|
Tired of that old tattoo? Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Centre can help.
We are experts in laser tattoo removal.Until recently patients
desiring tattoo removal always traded their tattoo for a significant
scar. New state-of-the-art Q-Switched laser systems available at
Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Centre
can now remove tattoos with little or no scarring.
Professional and amateur tattoos as well as tattoos resulting from
accidents (traumatic tattoos) have been treated with gratifying
results. Cosmetic tattoos (eye liner, eyebrow and lip liner) can
also be removed by laser surgery.
The availability of multiple tattoo lasers on site greatly increases
our success in the treatment of complex multi-colored tattoos. Fees
for tattoo removal are per treatment and determined by size, color
and complexity.
Decorative tattooing in humans is an ancient art form the origins of
which can be traced as far back as the stone and bronze ages.
Unfortunately, at the present time, tattooing remains popular with
role models such as athletes and entertainer's, serving as strong
impetus for teenagers and young adults seeking tattoos.
Unfortunately, tattoo removal using most non-laser methods, has
disadvantages such as incomplete pigment removal, non-selective
tissue destruction and unsatisfactory cosmetic results such as
atrophic or hypertrophic scarring. Older methods of tattoo removal
have involved the application of caustic chemicals such as Phenol
Sulphuric acid. All of these methods are associated with a high
incidence of scarring and pigmentation disturbances and are no
longer used.
Slightly more refined methods of tattoo removal have included
abrasion with salt (salabrasion), cryosurgery, dermabrasion,
electrocoagulation, and the use of an infrared coagulator. All of
these procedures are associated with significant scarring and in
most instances the result of tattoo removal looks much worse than
the tattoo itself. Conventional surgical methods have been used to
treat tattoos however their use is limited to the removal of small
tattoos. Surgical removal of large tattoos usually yields disastrous
results and therefore has been abandoned.
The use of lasers to remove tattoos began in the early '90s with the
first report of successful tattoo removal using Q-Switched Ruby
lasers. Ruby lasers are still quite useful for tattoo removal
however, they must be used carefully in dark skin type individuals
since coincident melanin absorption at 694nm can be associated with
prolonged but most often temporary loss of pigmenting treatment
areas.
In 1991 the Q-Switched Neodymium-YAG laser was
introduced for tattoo removal. Theoretically, this laser with a
longer wavelength (1064nm) would allow deeper penetration and at the
same time exhibit less melanin absorption. Early studies using
this
laser showed that it was very effective in removing dark blue black
ink seen in amateur and professional tattoos and especially useful
in removing dark ink from cosmetic eyeliner tattoos. The addition of
a frequency doubling crystal to this laser, provided laser output at
532nm or green light, which also aided the removal of tattoos
containing red and orange ink.
At the present time the Q-Switch YAG laser is the work horse of
tattoo removal. Unfortunately, certain ink colors most often green
do not respond to this laser necessitating the use of Ruby or
Alexandrite lasers for complete removal. In 1992, a Q-Switched
Alexandrite laser was introduced operating at a wavelength of 755nm.
The Alexandrite crystal emits energy that is longer than the Ruby at
694nm and significantly shorter than the ND-YAG laser at 1064nm.
Excellent results have been obtained in the treatment of blue-black
and green tattoos using this laser. At the present time,
Laser &
Cosmetic Surgery Centre
offers all currently available tattoo treatment modalities on site
including Q-Switched Ruby, Q-Switched Alexandrite and Q-Switched ND-YAG
lasers. The availability of all three lasers greatly increases our
success in the treatment of complex multi-colored tattoo.
Other uses for tattoo lasers are removal of traumatic
tattooing resulting from mechanical penetration of foreign particles
into the body. These tattoos are most likely associated with falls
or "road rash" and can be easily eliminated by treatment using
tattoo removal lasers. In addition, unwanted or misplaced cosmetic
tattoos such as eyeliner and lip liner tattoos can be removed by
means of Q-Switched lasers. In summary, lasers available at the
Center for Laser Surgery provide an excellent means of tattoo
removal with little or no scarring. These lasers offer significant
advantages over previous methods for tattoo removals and are
presently the treatment of choice and standard
of care for tattoo
removal. Please call us for your free
tattoo removal consultation. |
