In France, one out of ten people is tattooed. Should it be a true passion, permanent make-up or medical tattoo (with a pre-treatment), tattoo has also raised the question about “tattoo removal”.

The way the treatment is done: 

The laser penetrates the superficial layer of the skin and interacts with the tattoo’s ink to fragment it, color by color.  The organism will then gradually eliminate the affected pigment fragments in the weeks following the session.

The number of sessions varies depending on the quantity of ink which was injected, its depth when the tattoo is done and the macrophagic phagocytosis’ ability of the patient.

A time period of at least a month has to be maintained between two sessions in order to leave more time for the skin to clear the pigment that was fragmented during the session and to be able to evaluate whether it is necessary or not to later do another session. 

In most cases, this treatment does not leave any scares.

How does a session takes place?

An anaesthetic cream should be applied 1 to 2 hours before the treatment session.

During the session, the doctor and the patient’s eyes are protected with suitable protective eyewear.

“Tattoo removal” will be done with a tailored laser, point by point.

A session lasts between 10 to 20 minutes in general (depending on the tattoo’s surface area). 

After the laser session, a soothing cream is applied on the patient’s skin together with a cold pack to diminish the post-treatment edema.

After the session:

Local redness combined to a transient edema appear on the treated zone.

The edema can remain several days and “move around” (a tattoo removal edema located on the eyebrows can move towards the eyelids on the next day or two days after for example).

These reactions are transient and disappear in any case.

In some rare cases, phlyctenes or scabs can appear, and disappear few days after a specifically adapted healing cream is applied.

Final results of the session can be observed after a month.

Contraindications

-Pregnancy, as a principle

– Some skin conditions

– Pigmentation disorders

– Bleeding disorders

– Taking any photosensitive drugs and/or anticoagulants medicines

– Cautious use should be made on dark or tanned skins