Ever wonder about tattoo removal and how it works? Well, here is a little “tattoo removal 101” to help you understand the technology behind the process.
Close to 20 years ago, Q-switched (QS) lasers came into the market and they were a breakthrough when it came to tattoo removal. The benefits of this technology are that these lasers are very precise, powerful and fast. In fact, the spot size of the laser allows us to target specific areas while leaving the remaining tissues untouched.
The thing to keep in mind when trying to remove a tattoo is that different pigments absorb different wavelengths. With tattoo removal, we will target one pigment at a time. During a treatment, the energy from the laser converts to heat and it is this energy that breaks down the pigment into particles that can be cleared by the macrophages.
You may be wondering, what is a macrophage?
Macrophages are special cells in our body that can ingest and destroy bacteria. They can also clean up cellular debris, harmful particles, and cells that contain bacteria or viruses. Macrophages basically “sound the alarm” to the other cells that a foreign invader is in the body and help other immune cells recognize that invader. The broken pigment from the laser is considered to be an “unknown” intruder so the other cells act quickly to remove it.
At Flawless, we work with an array of QS lasers (several different wavelengths) that break up the pigment. Different ink colors respond better to different laser wavelengths. Green inks respond best to the QS ruby or QS alexandrite lasers. Blue and brown inks respond nicely to the ruby, while red and orange do well with the 532nm. Black inks respond to the ruby, YAG or alexandrite wavelengths. Yellow and white inks do not respond well to any laser wavelength.
What does this mean to you? Well, it means that Flawless Skin Spa has the technology (all those wavelengths) to remove your tattoo. At Flawless, we have been doing tattoo removal for years at our Downtown Spa and have just expanded it at our Menaul Spa. We own several QS lasers and have just incorporated the Revlite.
If you are looking to erase a tattoo, we invite you to call us at 888-1125 or at 338-4038.
STAY FLAWLESS – Heather
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Patient safety and comfort are our top priorities. Call Flawless Med Spa at (505) 888-1185 to schedule a complimentary consultation. We are pleased to serve patients throughout the Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, and Santa Fe areas.
