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There is no licensing regime or specific legislation dealing with the use of lasers for the removal of tattoos. The body does try to get rid of tattoo ink the same way it would a splint, but the ink particles are larger than the white blood cells, making this process extremely slow.
The energy from the laser breaks down the tattoo ink into tiny fragments which can be absorbed into the bloodstream and safely passed out of the body. Different types of ink and colours can take longer to remove.
Fading is generally slower for tattoos located further down the arms or legs as they are further from the heart. The closer the tattoo is to the heart the better circulation, therefore better results. Areas with poor circulation heal poorly following laser tattoo removal.
The success of removal depends largely on the tattoo itself. The colors used and how deep the ink is embedded are two major considerations. Professional tattoos penetrate deeper into the skin at uniform levels, which can make it easier to treat. However, professional tattoos are also more saturated with ink, which is a significant challenge.
Tattoos were once considered permanent, but advances in ‘Q-switched lasers’ led to complete or partial removal becoming possible in the 1990s.
The industry is now a fast-growing market, and a recent survey by the British Association of Dermatologists found as many as one in three people now regret a tattoo and would like to have it removed.
The laser works by breaking down the ink particles and allowing them to be absorbed by the body’s natural healing system.
Depending on the size and complexity of a tattoo, it can take between six to ten sessions to be completely removed.The removal procedure isn’t gentle, regardless of which laser system is used, and you should expect some degree of scarring