Laser

If you are choosing to remove a tattoo you don't want to replace it with a scar, the following questions should be asked when choosing a laser practitioner.

Laser Dermatology can answer YES to all the following important questions:

• Is the clinic supervised by a Registered Medical Practitioner?
• Will the treatment be administered by an experienced Doctor or Registered Nurse?
• Is the equipment being used registered by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration?
• Can the clinic offer injectable local anaesthesia? (anaesthetic cream is not as effective)
• Are you being given a realistic idea of the number of treatments you will require?
• Does the centre have malpractice insurance to cover medical costs in the case of misadventure?
• In the rare event of scarring, slow healing, infection or allergic reactions, can the clinic provide ongoing treatment?

These pigment specific tattoo removal lasers fade or remove tattoo ink with the energy of light. The laser removes the ink by using a specific colour of light that passes through normal skin and is absorbed by the tattoo ink without damaging surrounding tissue. Rapid absorption of laser light energy causes the tattoo pigment to break into smaller granules so it can be removed by the body's natural filtering systems.

There is no safe method of removing a tattoo in one treatment. All single treatment methods such as infrared coagulation, surgical excision, dermabrasion and acid de-tattooing will damage the skin and leave a scar.