It seems that tattooed people are everywhere these days, though tattoos have been around for ages. From a religious tool for protection and devotion and a tribal rite attribute, through stigmatization due to its high prevalence in criminal culture, tattooing went a long way to being recognized as a form of self-expression for those who consider their body being a canvas for amazing paintings.

The tattooing industry didn’t stay behind either. The methods and materials have evolved greatly, and now a tattoo addict is not restricted to black and blue. Full-color tattoos are the “new black” in the tattooing world, bringing it to the level of art. 

Still, tattoo shop owners believe that the world is divided into two kinds of people: those who are eager to get a tattoo and those who can’t wait to get rid of it. And there is a high chance that they are the same person.

There is a common misconception, and not least due to advertising tricks, that with the newest laser technology, tattoos are cheap and easy to remove.

While black and red, the most common tattoo colors, can be removed relatively fast, other tattoo inks may be challenging and take longer to break down. You may be surprised, but light blue, green, and yellow tones may last longer than darker tones.

Most tattoo removal clinics have Nd:Yag lasers that are extremely good while working with black, dark blue, and red/orange/yellow tattoos, but in many cases, are not able to cope with sky blue or green inks. Speaking of green, it is often the only color that remains after treatment with Nd:YAG lasers. It may appear to be the most stubborn color in multicolor tattoos. 

Green and sky blue pigments require laser wavelengths in the red spectrum, like ruby (694 nm) or alexandrite (755 nm). Still, alexandrite and ruby lasers may cost a fortune if compared to more affordable Nd:Yags. 

Some clinics try to clear bright colors with expensive and low-powered dye handpieces that allow achieving the necessary wavelength. However, the output energy of those handpieces after conversion often is not enough for pigment shattering. 

Another problem with bright colors is that the skin melanin heavily absorbs the wavelengths used to remove such colors. This is especially true for darker skin, rich with melanin. Therefore, some good portion of energy does not reach its target, resulting in poor tattoo clearance. On the other hand, the 1064 nm is less well absorbed by epidermal melanin, thus giving the advantages of more powerful ink destruction and less post-treatment hypopigmentation and scarring as compared to ruby lasers known for the high risk of subsequent scarring. 

Still, if you do not have enough free funds or space to purchase or rent the type of laser you do not have currently in your office, you have to find other ways to change tattoo removal efficiency for the better. 

What actually can be done? 

Though the final result of tattoo removal depends on numerous patient and tattoo factors, some practical tips may help overcome your equipment limitations:

1. Give preference to picolasers instead of nanolasers

The newest technology allows for several advantages:

• ten times shorter pulse duration helps better deliver the energy to ink molecules instead of spilling it over the surrounding tissues;
• higher peak powers confined to a target area provide for greater pigment disruption into smaller particles, which are more easily evacuated by the lymphatic system.

2. Use shock-wave therapy after a picolaser session

The studies show better tattoo clearance with acoustic shock wave therapy used in conjunction with a picosecond laser. This effect is due to boosted microcirculation, enhanced metabolic rate, and better lymphatic drainage. 

Moreover, ASWT helps counter temporary post-treatment effects like redness, swelling, and crusting. 

3. Combine a tattoo removal session with a fractional laser treatment

In fact, fractional laser before picolaser is beneficial for many reasons. Microcolumns made by fractional laser help escape hot gas produced during picolaser work, thus reducing the risk of scarring and blistering. 

The same microscopic holes allow better penetration of tattoo removal laser energy and better ink clearance. This may also result in fewer treatment sessions for full tattoo clearance. 

Add the natural ability of the fractional laser to improve skin texture and tone and reduce scarring, and you will get the most optimal solution for tattoo removal, even with stubborn inks.

Just to remind you: you may order an additional fractional handpiece for all FitAims tattoo removal lasers and save costs that you could spend on buying a full-scale fractional laser. 

Still, having a full-powered fractional CO2 laser in your office is a chance to enlarge your offer with a bundle of skin rejuvenation treatments.