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No one knows when the practice of tattooing the skin began. Decorative tattoos have a history dating back at least 5000 years. While some people keep their tattoos for life, many people regret their decision to decorate their body and eventually want them removed.
With the Medlite Medical Laser system, you can now change your mind and remove reminders of the past. Medlite Laser is a type of laser developed to remove blue, brown, black and possibly other colours of tattoo pigment and certain brown pigment growths and birthmarks from the skin. The number of treatment will vary depending on the lesion, size, location, colour and age of the patient and age of the tattoo. Most likely a total of 3-7 visits / treatment or more will be necessary.
In recent years tattoos have become more acceptable in our culture. They are now a common body 'adornment'. Below are some most commonly asked Question and Answer you might want to know about Tattoo Removal:
- Precautions to take following your laser treatment
- Can tattoos be permanently removed?
- What technologies are available for removing tattoos?
- Are there side effects or complications?
At the Joyce Lim Clinic, we offer different types of treatment for our patients.
- Avoid direct exposure to the sun. Use a sunblock.
- Do not rub, scratch or pick at the treated area.
- A protective dressing should be applied if the area is irritated by clothing or jewellery.
- Do not apply make-up until the crust disappears.(Usually 2 to 4 days)
- Avoid swimming and contact sport while any crusts are present.
- If the treated area shows signs of infection (tenderness, redness, swelling or pus), notify your dermatologist.
For a variety of reasons, people may request for tattoos to be removed. These may range from social (you can't have a tattoo for a new job) to cultural (no longer fashionable). It can even be for health reasons, as some may develop an allergic reaction because of the inks used in tattooing.
The removal of tattoos however, used to be a painful affair - and would leave unsightly scars. Fortunately with medical advancements, dermatologic surgeons have developed safe and effective techniques to remove tattoos.
The most common techniques used are:
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The surgeon removes the tattoo by selectively treating the pigment colors with a high-intensity laser beam. Lasers have become the standard treatment because they offer a "bloodless," low risk, highly effective approach with minimal side effects.
Depending on the tattoo inks used, multiple treatments may be required.
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The surgeon "sands" the skin, removing the surface and middle layers of the tattoo. The combination of surgical and dressing techniques helps to raise and absorb the tattoo inks.
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The surgeon removes the tattoo with a scalpel and closes the wound with stitches. This technique proves highly effective in removing some tattoos and allows the surgeon to excise inked areas with great control.
Generally side effects are minor, but may include skin discoloration of the treated skin area. Sometimes infection of the tattoo site may happen, or there may be some skin scarring. |
