
A tattoo is actually a kind of body transformation done by injecting metallic dyes, pigments or inks into the dermis layer of the skin. Since these pigments are foreign particles in the bloodstream, hence the body’s natural defense mechanism sends the white blood cells to fight them and flush them out of the system.
However, since the size of the ink pigments is usually large, the white blood cells are not able to flush them out at once but the process keeps continuing and this defense action explains why over a course of time (which usually lasts some 30-40 years), the tattoo starts fading away.
The tattoo removal works in the way that it breaks the ink pigments into very small particles which can then be easily carried away by the white blood cells into the lymphatic cycles and hence out of the body.
The laser (pico-lasers, that is the wavelength is one over thousandth time a nano) when flashed at the pigments in the right intensity and for the correct duration, break these ink pigments into smaller particles basis the principle of varied temperature across the pigment size.
The emphasis here is on the laser energy (intensity in layman terms) and the fraction of the second over which the laser light is flashed for these two factors define the success rate of a particular tattoo removal session.
First and foremost, it is important to know that Laser Tattoo Removal is usually not a one sitting process. Depending upon the complexity of the tattoo design, it can take anywhere between 4 to 12 sittings.
A little pain happens which most patients describe as getting hit by a pulled rubber band on your skin i.e. the pain is there but is bearable. The doctors usually apply local anesthesia before the process which helps ease out the pain. Post treatment pain relievers are also given
The results are not immediate and it takes an average of 4 to 6 weeks before the results of a session start showing.