Tattoo Removal
If you are thinking of removing, modifying or getting a cover-up tattoo you are not alone.
About 50% of Americans are doing the same thing. Published studies show that tattoo removal has increased by 34% in just the last two years. This article further concluded that the main reason for this surge was Job relates pressures.
In this tight job market not only professionals but also employers in restaurants, banks, hospitals, the armed forces, police dept. and even Disney world are shunning visible tats.
Thanks to Laser technology bad tattoos are no longer a permanent mistake.
Tropicalaser specializes in Tattoo removal.
Our business concept is simple. Remove tattoos as safely and quickly as possible at affordable rates using the best technology in the market.
To assure patient safety and efficacy all our experienced staff is trained and supervised by a certified laser tattoo specialist.
TOP 10 questions about TATTOO REMOVAL:
1). HOW DOES LASER LIGHT REMOVE TATTOOS?
Laser is the most effective, non-invasive method of safe tattoo removal.
Modern lasers are specially designed for tattoo removal. They emit specific laser wavelengths that target the encapsulated ink deposited under your skin. Each color ink requires a different wavelength.
The laser light breaks the ink into thousands of tiny particles that can be naturally carried away by the immune cells and removed by our body’s cleaning process.
While the tattoo itself was likely applied in a single session, the process of the removal will necessitate a number of laser passes. This number depends on several factors: the color of the ink, the type and age of ink, the location on the body and finally on the patient’s own individual immune response. Example; smokers take longer to clear the ink; patients on certain immune suppressant medications require more treatments and different settings.
Studies show this ink removal response continues clearing up to 3 months after the last laser treatment.
Treatments were generally spaced one pass every 4-6 weeks apart taking up to a year, however using newer techniques some tattoos can now be removed in as little as one or two treatments.
Each pass may take from 5 to 30 minutes.
2). WHAT CAN I EXPECT, DOES THE LASER TREATMENT HURT?
Yes there is discomfort, but we minimize it by applying Zimmer super cold air and if necessary topical anesthetic creams. Most patients find the discomfort similar to that of applying the tattoo. With the R20 and R0 technique the secondary passes are hardly felt.
3). HOW LONG CAN THE WHOLE PROCESS TAKE?
It depends on the above stated factors, and the technique you choose, but in general terms here is our experience.
Black is the easiest color to remove expect 95% removal. Thankfully 90% of tattoos are mostly black. The next easiest to remove is red.
Amateur black tattoos are a grayish color and the easiest to remove because there is less ink and tend to be more superficial. It can be removed in as little as 4 passes, one treatment R20 or R0.
Bear in mind that the ink industry is not regulated and tattoo artists take creative license with the color black and buy them premixed from different sources or mix it with other colors to make their own secret formulas. Sometimes we discover after removing the “black” ink we find green or blue colors that have been mixed. This will need further treatments with another wavelength and delay the removal process.
Professionals black tattoos are deeper, have more ink, are darker and can take up to 10 passes, if we have no surprises. They will require a minimum of Two to three treatments R20 or R0.
Treatments may still be spaced one pass every 4-6 weeks depending on individual factors or preference however newer technique allows us to speed up this process and in certain cases do up to four passes the same day.
Each pass can take only from 5 to 30 minutes.
4). WHAT ABOUT OTHER COLORS, CAN YOU REMOVE ALL COLORS?
No we can’t.
There are certain colors that do not absorb laser light very well. These are white, yellow, and flesh color. The good news is that these colors are easier for the body to absorb. They are the first to fade naturally and blend with the skin color, usually after a few years. Anything mixed with these colors is more difficult to remove and might need a special laser and even then we can only promise SIGNIFICANT FADING. They will continue fading with time. Our goal is to always discuss with the patient what is cosmetically acceptable.
Difficult colors examples:
Light blue (sky blue) is a mixture of blue and white therefore difficult. Dark blue is blue and black, easier to remove.
Light green (fluorescent green) is green, blue and yellow therefore more difficult.
Dark green is black and green, easier to remove.
Light orange is red and white, more difficult
These colors combinations require more passes. Generally after approximately 12 passes we will recommend continuing as long as the patient sees an improvement or we reach what is cosmetically acceptable to the patient.
Good news… newly developed equipment “Picosecond” specializes in these hard to treat colors, right now the technology is new and the laser very expensive. Bad news… it does not work as well with black ink. Well keep you informed of any advances.
5). WHAT ABOUT COVER UP TATTOOS ARE THEY A GOOD OPTION?
The new TV shows BAD INK and TATTOO NITEMARES glorify cover-ups suggesting they are the best bad tattoo solution. Apparently television hasn’t discovered the laser yet. At least shows that glorified tattoos MIAMI INK, LA INK are off the air. Stay tuned.
In our opinion cover-ups should be a last resort measure for the following reasons:
Cover-ups require a especially talented tattoo artist to pull off a decent result. Anyone can change two small eyes for two huge dragons. (See BAD INK EPISODE). We have seen some very good small cover-ups but unfortunately we see and treat a lot of big bad ones. They can be a bigger headache in the long run.
One other problem is when the newly applied ink slowly fades, the old darker tattoo will often rear its ugly head and your exes name will be visible again. To avoid this we recommend several laser passes prior to the cover-up.
6. WHAT IS THE FASTEST WAY TO REMOVE A TATTOO? IM IN A HURRY
The newer R20 and the newest R0 technique have revolutionized laser tattoo removal.
We have reduced the total time to remove a tattoo from the average 9-12 months to 1-3 months. It is also more affordable since doctors generally charge less for multiple treatments the same day.
The R20 method FAST Tattoo removal:
New researchers have discovered that the laser blocking effect from the white frost (nitrogen gas) that appeared after the first laser pass disappears after only twenty minutes. They further demonstrated that the efficacy of up to four passes done after waiting the 20 minutes equaled the results of waiting the 4-6 weeks between individual passes. All this and there was no increase in skin damage or side effects.
The R0 method FASTER Tattoo removal:
Subsequent studies have discovered an even faster and equally safe and effective treatment. The R0 consists of applying a nontoxic FDA approved liquid after each pass. This unique medicine absorbs the nitrogen gas in only a few minutes rather waiting the 20 minutes.
The patients love the convenience, better prices and less discomfort.
TROPICALASER is now offering these options. Ask us in your free consultation if your tattoo is a candidate for the R20 or the R0.
The results of the R20 and R0 are more effective in black tattoos but it can also be done in some selected dark colored tattoos.
7. HOW MUCH DOES THE TREATMENTS COST?
TROPICALASER strives to offer the best prices to our customers.
The cost of each session depends on the size of the tattoo, the number of passes, on the size, amateur vs. professional, color, location, health of the patient and medications he may be taking take.
We encourage patients to take advantage of the free consultation and evaluation at our tattoo centers.
The general guideline for prices is as follows:
We categorize the sizes into small, medium and large tattoos according to the area.
Various tattoos done at the same time combine the area size.
Small tattoo is up to 2x2 inches or 4 square inches $200.00 per pass.
Medium tattoo is to 3x3 inches or 9 square inches $300 per pass.
Large is up to 4x4 or 16 square inches $400 per pass.
Maximum size depends on the tattoo and patient maximum $500 per.
Bigger tattoos and circumferential tattoos often must be split and treated at different times.
Discounts are offered for prepaid package 6 or 9 passes 25%
Additional Discounts for prepaid R20 (black tattoos), 3 passes per treatment. Packages of 6 or 9 passes (two or three treatments)
We offer financing with CARE CREDIT.
8). CAN YOU GUARANTEE THAT ALL THE INK WILL BE GONE?
Because what you have learned here, it’s a challenge to guarantee that the tattoo will be completely gone. We ask you to be patient. It is necessary to wait at least 3 months after the last treatment to determine final results. Our goal is to achieve cosmetically acceptable results. Realistic expectations for your individual tattoo will be discussed in your consultation.
To recap, certain Neon colors such as light orange, light blue, neon green, pink, purple and yellow, white and metallic (permanent makeup) may not be completely removed.
9). WILL THIS TREATMENT CAUSE ME PERMANENT SKIN DAMAGE OR SCARRING?
No.
For two reasons. Modern lasers (Q switched lasers Nd:YAG) do not go deep enough to cause a scar response. Second the speed of the pulse is so fast, one billionth of a second that only the ink is affected leaving the surrounding tissue undamaged. Scarring was an issue 10-15 years ago with primitive lasers. Only patients that have preexisting history of keloids should worry about scarring.
Long term hypopigmentation is possible on darker skin individuals but it should be transient. We use the best wavelength 1064nm available for schedule VI patients.
10). WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER THE TREATMENT?
Written post-op treatment instructions will be given and explained to all patients.
A bandage with special moisturizing ointment will be applied (aquaphor). The area must be kept with this moist dressing for three days, changed every 24 hours.
Occasionally an antibiotic cream will be preferred. There should be no pain. If there is pain or significant redness our staff should be immediately notified.
Total healing will be expected in 2-3 weeks in most patients.
Sunblock moisturizing creams must be used daily during healing time.
No direct sunlight for these three weeks.
Patients will be instructed to avoid anticoagulants (aspirin, anti-inflammatories, fish oil) cortisone oral or cream unless doctor ordered, before and after the treatment period.