How precise is the laser for tattoo removal? I have my arm blacked out.

Question

I was just wondering how precise the laser for tattoo removal was. I have my arm blacked out and if I wanted to laser specific areas to create a design with the negative space would this be possible.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello,
Most patients see significant fading after several sessions and reach a satisfactory point. Each successive treatment is often has less effect than the previous.The pico laser is considered the most precise in comparison to other lasers.Keep in mind, not all patients can have 100% of removal, of the tattoo but the best approach is a combination of pico and nano technology. Depending on how many sessions you have, the lines may look faded instead of completely erased. Be sure to see a licensed technician if you decide to go froward with the treatments.The body will eliminate the tattoo in 1 of 3 different ways including lymphatic removal, macrophages removing the particles and simple elimination through the skin. The tattoo takes time to be eliminated and patients do not return when it is 100% eliminated unless for another treatment. Best,Anil Shah

Adaeze Okeke, MD · Answer

Hi, theoretically it is possible but you would need to find a laser tattoo removal professional who is also artistic enough to create the design you are looking for. Also tattoo's do not fade precisely and evenly as the ink us usually not deposited in a unified manner. Good luck, I hope that helps!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Laser tattoo removal is the gold standard for removal. Tattoos should be removed with q switched or pico lasers. It will take a series of treatments. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a laser tattoo removal expert. Best, Dr. Emer

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Laser tattoo removal is not tended for the creation of new designs, it is tended for the breaking down the ink used. There is typically gradual fading of the colors of ink with each treatment and it can take up to 6-10 sessions to see 70-95% removal. I recommend having a consultation with an expert to determine the best treatment plan for you. Best of Luck!

Richard Rosol, MD · Answer

Attempting artwork with laser tattoo removal is iffy, at best. Variations in ink depth will make predictable results very unlikely.

Robert Pettis, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.
In our practice, we use the PicoSure by CynoSure for laser tattoo removal.  We are quite experienced with it and have successfully worked on many partial tattoo removals to create cleared areas for new art work. Just as a colleague responded, PicoSure does allow for very precise placement of the laser energy. Even so, partial clearing treatments should be done by a clinician who is highly experienced in such.  All that being said, even the most sophisticated tattoo removal lasers, such as PicoSure, are not intended to be used as a design tool, and it would not be reasonable to expect a clinician to be able to create an "artistic" change to your tattoo.  You will likely want to have some "touch up" done after the removal to maintain the artistic component of your tattoo.  
You would be best seeking out a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for consultations, and ask to see before and after pictures of work they have done on similar tattoos.
All the best to you!

Jared Mallalieu, DO · Answer

This can be done but there are caveats. The laser uses varying spot size - that is to say the spot of the laser ranges from 5mm to 10mm depending on the laser. So when fired, the laser would "remove" a zone of ink which reflected the spot size. What you could then do is go back and have the design perfected by a tattoo artist. I've seen this done once in my practice with a reasonable result. Best of luck, Dr. M

Jessica H. Kim, MD, FAAD · Answer

Laser tattoo treatments are highly specific for breaking down the ink used.  However, it is NOT intended to create new designs.  There is typically a gradual fading of the ink colors with each treatment.  Consult with a cosmetic dermatologist.

James McMahan, MD (retired) · Answer

Thank you for your question.  Some lasers have an aiming beam, which allows very precise placement of the laser light (Picosure for example).  Others don't (eg Medlite C6).  It also depends on how intricate the tattoo is and how precise you need it to be.  Most tattoos require a low energy to begin with to avoid scarring and, in order to lower the laser energy, a larger spot size has to be used making it harder to be precise. The higher you go up in energy over time, the smaller the laser spot size is and the easier it is to get into smaller spaces and be more precise. Be sure to see someone who is very experienced in laser tattoo removal.

How precise is the laser for tattoo removal? I have my arm blacked out.

Answers (9)

More Tattoo Removal Questions

I have small pimple-like bumps 10 days after laser tattoo removal, is this normal?

Is it easy to remove a new tattoo with pink/purple/brown colours. How many sessions will this approximately require? (Photos)

Is there a difference between treating dermal pigmentation and tattoos with laser?

Tattoo Removal: what is the best laser to remove the shading in my tattoo?

Is 100% (literally 100%) pigment/tattoo clearance possible today?

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS