In France, it is estimated that 25% of individuals under the age of 30 have tattoos. The process involves injecting ink into the dermis, which is the intermediate layer of the skin. Unlike the epidermis, this layer does not regenerate, making tattoos a permanent body modification.

However, over time, tattoos may lose their appeal due to various factors such as aging, poor execution, or changes in the design, such as spots, deformations, and signs of aging. Social discomfort may also arise, especially when tattoos are located on visible parts of the body, like hands and forearms, or when they are perceived negatively by partners or acquaintances. Trends change, as do personal preferences, leading to a desire to "erase the tattoo" - the desire to remove tattoos - or simply a feeling of overwhelming "weariness." In such cases, laser technology can come into play to remove these permanent marks from the dermal layer of the skin.

With advancements in aesthetic medicine, laser tattoo removal has become a viable option to virtually erase tattoos with minimal visibility once the required sessions are completed. Currently, laser tattoo removal is an unmatched solution for unwanted tattoos.

UNDERTAKING A "COVER" PROCEDURE

Tattoo cover-ups are not always a feasible solution when dealing with a poorly executed tattoo. In some cases, the original tattoo is excessively dark or damaged, making it visible even after attempting to conceal it with a new design.

The cover-up process involves creating a new, larger tattoo to hide the old one. However, this method may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, attempting a cover-up without prior laser tattoo removal sessions significantly limits the options for the new design. That's why incorporating a few laser tattoo removal sessions before embarking on a cover-up provides the client with more possibilities.

WHAT TATTOO REMOVAL DEVICE IS USED AT ELITE LAZER CENTER?

The Elite Lazer Center, a top choice for Hollywood Spectra laser tattoo removal, utilizes the cutting-edge Hollywood SpectraTM laser. This advanced tool successfully removes all tattoo pigments, from dark inks to red, orange, blue, purple, and green shades, thanks to its various wavelengths.

The Hollywood Spectra laser represents state-of-the-art technology for Nd YAG 1064nm Q-Switched 5ns lasers. It is enriched with a KTP crystal that doubles the frequency to reach 532 nm while offering two additional wave bands: 585 nm and 650 nm.

With recent advancements like the HyperSurge resonator and Intellibeam, as well as the PTP+ mode, the Hollywood Spectra laser stands as the most formidable QS laser available on the market. Moreover, it even surpasses picosecond lasers in terms of performance, making it an unparalleled choice for Hollywood Spectra laser tattoo removal.

WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF TATTOO REMOVAL?

The laser beam emitted by the laser transforms into heat absorbed by the ink pigments, allowing the granules of ink composing the tattoo to "shatter" into very fine particles through a photoacoustic effect.

The laser beam's absorption is selective to the tattoo pigment, without damaging the surrounding tissues. The wavelength used depends on the tattoo's color and the patient's skin type.

The body's immune system then does its job using reparative cells (phagocytes and macrophages) to eliminate these fragments (lasting about 6 months). Thanks to its ultra-fast waves, the laser used for tattoo removal sessions acts without damaging the exposed skin, as it only heats the area for a very short duration.

WHO CAN BE TREATED WITH LASER TATTOO REMOVAL?

The Hollywood SpectraTM laser is designed to treat all skin types and all phototypes. Both men and women, on any part of the body, can undergo this depigmentation procedure.

HOW DOES A LASER TATTOO REMOVAL SESSION WORK?

Before starting the treatment, photographs of the tattoo(s) are taken for evaluation purposes of the treatment's effectiveness. It is recommended to apply an anesthetic cream (such as Emla) under an occlusive dressing about 1 hour before the session, especially if the treatment area is extensive. The treatment is still sensitive but largely tolerable. Also, if the tattooed area has hair, it should be shaved 48 to 72 hours before the session (except for eyebrows).

During the session, the practitioner removes the anesthetic cream and disinfects the area. The patient and the doctor must wear occlusive caps or specific protective goggles for the Hollywood Spectra laser throughout the session.

The session begins, and the laser beam sweeps across the entire tattoo one or more times, depending on the pigments present. In the case of a circular tattoo around a joint (finger, elbow, knee, ankle, etc.), the session must be done in two stages with an interval of at least 48 hours to avoid the laser-induced edema compressing the joint (compartment syndrome). During the laser passage, the patient feels like being snapped with a rubber band and hears a sharp snapping sound with each shot.

The duration of each session depends on the tattoo's size and depth (from a few minutes to sometimes 30 minutes). At the end of the session, the tattoo appears temporarily whitened. Sometimes, small spots (redness) and/or bleeding points and swelling may occur a few minutes after the treatment.

A healing cream and a dressing are then applied to the entire treated area to be kept for 48 hours. The tattoo should then be left uncovered, except if the patient is exposed to the sun. The scar should be protected from UV rays until fully healed.

It is necessary to protect the treated area from the sun for one month after the session.

WHAT ARE THE RULES TO FOLLOW FOR LASER TATTOO REMOVAL?

6 Months Before:

Avoid having any treatment that sensitizes the area to be treated (chemotherapy, radiotherapy...)

2 to 6 Weeks Before:

Avoid sun exposure (natural or UV). It is not possible to treat tanned skin.
Avoid applying self-tanning products 2 weeks before the session.
Avoid applying essential oils 15 days before the session on the area to be treated or orally.
Your last tattoo removal session must be at least 6 to 8 weeks ago.

48/72 Hours Before:

Three days before your appointment, the hair in the area to be treated should be shaved or waxed.
No Sauna/Hammam/Exfoliation/creams like fruit acids, retinoids, vitamin A, 72 hours before the session.

The Day of the Session:

Do not apply any active products (perfume, cream, soap...) or makeup.
On the body: apply the anesthetic cream EMLA on the tattoo and wrap it with plastic wrap 1 to 1.5 hours before the session.
On the face (cosmetic tattoos): Apply the EMLA cream 1 hour before and repeat 15 minutes before treatment without occlusion.

After the Session:

A moisturizing and soothing cream will be applied immediately, then covered with an oily dressing for 48 hours. Local treatment will continue in the open air (or under occlusion as needed) until complete healing, usually 3 times a day for 7 to 10 days.
The patient can shower the day after the laser tattoo removal session.
Avoid sports, friction, swimming pools, baths, saunas, and steam rooms for the 72 hours following the session.
The lasered skin must remain perfectly clean to avoid any risk of infection and related complications. Depending on the case, an antiseptic solution may be recommended.
Do not scratch the tiny scabs; they will fall off on their own within 7 to 10 days.
Do not expose the treated area to the sun for at least 1 month and apply full sun protection (+SPF 50) several times a day as needed.

HOW MANY SESSIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR TATTOO REMOVAL?

To fragment all the ink contained in the tattoo, several sessions are required. It should also be noted that the number of sessions depends on the tattoo's characteristics: its size, depth, color (black tattoos are easier to remove), monochrome or polychrome nature, and its age. The type of ink used also plays a role, as newer generation inks are easier to treat. The denser, darker, and deeper the tattoo is, the more sessions it will require to disappear:

For partial removal with the aim of a cover-up tattoo, at least 3 sessions may be needed.
For an amateur tattoo, 5 to 8 sessions are generally sufficient for removal.
For a professional tattoo, an average of 6 to 10 sessions will be necessary.
Each session is spaced 2 months apart.
Tattoo removal cannot be applied to a tattoo that is still healing, i.e., less than 3 months old.
Factors that make tattoo removal easier and, therefore, quicker are:

Tattoo on fair skin.
Monochrome tattoo.
Black or red tattoos.
Homemade tattoos with India ink and ritual tattoos.
Tattoos over 10 years old.
On the other hand, factors that increase the number of sessions needed to eliminate the tattoo are:

Tattoo on dark skin.
Tattoos with multiple colors (polychrome).
Tattoos in light colors: yellow, green, pink, light blue.
Traumatic tattoos when the ink was injected too deep.
"Raised" tattoos with significant amounts of ink.
Professional tattoos that may require more than 10 sessions without a guarantee of complete disappearance (persistent shading).
Finally, each person has their own pace of eliminating ink fragments. The result is gradual and accentuates between each session, varying from one patient to another.

IS IT PAINFUL?

Tattoo removal sessions, whether for body tattoos or permanent makeup on the face, can be rather painful. To provide maximum comfort to the patient, local anesthesia with anesthetic cream is offered and should be applied by the patient to clean and dry skin 1 hour before the session.