What is the treatment of tattoos and pigmented lesions with laser?
Nowadays we treat multiple pigmented lesions with laser: the most frequent are lentigines, which are spots that appear with the sun and with age, and tattoos. The treatment in both cases is similar, the only difference is in its duration. To treat a tattoo it is necessary to dedicate more sessions compared to the cases of lentigines.
Can I remove tattoos with the laser?
One application of the QS Alexandrite laser is in tattoo removal. When it comes to tattoo removal, non-professional tattoos usually require less therapeutic effort than professional tattoos. This is due to the multiple colors and high concentration of pigment used. Green and yellow pigments, and partly red pigments, are usually resistant to treatment with this laser. The number of sessions required to remove tattoos varies between 7 and 10 sessions. The results are very satisfactory.
What is the objective of the treatment and what does it consist of?
The objective is to remove the stain and/or tattoo. The treatment is very simple, the laser is applied, it gives very focused shots and produces a burst of pigment that is subsequently reabsorbed by cells of our body and ends with the disappearance of the stain.
To treat lentigines, one or two sessions are necessary, this will depend on the tone of the spot, the lighter the spot, the less sessions will be necessary. On the other hand, the treatment of tattoos usually requires between eight and ten sessions. There are some particular cases in which a few more sessions are needed due to the type of skin and the type of tattoo.
Is anesthesia necessary?
When large extensions or tattoos are treated it can sometimes be a little uncomfortable, depending on the sensitivity of each person. In these cases a topical anesthetic can be used, which is an anesthetic in the form of a cream that is applied one or two hours before the treatment and manages to reduce sensitivity.
Are there any risks or side effects?
The type of laser used does not leave scars or marks. There is more than 25 years of experience using this type of laser. During this time they have been perfected more and more and there has never been any type of complication.
Does the treatment vary according to skin type?
If the person has a dark skin type, the person’s own pigment also captures the laser energy and produces a more significant impact. On the other hand, in fair-skinned people with less pigment in the skin this impact does not occur. Likewise, the intensity of the stain must be assessed, because when a stain is very strong or very pigmented, less energy must be applied to the laser so that it does not have too strong an impact. And when the stain is lighter and more diffused, a higher energy should be used.
What results can be expected?
When we treat lentigines the result is spectacular because it does not leave any sign and the skin is clean and without spots. The most frequent areas we treat are the face and hands, and in both cases the results are excellent. In tattoos the results are also very good and the tattoo can be completely eliminated.
When can normal activities be resumed after the treatment?
In principle, normal activities can be resumed immediately after the treatment, but it must be taken into account that during a week or ten days the treated spots will be more evident. During the first few days there is a purplish coloration which then changes to brown and gradually lightens. After ten days they will have disappeared.