4 Things You Didn't Know About Laser Tattoo Removal

Nearly 30% of people in the United States have at least one tattoo, and almost half of all millennials have one. But as many as 25% of those who have a tattoo say they regret getting it.

If you fall in that 25%, though, you’re in luck. Unlike previous tattoo removal procedures, which were painful, not necessarily effective, and caused scarring, laser tattoo removal techniques significantly reduce the appearance of your unwanted tattoo with only minimal side effects.

At Associates in Family Medicine, located in Clairmont, San Diego, California, Dr. Mahshid M. Hamidi and our staff use laser tattoo removal to get rid of unwanted ink. While you might know a bit about how tattoos are created and removed, we’ve got some information you may not know that can help you decide that this removal process is right for you.

How are tattoos created, and why are they permanent?

A tattoo is a permanent form of body art, where the artist injects different colors of inks and pigments (dyes) under your skin’s surface so they don’t wear off. They also use multiple layers of ink, helping to build up the image and make it vibrant.

Normally, the immune system’s white blood cells work to remove foreign particles from your body by sending them to the liver; however, the ink particles used for tattoos are too large for the cells to remove, so they become a permanent addition.

What is laser tattoo removal?

Lasers focus a single wavelength of light into a high-intensity beam. A laser that removes tattoos may incorporate multiple wavelengths to target the different colors in the tattoo. Black ink is the easiest to remove because it absorbs all visible light wavelengths.

Dr. Hamidi operates the lasers using pulses of light to heat the large ink particles and break them into smaller ones that the immune system can safely remove.

Today’s innovative lasers can treat ink colors that used to be problematic, like yellows and white. Laser tattoo removal also requires fewer treatments than previous removal methods and offers impressive results compared with dermabrasion or surgery.

Because the tattoo artist injected several layers of ink, you’ll need more than a single session to remove your tattoo, even if it’s a small one. However, you’ll notice it becomes less visible after each treatment.

To allow your skin enough time to heal fully, Dr. Hamidi schedules follow-up removal sessions every 6-8 weeks until the tattoo is completely gone. That’s an important point, in case you want your tattoo removed in time for a special occasion, like a wedding.

4 things you didn’t know about laser tattoo removal

Here are four things you might not know about laser tattoo removal.

First, the laser targets only the pigment in the tattoo; the surrounding skin isn’t harmed in any way.

Second, lasers are less painful than dermabrasion or surgery. Some people say the pain is comparable to getting the tattoo in the first place, while others think it feels more like the snap of a rubber band. In either case, you don’t need anesthesia, and the pain quickly fades.

Third, lasers don’t create an open wound like previous removal techniques. At most, you’ll have a bit of redness or blistering, but you won’t need stitches or a dressing while you heal.

Fourth, while you may need multiple sessions to completely remove a tattoo, each session isn’t that long compared to older methods, particularly if you’re treating a small area. You can be in and out of the office on your lunch break.

If you’re having second (and third) thoughts about that tattoo you don’t like and no longer want, Associates in Family Medicine can help eliminate it with laser tattoo removal. Give us a call at 858-565-6394 to schedule an appointment, or send us a message online. We also accept telehealth appointments if you’d like to discuss the process before scheduling a tattoo removal.