Treatments ▼

• Hair Removal
• Photo-rejuvenation
• Acne Treatment
• Thread veins-facial/legs
• Scars and Surface Irregularities
• Pigmented Lesions / Sun Spots / Melasma
• Rosacea
• Tattoo removal
• Skin tags
• Warts and Verrucas
• Hyperhydrosis
• Micro-dermabrasion
• Radio-frequency Skin Tightening
• Wrinkle reducing injection
• Dermal Fillers
• Medical Peels
• Male Pattern Baldness
• Obagi and Cosmedix Skin Care Systems
• Mineral Make-up

Tattoo Removal Laser Treatment

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Tattoos

Decorative tattoos made deliberately with indelible inks may seem a good idea at the time but many come to regret their decision in later years. The use of tattoos goes back at least 5,000 years. They can be done by qualified professionals who introduce pigments into the dermis (deeper layer) of the skin with an electric needle. However, sometimes amateurs can attempt tattoos by simply pricking Indian ink or soot into their skin. Some tattoos are entirely accidental caused by injury, especially where dirt is accidentally left in the healing skin tissues.

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How can they be removed?

Until recently, tattoos were removed by using dermabrasion to scrape off layers of skin until all the pigment had been cleared but this often left scars or imprints of the original tattoo. Another option was surgical excision of the tattooed area followed by stitching the wound or grafting it with skin from another part of the body. However, both of these methods were painful, expensive and often caused a high degree of scarring.

Fortunately, over the last couple of decades laser technology for tattoo removal has greatly advanced. Thus, leading plastic surgeons and dermatologists now regard lasers as the best method for the safe removal of both amateur and professional tattoos. We have over ten years experience in successfully removing numerous tattoos in our Walsall clinic.

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How do lasers remove tattoos?

Laser treatment does not cut or burn the skin but by selectively targeting the tattoo pigment using very short pulses of high power laser light through the skin, the ink particles are given a burst of heat energy which causes them to shatter into thousands of smaller, microscopic particles. These can then be effectively absorbed and taken away from the skin by the body’s own immune system or white blood cells.

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Do all ink colours disappear equally well?

No, darker colours like black, blue and red clear the best, whilst oranges and purples also usually respond nicely. However, green and yellow inks tend to be the most difficult to remove but we can produce significant fading with some additional treatments. Unfortunately, white inks are totally unaffected by laser treatments.

Thus, for the optimal removal of a multi-coloured tattoo we may have to use different laser equipment, e.g.

1. The Lynton Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is useful for the removal of blue/black pigments at 1064nm and red/orange inks at 532nm wavelengths;
2. The Sharplan/Lumenis Ruby 5000 Epitouch Laser is used for the removal of blue and green inks, etc. Learn more about our lasers

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How long does the session last?

This varies depending upon the size and precise location of your tattoo but typical treatment sessions can last between 15 to 45 minutes.

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Does it hurt?

Lasers do cause some discomfort but usually no more than being snapped by a rubber band. In fact, most patients equate the pain of tattoo removal with the pain of actually getting the tattoo done in the first instance. However, some areas can prove more sensitive than others, especially around the ankles or the shoulder blade. Fortunately, the discomfort does decrease as treatment progresses and the tattooing fades. In our experience most patients will tolerate the discomfort of treatment very well but local anaesthetic creams are available if required.

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What are the side-effects?

After each treatment there is usually an instant whitening of the skin but this generally fades quickly. The area is likely to feel tender for a few hours once the initial hot pricking sensations have settled. Sometimes the treated area can appear red and swollen for a couple of days. Some tattoos will form a graze but this must be left to heal naturally. You might find that the tattoo initially looks no different but allow 4-8 weeks after each treatment for the body to disperse the broken down ink pigments. Very occasionally, there can be some superficial blisters of the treated area but this is quite normal and does not indicate potential scarring. The blistering requires no treatment apart from keeping the area clean and cool for a few days.

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Will the treatment scar?

No, whilst the skin may not be instantly perfect, there are usually no long-term scarring or pigmentation issues. One finds that there are occasionally mild changes in skin texture for the first few months of treatment but this gradually settles and fades back into normality over time. Moreover, darker-skinned patients may notice some lightening of the skin. This again usually returns to normal over a period of 6-12 months. Thus, we prefer to use the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser for tattoo removal in darker skins as there is less risk of de-pigmentation, although we have successfully also used the Ruby laser in Asians in the past.

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Is there any special after-care?

We strongly recommend keeping the treated area clean and cool for the first few days and also urge the use of a sun block SPF 30 between sessions.

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How many treatments are needed to remove a tattoo?

This is difficult to gauge because it depends upon several factors, including the age of the tattoo, the size and the precise location on your body, the density and colour of the inks used and whether it was a professional or amateur tattoo, etc. Generally, most amateur tattoos can be safely removed within 6 sessions but professional tattoos may require over a dozen treatments. We normally recommend that treatments are spaced at 4-12-weekly intervals to allow time for your white cells to mop-up the dispersed, broken down ink particles.

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Will the tattoo completely disappear?

In most cases, yes but unfortunately there are hundreds of different ink types across the world and sometimes they are even mixed with other compounds. Thus, it is impossible to predict accurately the degree of removal of any given tattoo.

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Is laser treatment safe?

We have been using lasers for tattoo removal in our Walsall Clinic for well over a decade with many satisfied customers. Our clinics are registered with The Health Care Commission, ensuring the highest level of safety. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that laser treatment can lead to skin disorders or an increased risk of skin cancer.

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Are there any alternatives?

If you are not yet ready for permanent laser removal but wish to simply conceal your tattoo, feel free to come and discuss our excellent range of Jane Iredale mineral makeup. Disappear with green tea extract is a state of the art product packed with pigment that can effectively camouflage tattoos and merge it into your own skin colour. It really is excellent and highly recommended by many dermatologists and plastic surgeons around the world.

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How much will it cost?

This is difficult to predict as there are so many variables, including the number of colours within your tattoo, its size and location and your own skin colour/ type but a test patch costs only £40.00. Below we have also given a rough guide:

Amateur Tattoos Black Ink Only

Professional Tattoos With Colours

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However, if you have a tattoo that you no longer want, why not ring to arrange a free, no obligation clinical assessment and a better estimate of costs.