Page 53 - An Introduction to Laser Tattoo Removal

Chapter 2 – Fundamentals of Laser Tattoo Removal v1.0
(Watch this video showing steam bubbles being created by 1064nm laser energy interacting with black carbon ink).
The reality is that even with all wavelengths available to you, you still cannot guarantee the complete removal of all ink colours. It is that simple!
So, if you hear of a laser company saying that their new, super-duper laser can “remove all colours”, don’t believe them – it’s just marketing BS!
Fluence vs pulsewidth
Some recent calculations have clearly shown that the heat generated on ink particle surfaces will conduct from the ink into the surrounding dermis during the pulse. Even though nanosecond pulses are so short (billionths of a second!), there is still sufficient time for the heat energy to disperse before the pulse has finished.
This is very significant!! What this means clinically, is that the maximum temperature achieved on the ink particle surfaces depends on both the energy and the pulse duration of the laser.
In particular, nanosecond pulses (from Q-switched lasers) will result in lower temperatures compared with picosecond lasers firing the same energy at the same tattoo.
This means that picosecond lasers can generate exactly the same temperatures, and effects, as nanosecond lasers, but using lower fluences.
Figure 27: The fluence and pulsewidth are intertwined. Longer pulses require more energy (fluence) to achieve the desired result in the tattoo ink.
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Chapter 2 LEVEL A Laser Tattoo Removal
© The Laser-IPL Guys, 2021