Lasers have been used for tattoo removal for more than 20 years and we have used a Q-switched ruby laser since 1994. The Ruby laser is the acknowledged laser of choice for tattoo removal excepting some reds, which may be best treated with an ND Yag laser. The following information is designed to cover the most commonly asked questions.

The tattoo pigment injected into the lower layers of skin (the dermis) becomes sealed away by a tough network of collagen fibres. It is very difficult to remove the tattoo pigment without affecting the surrounding tissue. The alternatives to laser treatment are either to physically remove the pigment with the surrounding skin by surgical excision and skin grafting, or chemically destroy the pigment using concentrated salts or acid. In either case the surrounding skin is damaged and significant scarring would be an expected outcome to these, non-laser removal methods.

Q-switched lasers produce extremely short pulses of high-energy, light. This light is absorbed strongly by the tiny particles of tattoo pigment but not very well by the surrounding skin. The tattoo pigment particles heat up and break down into smaller particles; these minute particles are targeted by the body's own immune system and removed. Because the energy is selectively absorbed by the tattoo pigment, surrounding tissues are not heated up to such a high temperature and there is no lasting damage to the skin.

We are often asked how many treatment are required - as a guide, amateur tattoos typically take anywhere from 4-10 treatments; professional tattoos from 8-20, although they may take more than this. Without seeing the tattoo it is impossible to be more accurate and even then, we will only be able to give an estimate.

The cost of a single treatment will depend on the size of the tattoo and the detail in it. The bigger the area or the more detailed the design, the more time it will take to treat and the higher the charge. Again, until we can see the tattoo, we cannot assess the area or price the treatment.

Black and blue tattoos generally respond well to the Ruby laser, however some red and green pigments can be resistant to treatment by laser. If required, a test patch can be done at a cost of £50, this can give some indication as to how effective the laser may be. We feel it is better to find out about potential problems before the whole tattoo has been treated and a larger sum of money has already been spent.

The treatment can be uncomfortable, the amount of pain felt will depend on the type of tattoo, the amount of treatment required and your own pain threshold. Some clients would describe it as no more than uncomfortable, where others will describe it as painful. Clients' descriptions range from an elastic band flicked against the skin to splashes of chip fat: the truth is that you will only know how painful you find it once you try it! Advice on pain relief will be given during your assessment.

After each treatment, the area may blister; this is quite normal and usually resolves in a few days. Once any blisters or crusts have subsided, the skin around the tattoo will look shiny for a number of weeks. Treatment cannot be repeated until your skin has returned to normal; this will usually take from 4 to 6 weeks.

The highest-risk side effect is skin de-pigmentation (loss of natural skin colour). Because the Ruby laser targets dark pigments, the energy is also absorbed by the melanin in the skin. The most frequent side effect is for the natural colour in the skin to 'bleach' after a number of treatments.
While normal skin pigment will usually recover, it can take months, or even years to do so. As a general guideline, the darker the skin or the more treatments required, the more risk there is of long term de-pigmentation.

Because of the risk of damage to skin pigment, we will not treat tanned skin and will postpone treatment until any sun-tan has faded.

Ruby lasers have been used around the world for more than 20 years and have treated millions of tattoos safely. Our clinic alone has delivered more than 25,000 treatments with very few problems encountered. Ruby laser energy is really just a strong red light and there is no linkage with any skin disorder or any increased risk of skin cancer.

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