How many sessions do I need to remove each tattoo? What are the best lasers?

Question

I got the flowers on my inner arm in April 2018. I hate the placement. It sometimes looks like a bruise. The one on my left shoulder was done in April 2019. It is also has a bad placement since it curves with my shoulder. I want them completely gone as soon as possible. I'm Black so my skin is very tanned/midbrown and may be darker than it appears in photo. What is recommended for me?

J. Jason Wendel, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question in regards to tattoo removal. Laser tattoo removal is the gold standard for removing unwanted ink. Several treatments will be required to achieve desired results for complete removal. It is important to seek out an office that has the proper laser to use for your skin type which is suggested to be a Q-switch Yag (1064 wavelength) To be sure what is best for you, see two or more board-certified providers in your area for a complete evaluation to make sure you are a good candidate and that it is safe for you to have treatment. I hope this helps.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hello Soluna.  The tattoo on the left shoulder looks a bit more straightforward for your skin type.  4-6 treatments likely for a q-switched yag laser.  The laser technology does matter somewhat but more important is the person using it. There are many q-switched yag lasers that can do the job.  The flowers are more complicated.  The challenge is that with your skin type, removing green and red ink can also result in the lightening of the natural color of the skin underneath.   You can certainly move forward and a good practitioner will be able to remove I, but the expectation should be (especially for green parts) that you may have a lighter colored skin in the area treated for red and green.  A q-switched Alexandrite or Ruby laser is more appropriate for the green color and the q-switched yag is still fine for the red.  Best of luck.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

This can be removed with laser tattoo removal. It will take a series of treatments. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a laser tattoo removal expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Glenn Murray, MBBS · Answer

At my clinic we recommend the PicoSure laser as it requires less treatments, on average 6-9 to remove a tattoo. Due to your skin type, we would recommend you have a patch test prior to a treatment, as your skin is at a much higher risk of burning and hypopigmentation. Warm Regards,Dr Glenn Murray, Absolute Cosmetic Medicine

Jean M. Casello, MD · Answer

There are many factors that determine how many treatments are needed to remove a tattoo.  Skin type, type of ink used, placement and color of the tattoo are some of the factors that need to be considered when estimating the number of treatments needed.  It will be somewhere around 8-10 treatments for the black tattoo and around 10-14 treatments for the colored tattoo. This may be adjusted up or down depending how the ink clears.  You should look for a provider that offers pico technology for tattoo removal. Pico technology can break the ink down into smaller particles resulting in better results. In our office we use the Lumenis pico laser which treats several ink colors as well as incorporating pico technology.

Mark A. Blair, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question and for including a photo.  The way a laser rids the skin of unwanted ink is, it shatters the ink into tiny particles and the body absorbs those particles.  The latest technology in laser tattoo removal is the pico-second technology.  The PicoWay Laser (Candela/Syneron) uses photoacoustic impact/pressure waves rather than photothermal/heat.  This process has less heat, therefore it is more comfortable and the chances of hyperpigmentation are less.  The Pico-second pulse shatters the ink into even smaller particles, allowing the body to more easily absorb the ink.  This type of device can usually remove unwanted ink in about half as many treatments as the traditional Q-switch device.  These tattoos are pretty simple and small, the flowers that are red and green should resolve pretty easily, If I had to guess, with the PicoWay technology, it may take 3-4 treatments. The other tattoo, black may take a few more than that, the script will probably clear faster than the heart that looks denser in ink.Good Luck!

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