Q-switched lasers such as the QX MAX we use at Body Recon are suited to tattoo removal due to their extremely short pulse duration and high power. This property allows q-switch lasers to literally shatter and disrupt the tattoo pigment resulting in particles that are small enough to be eliminated from the body by the immune system.

Our QX MAX produces two different wavelengths that allow us to successfully treat different tattoo pigments on different skin types. Each wavelength is attracted to a different range of colours. For example, the 532nm wavelength is attracted to red, tan, purple and orange, whilst the 1064nm is attracted to black, brown, dark blue, grey and yellow.

With our handpieces 585nm is attracted to sky blue and our 650nm attracted to green. White tattoos and skin coloured tattoos are hard to remove as they tend to reflect the laser light. These tattoos tend to oxidise and turn black initially, and then lighten with further treatments.

Virtually all tattoos can be treated. Both amateur and professional tattoos are treatable; however, professional tattoos require more treatments to achieve similar results. All colours can be treated, however some may be more difficult and require more treatments and have a lower chance of complete removal. White, yellow, and skin coloured tattoos tend to be difficult to completely remove.

Traumatic tattoos, or those caused by dirt or debris being embedded in the skin, e.g after motorbike accidents, can also be removed in the same manner as conventional tattoos.

Tattoos can be removed from all skin types, but the darker the skin, the less contrast there is between the colour of the skin and the tattoo, making it more difficult to remove without affecting the normal skin.

Generally several treatments are required for tattoo removal. There are a lot of elements that will determine how many treatments you need. Multi-coloured and professional tattoos tend to be harder to remove than single coloured or amateur tattoos and therefore require more treatments. For complete removal, professional tattoos usually require approximately 4-8 sessions depending on the colour and amateur tattoos approximately 4. This can be very variable- some people require more, some people less. To fade a tattoo (e.g for tattooing over with a new design), only a couple of sessions are required.

Factors that determine how many sessions will be required include;

• The skin type. The melanin in the skin attracts the laser in the same way as the tattoo ink thus increasing the risk of damage to surrounding skin. To prevent complications, a lower laser setting will usually be used and consequently more sessions will be required in darker skin types.
• How old the tattoo is. The older the tattoo, the easier it is to remove. We have had cases of 40 year old tattoos being completely removed in one session. Newer tattoos take longer in comparison as the new method of tattoos usually involves distribution of more ink deeper in the skin.
• Location of the tattoo. Tattoo ink is broken down by laser and taken away by the body’s lymphatic and immune systems. Blood supply and lymphatic drainage vary with various body areas, with the greatest supply being the head/neck and trunk, and the least to the extremities. Therefore tattoos that are situated in areas of high blood supply and lymphatic drainage require fewer treatments to remove.
• Colour. The colour of the tattoo is determined by the type of ink used and the constituents of the ink. Black tends to be the most readily removed, with yellow, green, and multi-coloured tattoos being more difficult.
• Amount of ink. Tattoos with minimal ink or outlines only tend to be easier to remove and require fewer sessions than heavily inked and solid areas such as tribal tattoos.
• Scarring. Tattooing the skin can often lead to complications such as scarring and other changes in the tissue that make the tattoo more difficult to remove by laser. Where these complications exist, more sessions may be required to remove the tattoos. Combining fractionated laser may also help to break down this scar tissue.
• Layered tattoos. Tattoos that have been tattooed over with another tattoo tend to be more difficult to remove due to the increased amount of ink.

The above information was proposed in the Kirby-Desai scale, named after two dermatologists who studied 100 patients to see if they could estimate the number of sessions required depending on various factors.

Overall, it is difficult to predict exactly the number of sessions required to remove or fade your tattoo, however this gives us more of an estimate.

Treatments are generally performed at approximately 6 to 8 weeks apart. We tend to start with shorter intervals and extend them with time. It is important to allows the body time to remove the tattoo pigment particles between sessions. The interval can be extended when necessary but not reduced as this can increase the chance of scarring. At Body Recon, we like to treat with as high laser energy level as safely possible- reducing the number of sessions and giving you a quicker and better result.

100% removal of the tattoo pigment is not always possible but is achievable in most cases.

Patience is required and it can be a timely exercise to completely remove a tattoo.

Firstly, a consultation is required with one of our dermal therapists where they will discuss with you the ins and outs of laser tattoo removal and suitability for your tattoo. Depending on the tattoo and skin type we may perform a test patch to determine safety and efficacy of the treatment. Time between test patch and initial treatment is usually 2-4 weeks or as advised by your therapist. For low-risk treatments we may be able to perform the treatment on the day, at your therapist’s discretion.

To prepare the skin we numb the area with ice before treatment. We don’t advise the use of numbing cream as this may create a barrier and reduce efficacy of the treatment. The treatment itself is painful however extremely quick (depending on size of the tattoo) so prolonged discomfort is not an issue.

At Body Recon we use a cooling device, which blows cold air on the treatment area, helping to counteract the sensation of heat. Following the treatment, you won’t experience any prolonged discomfort although there may be a mild throbbing sensation for a short while on more delicate areas and a general feeling of malaise. That day it is advised to keep the area elevated (particularly on a lower limb) to help with swelling, ice for any discomfort and general over the counter pain relief may be taken if required.  

New modalities and techniques are always being developed with tattoo removal. Most recently, the combination of fractionated laser before the q-switch treatment has been shown to be very effective. Fractional laser works by “drilling” into the tattoo, partially ablating some of the ink but also allowing a deeper more effective absorption of q-switch laser. This also helps with any scar tissue that may form when using high powered energy. There has been a lot of research into a technique called the R20 method. This involves an initial deep fractionated laser treatment followed by two q-switch laser sessions with 10 minutes rest between sessions. The R20 method may not always be required for all patients but is a great way to increase results and allow for a quicker result.

The tattoo may appear slightly raised and frosted (white) in appearance immediately after the laser treatment. This is the skin’s protective mechanism- we create enough of a response in the ink particles that the skin tries to shield itself from further destruction. There may be surrounding skin redness, and there may be some pinpoint bleeding. An antibiotic cream will be applied after the treatment. Do not pick at any scabs formed by the treatment and keep the treated area out of direct sunlight or apply sunscreen if exposure cannot be avoided.

It usually takes 1 to 3 weeks to completely heal and the treated skin may appear like a wound/scab during this time. We advise that you keep the area protected and apply Bepanthen ointment regularly to keep it moist until the scabs fall off.

Some patients may experience itching in the treatment area in the weeks after laser tattoo removal, if this becomes unbearable a mild over the counter hydrocortisone can be applied between treatment sessions.

As with any laser treatment, there is a very small chance of scarring. The laser is attracted primarily to the tattoo pigment and hence damage and scarring to the normal skin is minimal. An advantage of using the fractionated laser in conjunction with q-switched is that it creates a micro wound in the skin allowing breakdown of any scar tissue that has/may form. This is not common practice in most other salons or clinics.

Occasionally, there are some textural changes to the skin. You may find that there is a slight difference in colour (lighter) of the treated areas to adjacent skin. The likelihood of this occurring increases with an increased number of treatments. Loss of pigmentation (hypopigmentation) is a common occurrence post laser tattoo removal; in this case the area of skin may appear whiter than the rest. In most cases the skin pigmentation returns to normal within a year.

Yes, it is possible to have the same area re-tattooed if you wish once the original tattoo has been removed. The area will need to heal completely before this can be done. Laser tattoo removal can be used to fade or remove a tattoo prior to having it tattooed over. It’s very important to follow your laser technician’s advice when fading and redesigning tattoos.

Yes, it is possible to remove tattoos that have just been applied. This is relevant for tattoos that have been wrongly applied or for those who are immediately dissatisfied.

Cosmetic tattoos or ‘permanent make-up’ can be removed with laser treatment. Tattooed eyebrows and lip liner can be removed or faded. The laser used to remove these pigments can also remove hair (but only temporarily) and this can be a problem for some patients when removing eyebrow tattoos.

Furthermore, with cosmetic tattoos, it is possible for a shift in colour to occur, e.g a pink lip liner tattoo may become dark green or black. Although this darker colour can still be treated with laser, it may not be aesthetically pleasing during the period of removal. Therefore test patching on a small area may be advised in some cases. An alternative form of tattoo removal using our Erbium laser can be performed if a colour shift is suspected. The Erbium laser works on the principle of vaporising a fine layer of skin with the tattoo in it.

Tattoo removal cost is determined by size and complexity of the tattoo (dye handpieces require more time per sessions as this is a slower process.) Our prices are very competitive. We are also able to package your tattoo removal if you are wanting to pay upfront for a number of sessions or have multiple tattoos removed at once.

1. At Body Recon, we use the latest laser technology to perform your treatment:

   We have the highest powered laser system on the market, emitting 1.6j of energy. Some other systems only emit 1j then double pulse with .6j of energy, however the body won’t absorb the second pulse. We combine fractionated laser with tattoo removal which works by “drilling” into the tattoo, partially ablating some of the ink but also allowing a deeper, more effective absorption of q-switch laser. The fractional also helps to break down any scar tissue which may form when using high powered energy. We also have adapted the R20 method that involves an initial deep fractionated laser treatment followed by two q-switch laser sessions with 10minutes rest between sessions. The R20 method may not always be required but is a great way to achieve a better result with fewer sessions.

2. We have the most effective pain reduction technology, with refrigerated air and in some cases local anaesthetic injections.
3. Our laser technicians are all highly experienced and will be able to give you the best advice for your treatment.
4. You have the backup of a fully qualified Plastic Surgeon: Dr Richard Rahdon.