LASER TREATMENTS

We may have to get our tattoos removed, which we had once willingly done, for various reasons. Sometimes tattoos may be required to be removed for many reasons, such as allergies to tattoo ink, losing our faith in the mission of tattoo symbols, having the name of our lover deleted, the reason for getting a tattoo no longer valid, not liking the tattoo, wanting to get a new tattoo, or starting a new job.

So, how are the tattoos made with so much effort to be deleted? Before laser treatments, surgery and dermabrasion, that is scraping the skin, were the types of treatment. However, since there are applications with a high risk of scarring, it has gradually started to be replaced by laser treatments. For this purpose, the most used type of laser is the Q-switched laser, however, now picosecond lasers have started to take their place in the treatment. Sometimes, fractional CO2 lasers are used to support the treatment.

Q-switched laser has a wavelength of 1064 nm Nd-YAG laser that applies pulses in nanoseconds. This high energy breaks down the dye particles by converting them into heat energy. The fragmented particles are also collected by macrophages, which are an important part of our immune system that removes foreign chemicals from the body.

During this process, since the laser has a high affinity for the black color, it does not damage the normal skin. Selection of the appropriate dose and experience are important in this regard. There may be slight pain during the procedure. Thanks to local anesthetic creams, this pain is slightly relieved. It is considered normal to have tiny point bleeding foci in the treatment area and to develop mild scabs after the procedure. Thus, it is important to carefully follow the treatment and care that are recommended by your doctor.

Tattoo removal is a troublesome process that requires long sessions. The number of sessions to be applied varies according to the color and depth of the dye, whether it is a professional tattoo, the age of the tattoo, and the area of the tattoo. Dark colored amateur tattoos require less sessions and are removed more easily. Professional tattoos are more difficult to remove as they go deeper. The removal of multi-colored and overlapping tattoos is very difficult. Overlapped tattoos will push the dye of the underlying tattoo down, thus reduces the possibility of removal. The number of sessions will increase. At the end, they may only lighten and remain in the form of a shadow. In areas where the skin is thin, such as neck and under-eye areas, tattoo removal with laser is more difficult because high joules cannot be applied. The more time it's been since the tattoo is done, the easier it's going to be to remove it. The reason is that the body's defense cells already try to remove the dye from the area. As a result, although the tattoo removal process varies from person to person, approximately 4-10 sessions are required. The session intervals are determined by your doctor, while the average time is about 6-8 weeks. In every session, the color of the tattoo fades a little.

Despite Q-switched lasers are the best way to remove the tattoos, the colored, deeply processed, overlaid tattoos may remain in the shadow instead of a complete removal. Q-switch lasers are the best alternative for people who want to have their tattoo removed, given that surgical procedures leave more or less traces.