Page 26 - An Introduction to Laser Tattoo Removal
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Chapter 2 – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal v1.0
Dot-work shading is achieved using a small needle grouping, which is usually used for line work. This technique is similar to ‘pointillism’ as used by painters, and is much more intricate than whip shading, commonly used in intricate and time-consuming designs.
An alternative technique which results in a fairly realistic effect can be created with a softer approach using grey (watered down black ink) washes tattooed into the skin. This technique can generate smoother transitional shades with no visible dots.
This technique may be used to deposit ink at various depths to obtain a ‘surfacy’ effect, arising from a more complex layered shading. However, this type of shading may not last very long in the skin as much of the ink ends up in the lower epidermal layers, which will subsequently slough off in the weeks after application.
Colour packing
When a solid, flat (no shading or graduations) area of colour is required, the tattoo machine is generally set up somewhere between a liner and a shader, to maximise the amount of coloured ink injected. This technique can result in relatively large amounts of ink being deposited in the skin.
Following the tattooing process
During the tattooing process, ink will be deposited in both the epidermis and the dermis. All the epidermal ink will be lost in subsequent weeks, as the layers slough off naturally. A scab may form which will also remove ink when it falls off.
The scabbing process may be slight or severe depending on the level of tissue trauma created by the artist, in addition to the host’s skin reaction.
Bruising may also occur in the skin following tattooing. Certain body areas are more prone to bruising than others. As with scabbing, the techniques used by the artist can also determine the amount of bruising.
All tattooing must be regarded as ‘traumatic’ to the skin. If we consider that needles are puncturing the skin many, many times in any sitting, then it is inevitable that damage will occur. The level of damage depends mostly on the skill and techniques of the artist.
 Figure 7: A ‘professional’ tattoo
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Chapter 2 LEVEL A Laser Tattoo Removal
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