Here are some before and after photos of different tattoos. It
is easier to remove ink by laser on lighter skinned individuals;
the results shown are for such fair-skinned people.
In general the Q-switched Nd-YAG laser (532nm and 1064nm) is
used to remove blue and black tattoos. The Q-switched Nd-YAG laser
with the 532nm wavelength is used for red, orange, and occasionally
yellow ink. It is not effective with skin-toned, yellow, and pink
tattoos. The alexandrite lasers (755nm) is used to removal of
blue and green tattoos that are difficult to completely remove
with 1064nm and 532nm wavelengths from Nd:YAG lasers.
A light black tattoo on patient's arm. |
After laser, the tattoo is virtually gone. |
A tattoo design with stars and a red swirl background in the
before picture |
Still visible are a few of the red ink parts where a lot of
ink was used. This is after multiple laser sessions, and healing.
Red, green, light blue, yellow and white inks are the most
difficult to remove. |
Here is a good illustration of the differential effectiveness
of a laser on different color inks.
The green ink proves the most difficult to remove. |