Page 244 - Mike Murphy's Blog Posts

E19 - The world’s first ever commercial laser tattoo patient
The other day I was training some very nice ladies and showed them a couple of photos of a tattoo I had treated with a Q-switched ruby laser.
I realised, as I was talking to them, that this tattoo was the very first tattoo to be treated in our new, commercial clinic. Prior to this all patients had been treated in Canniesburn Hospital, Glasgow, where this technique was originally developed, from 1981. In 1989, I opened the world’s first private clinic offering this treatment, in the Schaw Medical Centre, Bearsden, Glasgow.
We were using a Q-switched ruby laser which was originally designed to generate holograms. It was a great device but didn’t like the hot weather!
The world’s first commercial laser tattoo patient using a Q-switched ruby laser. This chap was our very first patient when we opened the first clinic in Glasgow in 1989.
The above tattoo belonged to a very nice gent who was a bank manager (remember them?!?!) He had been in the Royal Navy and was keen to get rid of this tattoo, and the ones below.
He was our very first patient. He gave us a cheque for payment, which we never cashed – instead we framed it. Sadly, it is lost in the mists of time – I wish I knew where it was, it’s an historical document!!
He also wanted the ‘crab’ tattoo below treated at the same time. This didn’t appear to be a problem until he returned after the first session. The red interior areas had all turned black!! We were gob-smacked, as we had never seen this before. I remember telling him that ‘it will be OK. The laser works better on darker inks...’ whilst crossing my fingers behind my back!
Mike’s Blog Posts 244