Men's Tattoo Treatment & Removal | Collins Cosmetic Clinic

Can lasers remove all tattoo colours?

All tattoo ink colours can be treated with laser tattoo removal. However, the response varies depending on the type of ink used.

Greens and blue colours that used to be very difficult to remove can now be removed quite quickly with picosecond lasers.
White tattoo inks are challenging as they lack the colour to attract the laser light.
It’s not clear how well newer fluorescent coloured tattoo inks will respond to laser tattoo removal.

How many treatments are needed for tattoo removal?

The number of treatments varies with the type of ink used (in particular the size of the ink particles), how much ink was used and how deep the ink was inserted. There are factors related to an individual patient’s immune system and how quickly it can clear broken down ink particles.

It also varies with the level of clearance wanted.

Amateur tattoos generally can be cleared with a few treatments.
Faint tattoos can be removed quicker than multi-layered tattoos.
Upper body areas clear quicker than lower body areas.
Green inks clear faster than black inks.
Darker skin types can need more treatments.

There is no regulation on what is in tattoo ink and how tattoo inks are made, so the response to laser can be unpredictable. As a guide, expect a tattoo can be removed in about 10 treatments, and less if you want remodelling.

What is the cost of laser tattoo removal?

The cost depends on the type of laser being used, the size of the tattoo being treated, and whether anaesthetic is needed. In a medical laser clinic with an experienced medical doctor performing the procedure expect the cost to start at $150 per treatment. For larger tattoos about the size of an A4 sheet of paper expect the price to be around $350 per treatment.

Why should tattoo removal be done in a medical laser clinic?

Tattoo removal is unregulated in Victoria. There are no regulatory controls on who can do the procedure, where it can be done or the standard of equipment that is used. The safest and most reliable results in laser tattoo removal are obtained when an experienced medical doctor in a medical clinic using medical grade lasers performs the procedure.

At the Collins Cosmetic Clinic we have been performing laser tattoo removal for over 20 years. All laser tattoo removal treatments are performed by medical practitioners who in addition to their medical degree have extensive post-graduate training in laser procedures. Laser tattoo removal is performed in our accredited medical practice, and a range of the latest medical grade lasers are available including the REVLITE Q Switch laser, the SINON Q Switch laser and the PICOSURE laser.

Is it safe?

Laser tattoo removal is a safe procedure when performed correctly, but skin damage, infection, and scarring can occur mainly when unqualified operators use cheap equipment.

The lasers used are Class 4 lasers and as such, have the potential to cause eye damage and the laser operator, and the patient must wear specialised eyewear.

Immediately after treatment, blistering and crusting can occur, and if the proper wound care is not undertaken, then infection and even scarring can occur. Pigment change, either the loss of pigment (hypopigmentation) or an increase in pigment (hyperpigmentation) can occur after treatment, and these can be long-lasting, especially in darker skin types.

When a laser shatters tattoo ink, as well as smaller tattoo pigment particles being created, unknown decomposition products and other new compounds can also develop. Allergic reactions have been reported as these various particles are removed from the skin via blood vessels and the lymphatic system. These allergic reactions can appear as small localised itchy lumps, but rarely can be a generalised systemic allergic reaction that is severe enough to require medical treatment. Allergic reactions seem to occur mainly with red and yellow inks.

Is laser tattoo removal painful?

Most patients characterise the level of pain as more painful than getting the tattoo in the first place. With small tattoos, this is not usually a problem as the latest lasers can pulse at a high repetition rate, which means the removal process can be swift. Some areas, however, such as over bony areas like the ankle bone, or large areas like sleeves can be more sensitive and may require an anaesthetic. Because the PICOSURE doesn’t rely as much on the laser heating up the ink particles, much lower power settings can be used, typically half the power is required compared to Q-Switch nanosecond lasers. This has the dual advantage of being much less painful than Q-Switch lasers and also reduces the heat reaction in surrounding skin and hence a significantly reduced risk of pigmentation change and scarring.

Pain relief can be provided in a medical laser clinic if necessary, and this can range from chilled air, topical anaesthetic creams, or in some instances local anaesthetic injections or anaesthetic inhaler.

What are the advantages of PICOSURE laser?

The latest development in laser tattoo removal is the Picosecond Laser, which delivers laser pulses in ultrashort pulses (much shorter than nanosecond Q-Switch lasers) to more effectively shatter tattoo pigment. The PICOSURE is particularly useful in green and blue tattoos, which are typically otherwise difficult to remove. The PICOSURE is also very useful in clearing up residual tattoos that have stopped responding to Q-Switch laser treatments. At the Cosmetic and Laser Medical Centre, we have been using the PICOSURE laser since it was released in Australia in 2013.