What is Tattoo Removal?

Tattoos are ink deposited into the dermis, the deeper layer of the skin, using a needle.

The immune system detects the ink particles as foreign and sends white blood cells (macrophages) to engulf them. The ink particles are so large, once engulfed they are released back into the dermis. This cycle continues as the particles are continuously captured and released known as the capture and release cycle. Old tattoo appear dull, blue, indistinct and blurred over time due to this process.

To remove tattoos, we use a Q-Switch Laser, which uses a focused beam of light in short pulses of a nanosecond to heat the tattoo ink and break it into smaller pieces. This process of photo thermolysis describes the ability to selectively target and remove the tattoo pigment within skin, with minimal damage to the surrounding tissue. When the ink is shattered into smaller pieces the macrophages can then engulf the particles again and remove via our lymphatic system.