Tattoo Removal Q&A
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Tattoo Removal Question

asked 11 months ago by mellbee in Calgary, AB
Latest answer by Timothy Jochen, MD
Question viewed 90 times
Tags: candidate, not working

I had a test spot done yesterday with an NDYag Laser on my black ink tattoo.I had swelling and redness but no scabbing and while the shading looks to have disappeared, there has been no change to the outline. Does this mean it is not working? Should I avoid following through with further treatments as I was expecting some change and told to expect scabbing. Is it normal to not see a change at all in the thicker tattoo outline? I am black with caramel colored skin so am cautious with this removal

2 answers to Tattoo Removal Question

+1

Don’t Give Up After One Treatment for Laser Tattoo Removal

We do look for pinpoint bleeding with the 1064 YAG treatment, which would lead to a little bit of scabbing. However, for the first time, we don’t want to turn up the energy too high on the laser, otherwise you could get scarring. This is particularly true for African Americans because the pigment in your skin can be recognized by the laser. So, it is not unusual to not have scabbing after your test treatment. With each subsequent treatment, they will increase the energy if you... more
Timothy Jochen, MD

Palm Springs Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Tattoo removal

It is usually at least several weeks before the effectiveness of any single laser tattoo removal treatment can be fully assesed. Further, where tattoo pigment has been more densely applied, such as in a black outline, it may take several treatments before it appears that anything is happening. You should speak to the physician who is performing your treatments as they should be able to clearly explain the mechanics of the process, the limitations and what are the realistic expectations you... more
Frank B. McCutcheon, Jr., MD

Asheville Plastic Surgeon

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