Nd: Yag Q-switched lasers with four different wavelengths are used in the removal of tattoos, lesions containing all kinds of pigment (color), skin rejuvenation and the treatment of vascular problems.
High-energy laser pulses are absorbed by the pigments without damaging the skin, separated into pieces and taken into the cell and removed from that area. It is a method that has a fast recovery process, few side effects, and can be safely applied to any skin type. The demand for tattoo removal treatments is increasing undeniably.
Close to 20 million people in the United States have at least one tattoo, and recent research estimates that 17% of these people would like to have their tattoos removed.
The reasons for tattoo removal are varied and there are multiple treatment options. As technical advances have been made not only in tattoo removal but also in versatile laser systems, treatments for a variety of skin types and Asian skin types have also been made possible.
So how does laser tattoo removal take place?
Because a single wavelength laser system will only be effective in a limited color range, and it would be quite expensive to buy lasers of different wavelengths, manufacturers have combined multiple wavelengths into a single system. In these multi-source systems, in general, the base wavelength is separated into other wavelengths with different technologies, allowing to work in more color ranges.
Many believe that the 1064nm Nd:YAG laser is ideal as a starting wavelength. The use and advantages of the 1064nm wavelength in aesthetic applications have been extensively researched and reported down to the last detail.
One of its most attractive characteristics is that this wavelength is hardly absorbed by melanin and can be used safely on darker skin types.
The color of the pigment is very important in tattoo removal. While tattoos or permanent make-ups containing black and blue pigments can be easily removed, those with yellow and green pigments are very difficult to treat.
Professional tattoos can be easily removed when it comes to regular session intervals and the recommended number of sessions (the exact number of sessions is not given, on average 6-20 sessions).
There should be at least 6 weeks between two sessions of tattoo removal. The number of sessions varies depending on the color of the pigment used in the tattoo and the depth at which the pigment is given. Light skin is always preferred.
Although the sessions are not very painful, they can be done after being anesthetized with Emla cream. White discoloration and sometimes bleeding spots may occur on the tattoo or permanent make-up. These epithelial changes heal within 3-7 days. After the application, it is sufficient to apply a pomade and sunscreen such as Bepanthene, which provides wound healing.
