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GARY WAGNER, M.D. DERMATOLOGY |
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TATTOO REMOVAL
Tattooing has become increasingly popular in the past few years. There are instances, however, when tattoos need to be removed. In the past there were few options and these involved dermabrasion or surgical removal. These procedures always left unacceptable scars. In the past 10 years, lasers have been developed to target the colored tattoo pigment which breaks up these larger pigment granules into smaller particles that the body then eliminates. In this way the laser facilitates removal of the unwanted tattoo while minimizing the possibility of scarring. Our laser is capable of targeting the black and red pigments and is capable of removing tattoos with these two colors but is not effective for tattoos with other colors. Laser treatments for tattoos involves a series of treatments (usually five to ten) at two month intervals. The skin is prepped with a topical anesthetic (LMX-4) and covered with saran wrap for at least 2 hours prior to laser treatment. The tattoo is treated in our office with the Nd:YAG laser. There is an immediate but transient white frost that occurs over the skin where the tattoo was treated and these become red welts and are followed by a dark crust. This treated area is then covered with petrolatum jelly and gauze for the next 6 to 10 days for protect ion. If the crusts are removed or scratched, there is a greater chance of scarring. Once the crusts are clear, dressings are no longer needed and the body will gradually remove some of the tattoo pigment.
The above tattoo photographs illustrate the effectiveness of this treatment after one treatment. Obviously more treatments are required for full cosmetic benefits and re-treatments are usually scheduled at three month intervals. Very dark tattoos and professionally applied tattoos are slower to respond and require more treatments than do amateur and older tattoos. If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment to discuss this further, please call our office. |
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