Tattoo Removal

Body art dates back centuries, and methods for the removal of said body art date back nearly as long. Historically, tattoos were removed using methods such as burning, excision, and salabrasion. Later, dermabrasion and laser ablation were used, but all of these often left behind significant scarring. At Senza Medical, we employ the latest laser technology (including Picosecond and Nanosecond) to remove ink without damaging surrounding tissue. Using Senza’s laser technology, patients will see better results in the reduction of a variety of colors – unlike with any other device on the market thus far.

How does tattoo removal work?

Laser tattoo removal is a non-invasive, FDA-approved light therapy designed to safely eliminate unwanted tattoos from most areas of the body. The laser energy passes through a slim handpiece, penetrating the skin to the tattoo ink, where it is absorbed by the pigment. The concentrated, intense light pulse lasts only a fraction of a second, and the absorbed light energy is rapidly converted to heat. The heat breaks the ink droplets into tiny pieces that the body’s macrophages will discard.

Tattoo Removal Before & After Photos

Most colors can be removed with this combination of lasers – including black, red, brown, blue, green, yellow and other darker colors. Bright colors – especially, aqua, light green and yellow – are very challenging to remove, but with patience, they too fade nicely.

Common reasons for wanting tattoo removal are:

Bad memories associated with the tattoo
Lifestyle or career change
Outdated artwork
Fading ink

Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Tattoo Removal FAQ's

What areas can be treated?

Theoretically, any area can be treated. For safety reasons, we do not attempt to destroy tattoos that are very near the eyes, and we do not treat skin colored inks because they can occasionally turn black and cannot be reversed.

Which patients will benefit from laser tattoo removal?

Our patients with darker tattoo colors such as black, dark blue, red and purple usually see the best results. Unfortunately, some more brightly colored inks can be difficult to remove, and Dr. Rasi will let you know which inks may not be eliminated completely with the MediLite C6 treatment.

What lasers are used at Senza?

At Senza, we use the PiQo4, Picosecond laser, Medlite C6, and Ruby laser. Having used other systems in the past, we are pleased with the treatment response from these lasers. We have noticed more fading per treatment, resulting in fewer sessions overall.

What kind of results can I expect? Is it permanent?

There are many factors involved in the success of tattoo removal. The most important factors are ink color, age, whether the tattoo is professional or amateur, genetics, etc. As a general rule, professional tattoos are harder to remove than amateur tattoos. Older tattoos tend to be easier, because some of the ink is naturally absorbed over time. However, we cannot totally guarantee how much of the tattoo will be removed. Sometimes there is a shadow or ghost of the original tattoo that cannot be improved on, and other times the tattoo is completely gone. Once any tattoo pigment is reduced, these results are permanent.

How many treatments will it take to see tattoo reduction?

Most patients will require six to 10 treatments, depending on the above factors. Everyone is different, and some patients find results are achieved easier and more quickly than others. At your initial consultation, Dr. Rasi will assess your needs, offer a detailed recommendation for tattoo removal, and discuss the results patients might expect.

How long should patients wait between treatments?

The recommended wait period between treatments should be at least eight weeks, to allow sufficient time for the body to absorb the disrupted ink. Any sooner would be a waste of time and money. Waiting longer is best, and if time is not an issue, it is better to wait up to 4 months.

Are there risks?

There are always risks when performing any laser treatment on the skin. While the system we use at Senza is rarely the cause of skin irritations, some irritations can occur, including burning, blisters, and discoloration of the skin. Patients should be prepared that any metallic ink treated may cause irritation because of the metal components within the ink that can retain the heat from the laser.

Does it hurt?

This treatment can be painful, but tolerable. They are luckily quite quick too.

How much downtime can I expect?

There is no downtime, however, patients may notice that the treatment area is tender for a few weeks. All normal activities can be resumed, but sun protection is recommended.

Am I a candidate for laser tattoo removal?

The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for tattoo removal is to schedule a consultation with us. We will assess your individual needs and develop an appropriate treatment plan.