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An IPL Laser Accidentally Burned my Tattoo, Will It Be Permanently Damaged?

Hello, I have a tattoo and had an IPL treatment to remove hair around the tattoo and it accidentilly reached my tattoo and burned it. Will it be permanently damaged? Small pieces of black skin ar coming off and I am really worried.

Doctor Answers 2

Effect of IPL on tattoo

March 19th, 2013
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The tattoo will be slightly lighter, as the IPL destroys and "lifts" darker pigment molecules such as the ones found in your tattoo.  

Donald B. Yoo, MD


Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 58 reviews

March 19th, 2013

Effect of IPL on tattoo

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

The tattoo will be slightly lighter, as the IPL destroys and "lifts" darker pigment molecules such as the ones found in your tattoo.  

Donald B. Yoo, MD


Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 58 reviews

IPL laser burned off tattoo

February 26th, 2013
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IPL targets color and pigment, so it would be very much attracted to inks in tattoos. When doing IPL on people with tattoos (that want to keep them!) it's best to cover the tattoo itself with something to prevent the light from hitting it at all. The treatment may in fact have removed some of the ink, and that's what is crusting off. In the treated areas the tattoo will probably lighten or smear a bit. But it won't be gone completely and you can have the tattoo redarkened again. Ask your laser technician to appropriately cover the tattoo next time before treatment!

F. Victor Rueckl, MD
February 26th, 2013

IPL laser burned off tattoo

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

IPL targets color and pigment, so it would be very much attracted to inks in tattoos. When doing IPL on people with tattoos (that want to keep them!) it's best to cover the tattoo itself with something to prevent the light from hitting it at all. The treatment may in fact have removed some of the ink, and that's what is crusting off. In the treated areas the tattoo will probably lighten or smear a bit. But it won't be gone completely and you can have the tattoo redarkened again. Ask your laser technician to appropriately cover the tattoo next time before treatment!

F. Victor Rueckl, MD
*Treatment results may vary

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.