Does the type of laser affect laser tattoo removal effectiveness?
I have had 2 treatments with a laser (candelesend) I do not know if this is the right spelling. I have some fading, but minimal at most. The laser is not doing much in the area of removal. What do you have for information on lasers that work?
Answers from doctors (3)
The type of laser can affect your outcomes if it is related to the color. For example, green tattoos are best treated with an Alexandrite (766 nm) or Ruby (650 nm) wavelength laser, whereas black, dark blue and red are best for the Q-switched Nd:Yg laser.
Find a practice that uses both of these types of lasers and also has lots of experience, and you should be fine.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Most good lasers are effective. Firstly, you need an experienced professional who understands laser physics and skin physiology. Secondly, it is your body that actually removes the ink after the laser explodes/activates the ink molecules. Additionally, ink depth and the amount on ink injected into the skin, all contribute to treatment length and fading. You are very early in you treatment process and it can take 3, 6, 10 treatments depending upon how your body responds. We have a strict after care protocol that also assists in stimulating this process and ensures healthy skin. We use an Aztanza Trinity with very good results.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The Candela Alex Trivantage may be the machine you are speaking about. This laser is a q-switched laser (the type used for tattoo removal) and it uses three different wavelengths for tattoo removal, the Alexandrite (755 nm), the Nd:Yg (1064 nm) and the double frequency Nd:Yg (532 nm). While this laser is the right type for tattoo removal, it is possible that another type would be more powerful and therefore able to remove the tattoo more quickly. With that said, it is important to understand that laser tattoo removal can take anywhere between 5-15 treatments and we often have patients tell us that they do not see a change after 1 or 2 treatments - until they look at the pictures. Once they see the pictures they understand how pronounced the change has been. Did you have pictures taken before you started treatment? If so, review them with your practitioner. Two other types of tattoo removal lasers are the Hoya Conbio Medlite (C3, C4, C6 and Revlite) and the Palomar Q Yag V. Based on our own research, we have found the Hoya Conbio to be the most powerful tattoo removal device available.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
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