Laser Therapy for Tattoo Removal

Tattoos have always been a part of New Zealand mainstream culture and the last decade has seen an explosion of tattoo mania. It is estimated that more than 250,000 New Zealanders have at least one tattoo and tattooing is big business.

However, in the last decade tattoo removal has become an even bigger business and it is estimated that more than 50% of individuals who have a tattoo, later regret having it and want it removed.

For the past 3 decades, tattoo removal was done using unsophisticated surgery techniques, all of which left individuals with a lot of scarring. However, with the recent advances in medical technology, laser therapy has become the gold standard for removal of tattoos. If you have a tattoo that you wish to have partially or completely removed, you should first consider your options and decide which method might be best for you.

Can all Tattoos be removed?

The majority of tattoos can be completely removed, unfortunately, not all tattoos are equal and some cannot be totally removed. Tattoos are meant to be permanent and with recent ink technology and professional tattoo artists improving their skills, tattoos imprinted in the last decade can be more difficult to remove. Even with the best technique, some residual pigment can remain in a few cases.

Home-made tattoo on arm	Home-made tattoo on leg	Professional tattoo	Bright coloured professional tattoo

Who is a candidate for Laser Tattoo Removal?

Individuals with fair skin and superficially placed tattoos on the arms, chest, buttocks or legs are the best candidates. Tattoos on dark skinned individuals, or tattoos on the ankles or fingers, areas where there is less body fat, can be a little slower to treat. A thorough discussion with your Invisible Ink consultant can better determine the potential success rate of laser tattoo removal for any given tattoo and skin type. Consulting with a professional and reputable tattoo removal specialist who is experienced and understands the procedure is important to ensure proper treatment and candidacy.

What determines the success of Tattoo Removal?

Complete removal of a tattoo is based on several things. The size, location, application, age, and colour of the tattoo all factor in, as well as the health of the patient and thus their body's ability to heal. Newer tattoos are generally more difficult to remove.

Does Tattoo Removal hurt?

Pain is your personal perception and everyone experiences it differently. There is a minimal amount of discomfort involved in this procedure. Prior to your treatment, you can numb the area with a high-power topical anaesthetic cream mixture, which is only available at our clinics.

As we treat the area, we cool the overlying skin with our Cryo skin cooler, resulting in additional anaesthesia. The Cryo skin cooler is intended to minimize pain and thermal injury during laser and dermatological treatments and provide temporary topical relief.

This combination of topical anaesthesia and cooling air makes the procedure as comfortable as possible.

Pain medications that thin blood and promote bruising like panadol, and aspirin are not recommended.

How long does each treatment take?

Our laser treatment is surprisingly fast and usually does not take more than a few minutes. This time frame varies depending on the tattoo. As a rough guide most laser treatments take a 10th of the time it took to receive the tattoo. However, multiple sessions are required to remove most tattoos. The multiple sessions are usually split over 4-8 week periods, depending on the size and complexity of the tattoo.

What happens at the Tattoo Removal clinic?

Once the individual is ready for treatment, protective eye shields are worn to protect the eyes from the laser. The skin's reaction to the laser is tested to determine the most effective energy. Treatment continues with rapid pulses from the laser. Depending on the size of the tattoo, 10-30 pulses of the laser may be required in one session.

What happens after each treatment?

After each laser treatment, ice is immediately placed on the tattoo to minimize swelling. After a few minutes, a topical antibiotic ointment is placed on the tattoo followed by a sterile dressing. The skin site should be left dry for a few days and should be cared for like sunburned skin.

What is the cost of Laser Tattoo Removal?

Tattoo removal is considered a cosmetic procedure and is usually not covered by any medical insurance plans but to be certain check your policy. Tattoo removal is more expensive than tattoo placement. Laser tattoo removal cost is dependent upon the size, type, and location of the tattoo and the number of visits required. Prior to treatment, discussing the costs of the procedure from start to finish is a great way to clarify the expense of the procedure up front.

How many treatment sessions are required?

Most simple and homemade tattoos are removed in 2-4 treatments scheduled about 4-8 weeks apart. Removing complex tattoos often requires a series of treatments spaced approximately 6- 8 or more weeks apart. Professional tattoos usually require 6-10 treatments for complete clearing. A large, professional colour tattoo can carry a larger treatment cost.

Are there other Tattoo Removal methods?

There are other methods of tattoo removal, though most of them are generally ineffective at permanent removal and may result in a greater risk of scarring. Today laser therapy has replaced most other treatment options and most tattoo removal specialists utilize laser technology as the sole tattoo removal treatment option. Some of the other methods include dermabrasion, camouflage, and excision of the tattoo. These methods may result in more damage to the skin and excess scarring. These techniques are usually used when laser is not an option. There are also tattoo removing creams on the market which are not proven to work. They are thought to assist with sloughing off skin cells and thus the tattoo layer by layer, which usually takes a long time and still may not reach the depths of the tattoo ink.