Page 19 - An Introduction to Laser Tattoo Removal
P. 19
Chapter 2 – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal v1.0
Region
% population with a tattoo
Europe
12
Australia
10 - 14.5
New Zealand
20
USA
21 - 24
Canada
24
The safety of tattoo inks is a concern to all. An excellent report was compiled in 2016 by the EU Science Hub (click here).
Before we consider how to remove tattoos by laser, we should understand how tattoos are created and their ‘life’ in the skin. Understanding some of these basics will help to explain the mechanisms behind laser treatments.
In the vast majority of cases, tattoos are made using ink and needles. In older cultures ‘inks’ may comprise of burnt butter (old Arab tribes use this material) or other similar substances (e.g. charcoal), which were applied to the skin using sharpened wooden sticks or similar.
Tattoo machines and needles....
The first thing you need to know is that tattoo artists NEVER call their equipment ‘guns’!! They are ‘machines’.
A ‘rotary’ tattoo machine. These devices use a standard rotary motor which simply moves the needles in a linear fashion.
All needles used with these devices have a ‘hook’ at their top, to engage with the motor.
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Chapter 2 LEVEL A Laser Tattoo Removal
© The Laser-IPL Guys, 2021
Figure 3: A rotary tattoo machine
