freezer.
You should avoid excessive UV-irradiation during 4-6 weeks after the procedure. If sun exposure is
inevitable, apply to the treated area the sun-protection cream with SPF = 25 or higher.
To wash the treated area, you should use only pH-neutral soap or shower gel. Avoid being exposed to water
for a long time. Avoid using cosmetics with aromatic substances and agents for artificial tanning within
first 2 months after the procedure.
Do not traumatize the skin.
In case of crust formation, do not remove the crusts.
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