As we pass over the tattoo the laser targets the pigment in the tattoo with nanosecond bursts of high-intensity light. The laser affects the tattoo with very short and strong laser pulses that penetrate deep into the skin, without injuring the top layers. These pulses are then absorbed by the pigments in the ink and as the laser light is transformed into photoacoustic waves, it mechanically breaks up the ink into smaller particles. 

In the weeks following the laser tattoo removal and fading procedure, there will be a gradual clearing of the tattoo pigment by immune cells, such as macrophages and lymphocytes, via the lymph nodes resulting in treatment that gradually fades unwanted tattoos. 

We are the only clinic in Geelong West to use the Zimmer Cryo 6 Cooling System to blow chilly air on the treatment area  before, during and after the laser tattoo removal treatment. The Cryo 6 is designed to reduce pain and discomfort but to also minimise associated risks of thermal injury as it blows cold air, producing a temporary, topical analgesic relief.

Icepacks are also used prior to treatment and also again afterwards if needed to offer relief to any discomfort and prevents the build up of any heat during the tattoo removal and fading treatment. 

Scheduled medicines may only be sold or supplied to members of the public by persons authorised or licensed under the Controlled Substances Act 1984, and administered in accordance with the Act. Numbing cream that contains more than 2% lidocaine is a Schedule 2 - Pharmacy only medicine and can not be supplied or applied by anybody other than the person for whom it was purchased. 

Tattoo removal and fading is a process that requires patience but fortunately we use the Fotona QX max laser which is the most powerful, best made laser system in the world, decreasing the number of treatments needed by half of what is required with most other laser technology in the market. 

There are a number of contributing factors when considering the number of treatments needed;The location of the tattoo on the body, the age and colour of the tattoo, depth of ink, skin type, the overall health of the client and if adequate home care is followed pre and post treatment.

• The location on the body of the tattoo. Distal tattoos on the extremities will require more laser treatments compared to those that are proximal and located closer to the centre of the body. 
• The age of the tattoo contributes to the removal process, with older, amateur tattoos fading quicker than newer tattoos that are processionally done. 
• A clients skin type contributes to the number of treatments required as the darker the skin, the more challenging it can be for the laser to differentiate between the skin's natural melanin and the ink of the tattoo. To minimise associated risks, the treatment protocol may be to treat with more caution for darker skin types. 
• The colour and depth of the ink impact the number of treatments required. Black is typically the easiest colour to fade and remove while yellow, green and aqua can be more challenging. Furthermore the more ink in the skin, the more that the immune system has to process out of the body.   

With so many variables determining how many treatments are needed, it is impossible to accurately predict how many treatments will be required. We do however use the Kirby-Desai scale to estimate in the vicinity of how many laser tattoo removal treatments may be needed and it can often fall between 6-10 as a guide. 

For many clients the aim is to do tattoo removal and fading to their existing tattoo just enough so that their tattoo artist can design a new tattoo to go over the top of it.

It is very important to not rush the process and to understand that laser tattoo removal is the procedure that requires a recovery period and sometimes this timeframe can be more extensive.

It is critical to acknowledge that you should not get a new tattoo immediately after a tattoo removal or fading treatment as the body needs a suitable amount t of time to eliminate all of the shattered ink particles and to allow the skin to adequately heal and repair itself post treatment. 

Depending on tattoo location, size and the overall health of the client, we recommend waiting a minimum of 8-12 weeks before receiving a tattoo coverup. 

Depending on your skin and sensitivity you may experience a range of different side effects after a laser tattoo removal treatment. The most common observable effects that you may experience after your treatment include white frosting, mild to moderate swelling, heat, redness and mild to moderate discomfort. 

Other symptoms include itching, tingling similar to a strong sunburn, skin discolouration or bruising and blistering. It is important to remember that if you experience these symptoms that they are common and depend on the location, type of ink used, the colour of the ink and also your skin type. 

Typically tattoo removal will not leave scars, although with any treatment there are possibilities of complications. The risk of scarring can increase with those clients who have darker skin tones, poor circulation, immune system deficiencies, some medications, a history of keloid scarring or a recent Covid-19 vaccination.

When considering laser tattoo removal from the perspective of the skin, the treatment is essentially a traumatic event or wound. Thermal and physical injuries are carefully but purposefully caused when the absorbed laser energy heats the ink particles, leading to steam formation and then creating physical expansion or swelling of the localised tissue and thermal damage, sometimes resulting in scar tissue formation. Best practice therefore indicates that the longer the interval time between treatments, the better for the skin integrity as the the risk of scarring is increased if laser treatments are repetitively performed while the skin is still healing. 

Tattoo removal shatters the ink into tiny particles to then be flushed naturally through the body’s lymphatic system, therefore treating a tattoo earlier than the advised interval time will not  speed-up the removal process but may in-fact hinder the process and can potentially overload the lymphatic system causing the client to become unwell. 

The minimum interval time we recommend is 6 weeks however we encourage 12 week intervals for the best results. All tattoos are however different and require an individualised treatment plan.