Is the R20 method of tattoo removal effective on colors other than black?

R20 has limited use in professional clinics. Tattoos are meant to be permanent and there is an increased risk of skin damage with R20, especially with someone who hasn't had a lot of tattoo removal experience. We have been doing this for over 9 years. We have tried this in the past with poor results.

Different colored tattoos are treated with different wavelengths (1064, 532, 670 etc) pico and nanosecond. R20 is only stacking treatments on top of each other in the same treatment. If the skin is damaged, it will thicken in response and make it difficult for the laser to penetrate to the ink in subsequent treatments. Be patient. Seek experience in a medical based clinic with a high-quality laser such as Cutera Enlighten.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The R20 method can be effective in treating any color of tattoo if the right wavelength of light is used. For red and black, you will need a Q-switched Nd:Yg (1064) laser. For the green, your best bet would be an Alexandrite (755).

With that said, we do not recommend the R20 method as it has a much higher incidence of hypopigmentation and scarring. It is too traumatic for the skin to do multiple treatments on the same day and it is very likely that you will have some form of permanent scarring if you move forward with this method.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

R20 method is to be used for black ink. The other lasers cause more epidermal damage than the laser for black ink. So, R20 would greatly magnify the epidermal damage, WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

Published on Jul 11, 2012