I have a large tattoo on my scalp. Will I lose my hair if I remove it with laser?

Question

If yes, how to minimize the risk?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

It is possible that some tattoo lasers may damage the follicles and the hair will grow more slowly. However, the hair should grow normally following treatment. Keep in mind, it will take a series of treatment for laser tattoo removal. Prp and progesterone can help improve hair growth. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Kory Kitagawa, MD · Answer

I use the PicoWay laser for tattoo removals. It uses very short and intense bursts of ultrasound energy that last just picoseconds to shatter the tattoo pigment. This is done at the superficial level of the skin – far from the base of hair follicles. Also, the type, intensity and duration of the ultrasound energy is not sufficient to destroy a hair follicle.When I remove hair, I use light- and heat-based lasers, not ultrasound lasers. This is because the energy needs to be stronger and last longer – milliseconds, rather than picoseconds. When lasering a hair shaft, the energy requires time to travel down into the follicle and destroy it. After your laser tattoo treatment, you may have some temporary loss of hair, but it should grow back. A board-certified dermatologist who is a tattoo-removal expert will be able to help you remove your tattoo without affecting your hair.

Suzanne Kilmer, MD · Answer

You may lose some hair but the
hair removal lasers use a much longer  pulse width so that they can better
destroy the hair follicle. The ultrashort pulse widths used to shatter the ink
and allow the tattoo to be removed are too short to permanently remove most
hairs but they can stun hair growth for several months .

I have a large tattoo on my scalp. Will I lose my hair if I remove it with laser?

Answers (3)

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I have a large tattoo on my scalp. Will I lose my hair if I remove it with laser?

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tattoo Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.