Are you one of the thousands of people feeling tattoo remorse and considering q switch laser tattoo removal? There are times when a tattoo will lose its significance due to work-related, societal or personal reasons. More than 60% of people under the age of 30 report they have at least one tattoo, and as many as 50% of those report suffering from “tattoo remorse” at some time.
What methods are available for having that tattoo removed?
- Just a few years ago, there were four methods used for removing tattoos. Many were painful and left severe scarring.
- Surgery or “Excision”: Tattoos were removed with a scalpel.
- Cryosurgery: The tattooed skin was frozen then surgically removed.
- Dermabrasion: Essentially “sanding” the skin to remove the top layers of skin.
- Sal-Abrasion: Similar to dermabrasion, but salt was used to destroy the top two layers of skin.
- Addressing your tattoo remorse removal is easier today with the use of q switch laser tattoo removal technology.
- Q switch laser tattoo removal is an effective, bloodless and low risk technique.
- Q switch laser tattoo removal patients may require local or topical anesthesia.
- With q switch laser tattoo removal technology, tattoos can usually be removed in a single treatment. Large tattoos may require additional treatments.
What is a Q switched laser?
Also known as “giant pulse formation,” q switch laser tattoo removal is a technique where a laser produces a pulsed output beam. This facilitates the production of light pulses with extremely high peak power. This creates higher pulse energies, longer pulse durations and lower pulse repetition rates, which are used in the q switch laser tattoo removal technique.
How does the q switch laser tattoo removal technique work?
- Q switch laser tattoo removal utilizes these light pulses to remove tattoos without a high risk of scarring.
- These high-intensity light pulses pass harmlessly through the top layer of skin, where the pigment in the tattoo absorbs the energy of the laser.
- The pigmentation targeted by the q switch laser tattoo removal pulse breaks into small particles which are flushed away through the body’s natural cleansing systems.
- The area where the tattoo was removed must be kept clean to allow healing.
- The skin in the area treated by q switch laser tattoo removal methods may feel and look sunburned for a few days to a few weeks.
- The tattoo will continue to gradually fade until all of the pigment fragmented by the q switch laser tattoo removal has been absorbed.
Does one laser work for all types of tattoos?
There has been extensive research done in order to establish which light pulses work best and which is the most effective method of delivering the energy of the laser. As a result, the q switch laser tattoo removal method is highly effective.
Three types of lasers are included within the q switch laser tattoo removal technology. The type of q switch laser used will depend on the colors contained within the tattoo. Black and blue ink are the easiest to remove, and green and yellow are more difficult.
- Ruby q switch laser tattoo removal (QSRL) is most effective in removing green, blue and black inks. This laser penetrates the skin to a depth of approximately 1mm. It produces pulse spots up to 6.5mm. This laser wavelength tends to be well absorbed by melanin and may cause hypopigmentation or depigmentation.
- Nd:YAG q switch laser tattoo removal (Nd:YAG) is used to remove black and blue ink and tattoos on darker skin types. It is also effective at removing red pigmentation. This type of q switch laser tattoo removal is not as readily absorbed by melanin. The Nd:YAG laser has a spot range between 1.5 and 8mm and is often used to remove eyeliner tattoos.
- Alexandrite q switch laser tattoo removal (QSAL) has a slightly longer pulse duration and this causes less tissue splatter. This laser is effective in removing blue, green and black inks, but is not considered to be as effective as the other laser types.
- Technology is available combining all three lasers into one q switch laser tattoo removal device, allowing for removal of all colors.
Tattoos were once considered the “art” of motorcycle riders and sailors. Now they have become a growing part of our mainstream culture. However, if you suffer from “tattoo remorse” you are not alone and there is a solution available. A Certified Laser Specialist who utilizes q switch laser tattoo removal techniques will be able to eliminate that feeling of remorse along with that tattoo.
