Laser Tattoo Removal Chicago

At MINTS Medical, Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad and his team offer Laser Tattoo Removal treatment. Give us a call or book a free consult online to schedule an appointment.

Laser Tattoo Removal Q & A

WHAT IS LASER TATTOO REMOVAL?

Laser tattoo removal is a procedure that utilizes a highly concentrated light beam to get rid of any unwanted tattoos without any major side effects.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

This procedure utilizes a high-intensity light beam which breaks up the colors of the pigment to remove the tattoo. Since the black pigment is able to absorb light of all wavelengths, it is the easiest color to remove. Different colors are treated with different lasers, depending on the color of the pigment.

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE OF LASER TATTOO REMOVAL?

First of all, it is important you consult a professional so that he can assess the tattoo you want to get removed and give advice on the procedure such as how many treatments your tattoo will require, depending on the size, age and color of the tattoo. Other factors that are considered before tattoo removal is the skin color of the person and the depth of the tattoo pigment in your skin.

Generally, a laser tattoo removal session begins with wearing an eye protection. The person performing the treatment will check how your skin reacts to the laser, in order to establish the most effective settings of the laser for you. He will then use beam pulses of high-intensity light using the laser through the outer layer of your skin so it gets absorbed only by the pigment of your tattoo.

Tattoos that are smaller in size will need lesser pulses, whereas large tattoo will require more in order to get rid of them. However, in both the cases, if you want to completely remove the tattoo, you will have to get the treatment repeated a few more times. After every sitting, the tattoo will become substantially lighter.

While the procedure can be uncomfortable, the majority of the people do not require anesthesia. However, depending on where the tattoo is located, a local anesthesia cream may be applied before the procedure.

After the treatment, you may be given an ice pack to place on the tattoo area for relieve. An antibiotic cream will be applied with a bandage to protect the treated area.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF LASER TATTOO REMOVAL?

Laser tattoo removal is relatively safer than other techniques used for tattoo removal, such as dermabrasion, salabrasion and excision, because the laser treatment is precise and directly targets the tattoo pigment. However, it does carry a few risks that should be considered before the procedure:

• The area treated with the laser is susceptible to infections and a permanent scar is also a rare possibility.
• It is important to note that complete removal of the tattoo is unlikely and certain colors respond better to the treatment. Removing colors like blue and black using the laser is more effective.
• It may cause hypopigmentation, in which the treated skin is lighter than the surrounding skin or hyperpigmentation, in which the area of the skin that is treated with the laser is darker than the surrounding skin.
• This treatment may not be effective for cosmetic tattoos such as eyebrow, eyeliner, lip liner etc as it may cause them to get darker.