Expected Results
Removing a tattoo is similar in some aspects to trying to remove a stain from clothing. A stain that takes a split second to happen may take quite a bit of work to remove, and sometimes the stain cannot be fully removed. Once removed, the results are permanent; however, predicting how many sessions a patient will need is difficult. Amateur tattoos are the easiest to fade, as they contain little ink. Deeply colored professional tattoos can be difficult, often requiring a double digit number of treatments. Some colors respond to only certain types of laser energy, so for the best success, matching the right laser to the type of ink is important.
Each color responds to one or more unique wavelengths (in nanometers [nm]) of laser energy. Matching the wavelength to the color may optimize the response:
- Black ink – nearly any wavelength but most commonly 1064 nm
- Green ink – 755 nm is best; 694 nm or 650 nm can be effective
- Blue ink – 585 nm
- Red ink – 532 nm
Procedure Overview
