About Laser Tattoo Removal

About Tattoo Removal

Removing a tattoo is just as permanent of a decision as having one applied. Here at Vanish Laser Clinic, we want all of our patients to feel confident in their decision to remove any unwanted ink. This page outlines the laser tattoo removal procedure step by step to help you feel 100% comfortable with the process before proceeding with any treatments. For all other questions, please visit our FAQs page or call our clinic to speak with one of our knowledgeable laser technicians.

Tattoo Application

To best understand how tattoo removal works, it helps to know how a tattoo is applied. Today, the majority of tattoos are applied with an electric tattoo machine that pierces through the skin and embeds ink pigment into the dermis. Upon insertion, your immune system detects the ink particles as foreign materials and tries to remove them. As your tattoo heals, the damaged epidermis layers of your skin shed while the tattoo ink gets suspended permanently into the dermis by skin cells called fibroblasts. Over time, your immune system continuously eats away at the ink particles in an attempt to heal your body from the trapped foreign material. This explains why tattoos fade and lose color over many years.

 Laser-Ink Interaction

Laser tattoo removal speeds up the natural fading process by breaking up the ink particles in the dermis. During a treatment, our multi-wavelength Astanza Trinity laser releases ultra-quick pulses of light energy onto the unwanted tattoo. In response, the ink particles absorb the different wavelengths of light and shatter into tiny fragments that your body’s immune system is more easily able to flush out. Multiple treatments are needed in order to achieve complete ink clearance, however, most patients will see significant fading within their first three treatments.

Laser tattoo removal is the safest and most effective method for removing unwanted ink. Vanish Laser Clinic provides the best treatments throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Our powerful Astanza Trinity technology can treat tattoos of all colors and skin tones with minimal pain and deliver results in the fewest number of treatments. Contact our office today to schedule your free consultation!