Our lasers deliver very short pulses of high-intensity light into the treated area. The tattoo inks and pigments then selectively absorb the light without destroying the normal surrounding skin tissue in the process. The tattoo is dissolved into smaller ink particles that are harmlessly removed by your body’s immune system in the weeks following treatment.

With the appropriate laser and trained professional, the procedure is not only safe, but has the best track record for unharmed or damaged skin. Each patient’s treatment plan is thoroughly assessed, their progress is recorded and managed, and aftercare plans are always followed up with by our laser technician.

Skin type is incredibly important to the laser tattoo removal process. It is what allows us to choose what colors of ink we can remove and from whom. In this day and age, there are lasers that can remove every color of ink from every skin type.

How Laser Tattoo Removal Works for Different Skin Tones

During the removal process, pulses of light/wavelengths are used to attract the ink in order to crystallize and break up the large ink molecules.

To best determine which type of laser tattoo removal treatment to use on different skin shades, We utilize The Fitzpatrick Scale. This is a numerical scale that measures the amount of melanin in the skin and was developed to determine how different skin types react to ultraviolet light.

Introducing the Fitzpatrick Scale

This scale does not measure skin color. Instead, it measures the skin’s reactivity to UV rays, which is helpful in tattoo removal because skin reacts to heat and lasers in the same manner that it reacts to the sun. By determining how certain skin types will react, our specialists can choose the right laser, settings, and duration to achieve better and safer results.

At Lost Love, we understand that different colors of ink and skin absorb wavelengths in a variety of ways, which is why we utilize more than one type of laser. While a 1064 nm wavelength is usually ideal for shattering black or very dark ink, a 532 nm wavelength is better for removing red or warm tones such as yellow or brown.

What Tattoo Removal Laser Works Best on Dark Skin?

Not only do certain colors of ink appear differently on dark skin, but darker skin also absorbs light and heat more rapidly. While those with light skin will absorb the laser energy directly into the tattoo, those with darker skin will often diffuse the energy into the skin surrounding the tattoo as well as into the ink itself.

For this reason, a laser that uses a broad spectrum of light, traditionally a Q-switched laser are often the best choice. This type of laser can remove ink effectively without removing melanin or burning the skin.

In addition to using the right laser, our specialists also wait longer between treatments for those with dark skin. While those with lighter skin can typically have treatments every six weeks, those with darker skin should wait eight to ten weeks between treatments to avoid hyperpigmentation, skin fatigue or hypopigmentation.

Green, blue and purple inks are typically the most difficult to remove.

It depends on the size, complexity and depths of the ink, as well as several other factors. This is something we will discuss at your appointment.

It hurts, but it’s bearable. It’s also over in a matter of minutes - sometimes seconds. We also use a high-powered cooling machine to provide further comfort.

If the tattoo already features scarring, expect that to remain. It’s very uncommon for a patient to scar from a Q-Switched laser treatment. However, It is very common for a tattoo to feature pre-existing scarring from when it was applied.

Yes! However complete removal is not guaranteed, as not all tattoos are created the same. We can discuss this more at your free consultation.