Can Switching Lasers After 4 Tattoo Removal Treatments Cause Scarring or Affect the Removal Process?

I have had 4 treatments with the Alma Harmony LX Yag Q-switched laser and after some more researching am thinking about switching providers and thus the laser they use. The laser used at the new provider is the Cynosure Revlite Q-switched YAG. My tattoo is black with blue/green ink. I already see significant fading on the black ink. Also will the change of laser used for the treatments affect my skin (e.g. Cause scarring) or the removal process? Which laser is best?

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2 Doctor Answers | Asked by Alma3713 in Sandy Springs, Ga

Doctor Answers (2)
Community Comments (1)

New Laser for Tattoo Removal

Hi Alma, There is not an increased risk of scarring if you switch providers and have a different laser used for your treatment. I find that both of the lasers that you mentioned are effective for black tattoo ink, but that blue and green tattoo ink is the toughest to remove. In my experience, the 694nm ruby Q-switched laser is the most effective for removing blue and green tattoo ink.

Which Laser for Tattoo Removal?

Hi Alma. The Revlise is a better laser in our opinion. It would not cause scarring just because you switched laser, rather scarring is related to aggressive treatments that cause blistering and bleeding. Another option for the green ink is finding a practitioner that uses the Alexandrite q-switched laser. This would likely lead to the best results for the green ink.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

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Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

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Laser2013 24 Jan 2013

You should see better results with the Revlite. It's a 1.6 Joule laser with an 8mm spot size. The Alma is 1:0 j with max 6mm spot. We are seeing an increasing number of people using groupons and switching providers numerous times. Laser setting protocols vary during the course of treatments. Not knowing exactly what was done before forces us to back-off on the settings to avoid injury. That causes clients to have more treatments which hurts the economic savings from switching numerous times.

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