Q:  It seemed like a good idea at the time…when I got my tattoo. When I think back, it was probably more about me wanting to break out of my mold, make change, and do something a little edgy. I regret it now. Does tattoo removal work?

A.  At the Rocky Mountain Laser Clinic, we’ve found that nothing’s better to remove tattoos than the MedLite® C Series. This Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser series from HOYA ConBio is considered the safest, fastest and easiest-to-use aesthetic laser currently on the market for tattoo removal. Its MultiLite hand pieces—non-hazardous, dye-impregnated polymer rods—convert the 532 nm wavelength to either 585 nm or 650 nm allowing different wavelengths in one laser. That adaptability in turn increases the treatment options of the MedLite C6.

This photo-acoustic laser delivers energy at such a high rate of speed that it effectively breaks up the ink in a tattoo. It works most effectively on black; less effectively on blues, greens and purples. Professional tattoos are harder to remove than homemade tats, and older tattoos are easier to remove than newer tattoos. The reason for that, explains Jessica Santi, CNS, CLS and Rocky Mountain Laser Clinical Coordinator, is that the body of its own accord, begins to break down the inks in a tattoo over time. Sun will also contribute to the breakdown of a tattoo.

The number of visits it takes to remove a tattoo varies depending on the colors in the tattoo, the size of the tattoo and the individual’s skin type.

Most of the patients seeking tattoo removal are on the younger side, says Santi. And there’s an advantage to that because the younger a person is, typically the quicker they heal.