Laser Treatment for Tattoo Removal
 
Q-switched lasers can remove tattoo ink with almost no chance of scarring. These lasers deliver pulses of light that last for 10 or 25 billionths of a second. This shatters the ink particles, allowing the body's normal healing mechanism to clear out the smaller fragments.

Tattoo removal requires multiple treatments with at least six to eight weeks between treatments. Fading occurs after each treatment and the entire tattoo can be treated each time. More time between treatments allows additional fading and can reduce the total cost. Generally, 3 to 12 treatments are needed, with homemade tattoos usually fading faster than professional tattoos. Fortunately, severe scarring is rare, however temporary tan-discoloration or loss of natural pigment, with long-term lightening of skin color, can also occur. Treatment hurts about as much as getting a tattoo but is over much faster.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. But people change, and the old tattoo just doesn't fit with your new image.

Now with the Derma-Lase Tattoo Removal System, it's finally possible to remove your tattoo safely without leaving a scar. At the Dermatology Laser Center, Dr. Cyrus Chess combines the revolutionary advantages of both the Q-switched Ruby, and the frequency doubled Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers to remove your amateur or professional tattoo safely and effectively. Compared to other systems on the market, these lasers provide superior results.

The following are some questions most often asked about laser tattoo removal:

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Q-switched laser treatments use your body's own defense mechanisms to remove the pigment. When your tattoo was applied, your body encapsulated the ink in the skin's collagen.
 
The Q-Switched ruby and Nd:YAG lasers use multiple wavelengths of laser light energy to break up the large ink pockets into smaller particles. Over a period of weeks, your body will carry off these small particles. The larger particles that remain may require several treatments, but the tattoo gradually fades.

IS IT DANGEROUS?
Both lasers have been granted complete clearance by the FDA. They are preset to safe levels, and Dr. Chess follows stringent safety precautions at all times.

DOES IT HURT?
WHAT HAPPENS AT A TREATMENT SESSION?
Though the treatment is not actually painful (the laser pulse feels much like the snap of a rubber band), you may elect to have a topical anesthetic. Most patients say, "It feels about the same as getting the tattoo," and usually require no anesthetic at all.
Dr. Chess simply traces the laser light over the tattoo to begin the fading process. The lasers do not burn or cut the skin in any way. The skin remains intact, except for an occasional blister.

HOW LONG IS A TREATMENT SESSION?
Depending on the size and location of the tattoo, a typical session runs from 10 to 30 minutes.

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO THESE SYSTEMS?
Yes, but none as effective or painless as the Derma-Lase Tattoo Removal System. Surgical removal (excision) is common, but expensive and always leaves a permanent scar. Other types of lasers, such as argon or carbon dioxide, physically boil away the skin. Again, this is expensive and leaves a scar. Techniques that use acid or abrasion to remove the tattoo are often painful and will also result in scarring. Only Q-switched lasers allow for no scarring.

WILL IT REMOVE MY TATTOO COMPLETELY?
That depends on several factors, including the color and depth of the tattoo pigment, as well as your individual response to treatment. While some colors are easier to remove than others, Dr. Chess combines the distinct advantages of both the Ruby and Nd:YAG lasers, making it possible to remove multiple colors, including black, red, orange, yellow, blue, green and purple. Large or particularly thick tattoos, usually applied by a professional tattooist, can require several treatments for successful removal.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A CONSULTATION.
If you have a tattoo whose time has come and gone, call and schedule a consultation. Dr. Chess will share his before-and-after treatment photos, answer all your questions, and estimate the cost and number of treatments.

Dr. Chess is very proud to have the unique honor of being the first physician in Connecticut using both models of Q-switched lasers.