Interested in removing your tattoo?  Wondering how laser tattoo removal works?  Here are answers to the 10 most commonly asked questions we are asked about our laser tattoo removal procedure.

  1. How do lasers remove a tattoo?

First, lasers deliver a specific wavelength of light energy on the tattoo to shatter the ink into smaller pieces. The laser delivers the energy to the tattoo in a very precise beam reducing the risk of injury to the surrounding skin.  The ink is then broken down into tiny micro-particles.   One analogy to understand this process, is to think of the ink like a sugar cube and the broken down particles as tiny sugar granules.

  1. What happens to the shattered ink?

Once the ink is broken down into tiny micro-particles, the ink will be eliminated through the body’s natural processes over the course of many weeks.

  1. How many sessions are required to remove a tattoo?

Laser tattoo removal often requires several sessions. The number of sessions needed often depends on the size of the tattoo, the amount and type of ink used, and the depth of the ink in the skin.  Another variable is who placed the tattoo, as tattoos applied by professionals usually need more sessions than tattoos placed by amateurs.

At Trilogy Health, our provider and team of medical experts can give you a better idea of the total number of sessions needed during your consultation and once your treatments begin.

  1. Please explain how the age, location, color and density of a tattoo     affects the removal process.  
  • Age –  In most cases, the older the tattoo, the easier it is to remove.
  • Color – The easiest ink colors to remove are black and red tattoos. Blue and green are often the most difficult ink colors to remove and generally requires more sessions for optimal clearance of the ink.
  • Location – The further away from the heart the tattoo is located such as on the hands or feet, the slower the removal of the ink.
  • Density – Thick tattoos are slower to remove than shaded tattoo areas that have lower ink density.
  1. Can you get a tattoo on the same area of the skin where a tattoo was removed?

Lasers eliminate about 95% of a tattoo.  Once there is sufficient fading away or removal of the tattoo, you can definitely get another tattoo in the same area.

  1. How much does laser tattoo removal cost?

Laser tattoo removal prices can start as low as $100 per session.  Prices vary based on the size of the tattoo, its location on the body and the colors of ink used.

  1. Are there any side effects or any downtime associated with the treatment?

You may experience temporary redness, swelling, bleeding or blistering at the laser tattoo removal treatment site that often resolves quickly.   The reaction, if any, is often similar to what is seen at the time of tattoo placement. Scarring is very uncommon with the Enlighten device since the laser does not go deep enough in the skin to cause a scarring response.   However those with a history of keloid scarring are still at a higher risk of scarring.  Most can return to regular activities immediately following the session.

  1. Is laser tattoo removal painful?

You may experience mild discomfort. The procedure is frequently described as the sensation of a rubber band being snapped against the skin.  At Trilogy Health, your comfort is important to us and we do offer potent numbing creams as well as the option of a local anesthetic when possible.

  1. Does it matter which laser device is used to remove your tattoo?

Yes!  Trilogy Health is proud to offer one of the most advanced laser tattoo removal devices on the market today, the Enlighten.  The Enlighten laser uses a cutting-edge laser technology known as picotechnology for tattoo removal and other purposes.  It’s one of the first real advances in tattoo removal technology in the last 20 years.  The previous standard used only nanotechnology, as epitomized by the Q-Switch laser.  The Enlighten device offers both nanotechnology and picotechnology platforms.  Nanotechnology is ideal for dense tattoos with dark inks and picotechnology is ideal for lighter tattoos or those that fail to fade further with nanotechnology.  Picotechnology delivers laser energy at an incredible speed of a trillionth of a second; 1000x faster than nanotechnology. This causes a rapid thermal expansion that shatters tattoo pigment into minuscule particles that are easier to be absorbed and excreted from the body.

In addition, the Enlighten offers two different wavelengths, 1064 nm and 532 nm for more versatility at removing different color inks.   For example, the 1064nm wavelength is ideal for treating darker ink colors such as black, blue and green.   The 532 nm is more effective against brighter ink colors such as red, yellow, purple.

What does this all mean…. The Enlighten’s dual technology, dual  wavelength options makes it more effective on color tattoos and 40% faster at tattoo clearance than devices such as the Q switch laser offering only offering nanotechnology or laser devices offering only picotechnology In other words, more powerful laser=fewer tattoo removal sessions = less pain and less cost.  If that is what you are hoping for in your laser tattoo removal device, then look no further than Trilogy Health since we are very proud to offer one of the only Enlighten devices found in San Diego!

  1. How can I learn more about laser tattoo removal?

To learn more about laser tattoo removal, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Ellyn Levine and her team of medical experts to answer any additional questions you may have.  Trilogy Health is here to help you start the fade with our cutting edge laser tattoo removal device called the Enlighten.  Go ahead and take the first step….contact us today!

Interested in Removing Old Tattoos?

Skip to content