LASER TATTOO REMOVAL
As more and more people are getting tattoos, there is an increasing demand to get them removed. Whether the tattoo was a mistake from the get go, it didn’t turn out as you expected, or a relationship has changed and you want to remove your “ex” from your skin, the most common way to remove tattoos is with a laser. The only other option is to surgically excise the tattoo which can realistically be done only for smaller tattoos and it always leaves a scar.
A Q-switched laser is needed to removed tattoos. What’s unique about this type of laser is that its pulse duration (how long the time is which it fires it energy) is in the nanosecond range. By making the pulse this short, it makes the energy level of the pulse in the billions of watts. That huge energy hit to the tattoo causes a shock wave in the tattoo pigment which leads to the pigment breaking up into smaller pieces. Once the particles of the tattoo pigment get pulverized to a certain size, they are small enough for the body to “chew them up” and remove them from the body. Using traditional laser tattoo removal techniques, it takes multiple treatments, 10-15, to get complete tattoo removal. Often the waiting between treatments is up to 2 months, so it can take a year to 2 to removal a tattoo.
There is a newer technique called the R0 for tattoo removal which will remove tattoos much faster than traditional techniques. The R0 protocol entails treating the tattoo 4 times in the same day. There is now NO waiting period between treatments because a topical liquid is placed which allows for the frosting which occurs (from heating nitrogen in the skin) to dissolve. Studies show much faster eradication, 1-4 sessions, with no more risks or side effects.
What type of Q-switched laser is the best? The safest wavelength for treating skin of all colors is the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. Sometimes, after treating with this wavelength, residual pigment remains, and that’s when other wavelengths are needed. You also want to look for a laser that has a “tophat” distribution of its pulse energy. What this means is that the energy is evenly distributed across the entire spot size to give a uniform treatment. If this is not the case, the tattoo can be under or over treated in some areas. The shorter duration of the pulse, the better safety profile, and the better results. The short pulse allows for less diffusion of the energy to nearby skin so as to leave this skin unaffected. It also allows for greater energy levels on the treated area.
Top Hat energy distribution of the Spectra laser. Left=others, Right=Spectra
The Lutronic Spectra Q-Switched Laser seems to be an ideal laser for tattoo removal.
- An extremely short pulse duration which leads to high peak energies
- Based on 1064nm Nd:YAG platform
- Has multiple other wavelengths for difficult pigment (4 total wavelenths)
- “Tophat” energy pulse profile
- Dual energy generators to prevent loss of energy during prolonged laser firing
Energy output showing the high peak energy of the Spectra lase
Side effects from Laser Tattoo Removal are: scarring, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, incomplete tattoo removal, and rare allergic reaction to the dyes of the tattoo. Darker skin individuals are at higher risks of complications than lighter skin individuals.
Using the Kirby-Desai Scale you can determine how many treatments it will take to improve your tattoo (within 80% accuracy)
SPECTRA LASER PEEL
The Spectra Laser Peel is a no downtime skin rejuvenation procedure. “Spectra” solution is initially applied topically to the face and allowed to penetrate for 10 – 15 minutes. It is a charcoal solution which acts as a target for the laser. The 1064nm Nd:YAG Q-switched laser is then passed over the skin 2-4 times with a couple different settings. The skin has a nice rejuvenated glow when complete. There is no pain with the procedure and it takes about 10 minutes. The procedure can be repeated in 2-4 week intervals.
What can be expected after the Laser Peel is:
- Improvement in pore size
- Improvement in active acne
- Increased tone of the skin
- Collagen stimulation
- A cleaner complexion
People who are NOT candidates for the procedure are: Darker skin individuals, recently tan skin, and people with melasma.
The Spectra Laser is a Q switched 1064 laser that has a tremendous affinity to pigment. It is designed for (and state of the art for) tattoo removal and treating various pigmented lesions (freckles, seborrheic keratosis, lentigos, cafe au lait, nevi, post inflammatory hyperpigmenation, and melasma). The laser peel begins by placing a carbon liquid on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. The carbon is absorb superficially in the skin. This liquid is essentially tricking the laser into thinking its attacking pigment when it is applied to the face. As the laser is first passed over the skin, the carbon absorbs some heat which is passed to the underlying skin. The next several passes cause vaporization of the carbon as well as a very superficial layer of the skin – 15-30 microns. What’s better is that there is no discomfort during the procedure!
The end result is a glowing and radiant skin tone with NO associated peeling or recovery time.
I believe the effectiveness for the various skin condition (acne, pores size, fine lines, pigmentation, melasma) is marked better with the Spectra Peel than with traditional chemical peels. Active acne outbreaks seem to resolve within days. Just like other laser procedures, the Spectra Peel can’t be performed on tan or recently sun exposed skin, or people on Accutane. It can not be done on darker skin types as well.
If you’re looking for a quick skin rejuvenation with essentially no downtime, do what they are doing in Hollywood just before they hit the red carpet, The Spectra Laser Peel.
