Tattoo Removal
Quick Facts: Laser Tattoo Removal
- A combination of 3-4 different types of advanced lasers systems are used on all tattoos to allow faster and safer removal of the tattoo
- A high powered Q-switched laser then delivers energy to shatter the tattoo pigments to fade the tattoo
- Kiora's Q-switched laser is the most powerful system in the world allowing tattoos of all colours to be treated
- Very high powered lasers are required to treat partially faded tattoos. The ink is both deeper & resistant to standard lasers
- The high power of our laser allows tattoos to be treated more safely with a lower incidence of side effects
- All patients at Kiora are first seen by a Cosmetic Doctor of over 16 years experience with Cosmetic Lasers
- Modern "Q-switched lasers" allow tattoos of all colours to be safely treated
- Generally, darkly tattoos are the easiest to treat. Coloured tattoos are more difficult and slower to fade
- To get the best results Kiora offers packages of 5 sessions starting from $160 per session
- Uncompromising Safety: Ventilation exceeds WHO COVID recommendations for hospitals by 200%. All staff vaccinated
WHAT IS LASER TATTOO REMOVAL?
Permanent tattoos place pigments into the deep layers of the skin. This can make them very difficult to fade. Modern Q-switched lasers use high powered light to shatter the pigment of the tattoo whilst leaving the surrounding skin intact. Over a course of 5-8 sessions the tattoo gradually fades. Modern laser systems allow tattoos of all colours to be treated.
HOW EFECTIVE IS LASER TATTOO REMOVAL?
Kiora's success rate is outstanding. Our Q-switched laser is the most powerful tattoo removal laser system available and gives us the ability to fade tattoos of all colours. Faded, coloured or tattoos that have proven resistent to treatment in the past have often been treated with insufficient energies. Our Doctors are confident the correct energy and wavelength is available to treat all tattoos - even the ones that have proven resistent to previous treatments. Our laser system is very fast. Large areas like a tattoo covering half of the arm can be treated in 20 minutes. A small tattoo can be treated in about 5 minutes. Generally black and dark green tattoos are the easiest to treat. Whilst coloured tattoos like blue, green and yellow are more difficult.
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I REQUIRE?
Kiora can assure patients of a quick result by using lasers in combination to achieve a faster & safer result. Firstly an Er:YAG fractional resurfacing laser vaporises the top layers of the epidermis to make access to the deep tattoo pigments easier. Then a powerful Q-switched laser is used to shatter the tattoo dyes. Most tattoos require between 5-8 sessions to fully fade. Coloured tattoos are more difficult to treat and can take a few more sessions. Far fewer sessions are required if the patient only needs to fade a tattoo so that a new one can be reapplied over the same area. Often only 2-4 sessions are needed.
A skilled tattoo artist will place their tattoo pigments into the deep layers of the skin so that the skin art is permanent. Modern Q-switched lasers deliver high powered laser energy which is only absorbed by the pigment itself and not by the surrounding skin. Because the energy is delivered in very quick bursts (nanosecond long pulses) the pigment is shattered. This results in an immediate fading of the tattoo. Over the next 6 weeks the body's own immune system further degrades the shattered pigments resulting in more fading.
WHY SHOULD LASER TATTOO REMOVAL BE SUPERVISED BY A COSMETIC DOCTOR?
All potential laser tattoo removal patients in Melbourne are first consulted by one of our two principle Cosmetic Doctors. They have nearly 20 years of experience in the use of cosmetic lasers to safely fade tattoos of all colours for all skin types. Safely fading tatoos whilst minimising side effects requires our Doctors to carefully customise the patient treatment plan for teach patient. In our experience, this individualised approach reduces the number of required sessions - minimising the total cost.
Laser tattoo removal is not completely risk free. Redness and tenderness persist for several days after the procedure. Blistering of the skin is a rare, though temporary, complication of the treatment. It is much more likely with larger tattoos or coloured tattoos. Sometimes patients can experience an allergic reaction to the ink used for their original tattoo. When the laser shatters the tattoo ink the body can suffer an allergic reaction to the newly liberated inks. Burns are a rare complication.
WHO IS IT SUITABLE FOR?
Tattoo of all colours can be treated. Patients, both light and dark skinned, can be treated safely. Very large tattoos can be more difficult to treat and have a higher incidence of side effects and blistering. We often treat large tattoos in stages to minimise the risk.
WHY MUST THE SESSIONS BE SCHEDULED 6-8 WEEKS APART?
Treatment with a Q-switched laser results in an immediate fading of the tattoo. The tattoo continues to fade over the next 6 weeks as the body's own immune system continues to absorb and fade the tattoo ink shattered by the laser treatment. We recommend treatments scheduled at least 6 weeks apart to maximise this gradual fading effect and minimise your overall number of session.
