Discussions about whether a tattoo is an adornment or disfiguring a body are relevant to this day. Once it was fashionable to fill meaningless pictures all over the body, which did not emphasize individuality, but quite the contrary. Fashion has passed, but tattoos have remained. And if now they treat this more responsibly, investing some sense in them, then those who filled the picture out of stupidity have to resort to such a procedure as removing the tattoo.
How to get rid?
There are a huge number of ways to reduce a tattoo, for example, excision of a tattooed area, cryosurgery, electrosurgery. However, in most cases, these methods, in addition to serious pain during the tattoo removal procedure, leave scars and scars, because the picture is removed from the body along with the skin area.
Fortunately, science and medicine do not stand still, and the most popular method is the removal of unwanted images with a laser. This method is one of the latest developments, which is considered the safest and does not affect the aesthetic appearance of the skin.
History
Many people do not know, but the word "laser" is just an abbreviation of the term meaning "light amplified by induced radiation" (Eng. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation).
The pioneer in laser tattoo removal was the American physicist Theodore Maiman. Back in 1960, he made his first attempts to use a laser in order to reduce unwanted patterns on the body. The physicist used a ruby laser, and the method took root and was successfully used over the next five years.
During these five years, research has been ongoing, during which in 1961, neodymium lasers for tattoo removal were developed. But this is not the limit. 1962 gave the world an argon laser, and after it, in 1964, scientists used a carbon dioxide laser.
Despite the fact that science was moving forward quickly and confidently, the drawback of laser tattoo removal was still significant. This method did not exclude the possibility of the formation of ugly scars and scars on the area of ββthe skin where the tattoo used to be.
But thanks to the research and the painstaking work of American scientists, all the unpleasant disadvantages were eliminated. And the practice of using a laser has remained the most popular way to remove tattoos.
The key year in the implementation of the laser method was 1983. It was then that the concept of selective photothermolysis was published. It was a real breakthrough. Laser dermatology has moved to a completely different level. Thanks to this concept, laser systems were created that fully met medical goals.
Skin effects
The following varieties of the influence of laser procedures on the skin are known to the world: ablative effect, the so-called grinding, as well as selective laser effect. Each of the methods has its advantages and disadvantages. However, the most popular and safe method is considered selective, or selective, exposure.
Ablative effect
Ablative effect - removal, erosion of a certain area of ββthe skin with a tattoo. The removal occurs as follows: the radiation heats the tissue water, after which the rapid evaporation of water begins and the simultaneous removal of fragments of skin tissue due to protein denaturation. Erbium and thulium lasers have a similar effect.
Selective effect
Selective exposure is a procedure that involves damage to subcutaneous formations, but the skin itself is not injured. For this, a laser with a specific wavelength and irradiation mode is used. Laser light is absorbed by colored structures, which are then destroyed and discolored (the effect of photothermolysis or photocavitation). The essence of this procedure is to remove stained areas without damaging healthy skin, so a specific laser wave is selected for each color. After the procedure, the paint exfoliates naturally within a month.
Tattoo removal time varies depending on the color and size of the tattoo. On average, one tattoo is removed in 2-3 procedures within a month. The duration of one procedure can be from 20 minutes to an hour. In special cases, the term of removal can reach a whole year.
How does a laser work?
The laser acts on the deeper layers of the skin, after which the rays are absorbed by stained cells, which destroys the pigment from the inside. After the pigment breaks up into the smallest elements, the lymphatic system with the help of the cells of the immune system removes it from the body. The laser unit has a specialized control system, which allows the master to adjust the length of the laser and control the depth of penetration of the rays into the skin. Such a system reduces the risk of damage to healthy areas of the skin and makes it possible to reduce absolutely any tattoo, regardless of color, size and depth of penetration of the pigment.
Tattoos are removed using the following lasers: 1064, 755, 694, 532 nm. They are harmless to health and do their job well.
Features of installations
Before you say goodbye to an unloved tattoo forever, you should responsibly choose the method of removal, having analyzed all the shortcomings and advantages. Specialists use the following types of laser to remove tattoos: ruby, alexandrite, neodymium, erbium.
1) The ruby ββlaser (694 nm) works on the principle of selective photocavitation, does not penetrate deeper than the basal layer of the epidermis:
- Pros: blue, green and black shades are quickly displayed.
- Cons: the laser does not display deep patterns in which red colors predominate, as well as a long period of tattoo removal.
2) Alexandrite (755 nm) laser also works on the principle of selective photocavitation:
- Pros: copes with dark tattoos perfectly, acts much faster than ruby.
- Cons: does not display tattoos with red shades.
3) A neodymium (532, 1064 nm) universal laser operates on the principle of selective photococation in two ranges:
- Pros: due to the impact on the skin with a laser of different wavelengths, it is suitable for removing tattoos of any color and size. Penetrates the skin to the depth of the hypodermis.
- Cons: high price, due to which the availability of the procedure is limited.
4) Erbium laser operates on the basis of the laser vaporization effect:
- Pros: quickly and painlessly removes shallow tattoos.
- Cons: When removing deep tattoos, unpleasant scars may remain.
What to choose?
Masters working in beauty salons and cosmetic clinics make a choice in favor of a neodymium laser, since this method allows the most safe and painless removal of pigment of absolutely any color, despite the depth. Neodymium laser does not cause any harm to the skin, unlike alexandrite and ruby, which can cause complications such as burns and age spots after the procedure. That is why both specialists and customer reviews say that neodymium lasers that cope with drawings of absolutely any color, size and depth of the paint are removed better and without harm to health.
What to expect?
After removing the tattoo with a laser, a logical question arises: will there be any complications and adverse consequences after the removal of the pattern. In general, using a laser does not entail any negative consequences. However, there are still factors that can provoke complications:
1) Violations of the safety regulations and the use of the laser can result in serious burns.
2) There are cases in medicine when redness and swelling appeared after using the laser.
3) Improper technique of the procedure can lead to the appearance of a hematoma under the skin and hair loss in the area of ββthe skin where the manipulations were performed.
Of all these complications, burns are most common. Complications are treated using therapies developed by doctors. If the tattoo is large-scale and its removal takes place in several stages, then the break between the procedures should be 14-28 days. Specialists do not recommend sunbathing for 14 days. And also, before each exit to the street, it is recommended to lubricate the place of the former tattoo with sunscreen, to avoid playing sports and other physical activity, to refuse to visit the sauna, bathhouse, solarium, and not to drink alcohol. These factors slow down the rehabilitation process.
After the procedure is completed, a crust appears on the skin area affected by the laser, which should fall off naturally in a few days.
The laser method for tattoo removal is painless. The maximum that patients complained of was burning and a tingling sensation. Also, a definite plus is to minimize the risk of side effects in the form of scars and scars. And you should not even talk about the effectiveness of the procedure, because the tattoo brightens after the first session.
Contraindications
Laser tattoo removal is famous for its safety and painlessness, so this procedure is also popular with those who remove permanent makeup, age spots, as well as any other skin changes, both congenital and acquired. However, such a safe procedure has its own contraindications:
- pregnancy and lactation;
- oncological diseases and various neoplasms;
- inflammation on the skin, trauma and damage, as well as an individual tendency to form keloid scars;
- diseases such as diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, epilepsy, blood diseases;
- external influences such as recent tanning and taking photosensitizing drugs;
- allergic reactions.
The procedure does not require anesthesia and is almost painless, most often patients feel a slight burning sensation. In order to verify the effectiveness of laser manipulations, you only need to look at the photo before and after tattoo removal.
How much is
The exact cost of tattoo removal will tell only the master. The price depends on several factors. So, what affects the cost of the procedure:
- drawing depth;
- tattoo size;
- tattoo colors;
- type of laser used to carry out the procedure.
On average, salons and cosmetic clinics rely on such a laser tattoo removal price system: 1 square centimeter of a tattoo - $ 0.16-0.20. Removal of permanent makeup - 10-15 dollars.
Every year the number of people who want to get rid of old tattoos does not decrease. Someone just bothers drawings, someone gets rid of mistakes made by stupidity. According to reviews, tattoo removal is best done with a neodymium laser. The tattoo begins to literally melt before our eyes, and even the most ambitious drawings become lighter after the first procedure. Of course, the prices for laser tattoo removal are considerable, but painlessness and safety are worth it.