General Information on the problem of bleaching/removal of tattoos with laser.

The method of removing tattoos by laser is well proven and documented, but it should be said at once, it is much easier to get a tattoo than to remove it. It is almost impossible to give a prediction how the treatment will succeed on the phone. We always recommend a consultation with a test treatment on a small area.

Factors that come into play when removing tattoos.

• The colours of the tattoo

  Today a tattoo can be found in almost every conceivable colour. What you do not always think about is that there are many different colour makes. A red color in one of the tattooist do not have the same properties as those of the next etc. One can add to that dark colours are slightely easier to remove than bright and pale once. Layered tattoos make the process take longer.

• Where on the body it is

  Where the tattoo is placed does not make such a big difference, but the potential risk of scarring does. Except that every individual is different and heals different, there are some general basic properties which means you almost never get scars on the face. Hands and forearms are also quite good. On throat, neck, upper arms and shoulders the risk of scarring increases. On the torso, abdomen and back is the worst in terms of scarring. See risks below.

• The technology used when you did the tattoo

  You get a faster and better result if the tattoo is not inserted so deep. Some have homemade tattoos with different depth in the same tattoo. It can be easy to remove but also difficult. It is estimated from case to case.

• Different responses for different individuals

  You can not predict how a patient reacts and what result you will get. In rare cases it may be allergic reactions. Some patients may feel that it is very painful, while others do not think it´s something to talk about.

• How long you have had the tattoo

  A 20-year-old tattoo has been bleched part. Colour pigments may have moved a bit upwards etc.

Treatment ways

We keep the probe/laser as a pen against the skin. The light comes into sharp pulses and we move the laser handpiece along your tattoo. Depending on the type of laser used is light pulses of different colour. Of course, both therapist and patient are using safety glasses during the treatment.

Treatment reactions

During the treatment most people experience that it hurts but it varies very from person to person. Some think it is painful, others know of it but find it acceptable.
Some describe the feeling ”as if someone flicks a rubber band against the skin”. In most cases no anesthesia is used.

Most people say it was less painful to do the tattoo than to remove it.
Almost immediately during treatment, it will be flushing on the skin. Some may get wounds during the first week with a slight crusting of the tattoo. It is absolutely forbidden to peel it. Partly because the risk of infection, partly because of increased risk of scarring. In some cases no ulceration will occure, but it does not necessarily mean that the treatment is worse for that reason.

Numbers of treatments and overall treatment time

Total number of necessary treatments depends on several factors
- Numbers of colours in the tattoo
- When it was made
- How deeply is sits
- Individual responses to treatment
- If you treat intensively or carefully

An estimate of numbers of treatments can be given after the test treatment. The treatments are usually every other month for two months (8 weeks) intervals. This is because the body needs to heal the inflicted burn injury and also because the body needs time to remove the pigments that had been devastated during treatment. This time interval can not be accelerated. You may need between four to eight treatments to see the final result. So it is quite a long process, taking approximately two months between treatments.

Final Result

In successful cases, the tattoo disappears completely. In some there are weak shadows/residual pigmentation left after treatment. The outcome of treatment varies from person to person and in different places on the body.

No guarantee of completely disappered tattoo can and should never be given. Many tattoos disappear completely, other tattoos can, however, leaving either a faint shadow or residue of the pigment (for some pigment). Generally it gets the best results where the tattoo is only black and dark colours. Whether you have access to all the different lasers in order to reach all the different colours in the tattoo, it is difficult to ensure the entire tattoo total disappearance. In general, it does get very good bleaching.

Risks with the treatment

Scarring may occur, especially if one scratch of scab or a possible infection would occur. General way, the risk of large scars at the decolletage/chest are greater than of the other parts of the body. A few may have allergic reactions. This takes the form of pigment is released into the body and some people react negatively to this. One should be cautious about laser treatment for large areas, healing can take too much of the body's resources.