People gets tattoos for all sorts of reasons, but some don’t truly comprehend their permanence before they go under the gun.
Whether they no longer like the artwork, there was a design or spelling mistake by the artist, or the name of that ‘one true love’ is no longer relevant because the couple is no longer together, there are plenty of reasons why people want them removed.
In the past, tattoo removal procedures bordered on barbaric, and could sometimes lead to permanent scarring. Dermabrasion (sanding), cryosurgery (freezing the tissue) and excision (surgical removal with skin grafting) were some of the common methods used.
Vernon’s Enhance Studio Clinical Esthetics is helping change that with its Q-switched laser treatment to remove the ink pigment.
A tattoo consists of thousands of particles of pigment suspended in the skin. These particles are too large for the body to break down and absorb, which is why they remain permanently in the skin.
Lasers cause the pigment to heat up and break apart so the fragments can be absorbed or expelled by the body.
Advancements in technology have made the use of lasers much more cost effective, allowing technicians to work on different colors of pigment and skin.
The success of the treatment is determined by the Kirby-Desai Scale, a predictive scale used to assess the potential success, and number of treatments necessary for laser tattoo removal. It takes into account skin type, tattoo location, amount of ink, layerings, scarring or tissue changes from the tattoo application.
Some of the more difficult removals are located on the extremities such as the ankle, which take the longest.
“We have experienced an average of three to nine sessions (is required),” said Kristie Moore, owner of Enhance Studio. “Treatments are spaced six to eight weeks apart to minimize the risk of scarring, and to allow the body time to absorb and expel the ink.”
One of the main factors contributing to the success of the treatment is the client’s immune system; the more healthy the client, the better the results. Moore says adequate hydration, healthy diet, exercise, correct sleeping habits and a non-smoking lifestyle can also lead to improved results.
Since it opened in 1986, Enhance Studio has remained abreast of industry trends. In 1990, they were the first company in Western Canada to provide permanent make-up for brow correction, lip augmentation and eyeliner. In 1997, they expanded into several laser services (vein, hair and pigment removal, skin resurfacing and skin tightening).
