IPL Tattoo Removal

asked 2 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Will Kirby, DO
Question viewed 2,640 times
Tags: arms, tattoo

there is a tattoo on my arm of my ex...need to laser it off. Is IPL laser the best technique to get rid of the colored ink (lots of it)

5 answers to IPL Tattoo Removal

IPL for Tattoo Removal?

IPL should never been used for tattoo removal. Using this modality can lead to scarring, ink retention and dyspigmentation. The gold standard and widely recognized means by which to remove a tattoo is via Q-switched laser technology. An attempt to remove a tattoo with an IPL device is the sign of an uneducated health care provider and is a major source of liability.

Will Kirby, DO
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

IPL a tattoo No No

IPL would not be a great treatment for your tattoo. You need to seek the care of an expert who has a Q-Switched laser. There are many different types. We typically use multiple laser wavelengths of light to treat different colored tattoos.

Jerome Potozkin, MD
Walnut Creek Dermatologic Surgeon

Different types of laser

Different types of lasers will be useful depending on the color of your tattoo. You will require a Q-switched ruby or YAG laser for black and blue tattoos, a Q-switched KTP laser for red tattoos and/or a Q-switched Alexandrite laser for purple and orange colors. In general the darker the tattoos the easier to get rid of it as the pigment absorbs the laser energy better. Best of luck!

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

IPL is NOT a laser. IPL stands for "Intense Pulsed Light."

Lasers used for tattoo removal are single-wavelength, very high energy, very short pulse duration machines that deliver enough energy to cause the tattoo ink granules in the skin to vaporize, causing a bit of epidermal damage in the process. That is why there is healing involved after treatment, and why multiple treatments are needed. The minimal damage to skin allows maximum ink removal with minimal skin damage and scar risk. IPL machines are essentially full-spectrum, moderate high... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Infrared Coagulator Works For All Tattoo Colors

Lasers and other light therapy devices, such as the Infrared Coagulater (IRC), are the treatments of choice today. Lasers work by emitting short, intense pulses of light that pass through the skin and target the ink. The energy from the laser light fragments the large particles of tattoo pigment enabling the body’s natural immune system to more easily scavenge the pigment and carry it away. This process usually takes several weeks, and multiple treatment sessions are often... more

Nelson L. Novick, MD
New York Dermatologic Surgeon

Ask a question

Get Free Email Updates