Unwanted Tattoos

Medically, tattoos are regarded as a deep type of pigmented lesion. Laser surgeons target the ink particles in the same manner as they treat pigment in brown lesions. High-powered lasers with intensely focused energy blast tattoo pigment particles into smithereens, creating much tinier entities that the body can eliminate or hide. Lasers specifically target the ink particles in the skin, sparing adjacent cells from harm. In general, different lasers are used to remove different-colored pigments. Tattoos of the same color may not always react in the same way because tattoo pigments may have different chemical compositions. Some tattoo pigment naturally degrades over the years, so there is somewhat less pigment to remove in older, more faded tattoos. Older tattoos also typically require fewer treatments. Many different types of tattoos (professional, amateur, medical, cosmetic, traumatic) can be removed with lasers. Cosmetic tattoos (often containing iron oxide inks) often require microneedling or ablative laser treatment.