A significant number of people who get tattoos regret them later. Conventional wisdom holds that tattoos are permanent, but the introduction of the enlighten® laser from Cutera® is proving conventional wisdom wrong for many people.
Cutera is a leader in laser development, and the enlighten laser is the best available for tattoo removal. It’s different from others because it uses two types of laser pulses, picosecond pulses and nanosecond pulses.
Also, Dr. Jovanovic can adjust the laser in multiple ways, depending on your skin tone, the colors in your tattoo and other individual factors, which means the enlighten laser can be set to provide the best results for your unique situation.
One of the advantages of modern tattoos is that they can be done in a wide variety of colors, and with a higher quality of ink than in the past. However, those very advantages can make removing them all the more challenging.
The size of the ink particles and the density of the colors requires precision and skill for removal.
Older methods of tattoo removal worked by burning the ink away -- which had the unfortunate side effect of taking some skin away as well. It was painful, not always effective, and scarring wasn’t uncommon.
Laser tattoo removal, using picosecond technology, works by targeting the pigment of ink with the high-intensity light of the laser — without damaging your skin!
Since different colors absorb different wavelengths of light, different settings are necessary to remove colorful tattoos. For example, black absorbs all wavelengths, so it’s the easiest color to remove.
When the pigment in your tattoo is targeted with the laser, the high intensity of the energy blasts apart the ink. Then your body’s natural processes can eliminate the tiny particles of ink pigment.
The color of the ink makes a difference in how easily your tattoo can be removed, and so does the color of your skin and the size of your tattoo. The color of your skin matters because the laser must differentiate between your skin and the ink.
The greater the contrast between your skin tone and the color of the ink in your tattoo, the fewer sessions you’re likely to need to remove the tattoo completely and successfully. This was particularly true prior to the introduction of the enlighten laser. One of the advantages of the enlighten laser is its precision in differentiating between skin tone and ink color.
The size of your tattoo matters because the more ink there is to laser away, the longer it will take. Just as it takes longer to get a larger tattoo, so it takes longer to remove one. Pricing is based on the size of the tattoo.
Another important factor that often varies from person to person is the depth of your tattoo. How deeply the ink is in your skin makes a difference when it comes to removing it.
Most people need three to six sessions, with two months between appointments. The number of appointments you’ll need depends on the color, type of ink, depth, and size of your tattoo.
We wish we could tell you that you won’t feel a thing when you come to Dr. Jovanovic to have your tattoo removed, but that wouldn’t be quite honest. We can tell you that the enlighten laser is less painful than other forms of tattoo removal, and that many people say it’s less painful than getting the tattoo in the first place.
You’ll have the option of a topical or local anesthetic to help with the pain. We want your experience to be as comfortable as possible, with results that achieve your goals.
If you’re ready to find out what it will take to get rid of that tattoo, the one you wish you’d never gotten, book an appointment online or by phone with Dr. Jovanovic. You’ll get a free consultation to determine if you’re a good candidate as well as answers that are specific to your situation, your tattoo, and your personal goals.
