Laser tattoo removal & modification

Since 1993 Melbourne dermatology clinic Laser Dermatology has provided Melbourne's only specialist tattoo removal service. Thousands of people have benefitted from tattoo removal treatment with the Q-Switched YAG laser and are happily rid of their tattoos. Laser Dermatology now offers the newest Medlite C6™ tattoo removal laser as well as the Wavelength Sinon™ Ruby and Cynosure HT10™ Alexandrite tattoo removal lasers to address those colours of tattoo ink which are more difficult to remove. These lasers are also used for removal of cosmetic tattooing (eyebrows, eyeliner, lip liner) and traumatic tattooing following injury.

These pigment specific tattoo removal lasers fade or remove tattoo ink with the energy of light. The laser removes the ink by using a specific colour of light that passes through normal skin and is absorbed by the tattoo ink without damaging surrounding tissue. Rapid absorption of laser light energy causes the tattoo pigment to break into smaller granules so it can be removed by the body's natural filtering systems.

There is no safe method of removing a tattoo in one treatment. All single treatment methods such as infrared coagulation, surgical excision, dermabrasion and acid de-tattooing will damage the skin and leave a scar. The laser light pulses produced by the tattoo removal lasers feel similar to being flicked by a rubber band. Most people do not require anaesthesia, but local anaestheic is available for those who find laser tattoo removal treatment uncomfortable.

The number of laser tattoo removal treatments will depend on the amount, colour and type of tattoo ink, the depth of tattoo ink into the skin and the method of tattoo application. Professional tattoos may require ten or more laser treatments, while self-applied tattoos may fade after four laser tattoo removal treatments. Tattoo removal treatments are conducted at six weekly intervals.

Yes. Dark blue, black and red tattoo inks usually respond very well to the Q-Switched YAG tattoo removal laser. Green, aqua and yellow inks have been the most difficult tattoo colours to remove but may now respond to the Q-Switched Alexandrite laser or Q-Switched Ruby tattoo removal lasers. In many cases, greater than 95% fading of the tattoo may be achieved with laser tattoo removal treatment. However, it is very important to know that over 100 tattoo inks are in use worldwide today. Not knowing which tattoo ink, how deep or how much was used, makes it impossible to predict the extent of laser removal treatment in any given tattoo.

The vast majority of patients treated by laser tattoo removal have not developed any scarring. It is, however, impossible to guarantee that no scarring will occur given the enormous differences between individuals. Some people may experience minor textural change on areas treated by tattoo removal lasers. If you have any evidence that your healing capacity makes you especially prone to bad scarring, please bring this to our attention so a test laser treatment can be carried out on your tattoo.

There may be some pinpoint bleeding with scab or blister formation. An antibiotic dressing must be applied daily until the area is healed. You may bathe normally but we do suggest you minimise vigorous activity for a few days to optimise healing after your laser tattoo removal treatment.

Once you have decided on laser tattoo removal treatment, remember the most important things about our clinic - the expertise of the laser operators and our "state of the art" laser tattoo removal equipment. All our laser therapists are registered nurses who are trained by our resident dermatologist. You may be aware that many "laser" and "IPL" centres are offering tattoo removal, amongst other treatments. Unfortunately, no matter how good the equipment, it will only be as good as its operator. Scarring and changes to skin pigment can result from improperly applied light treatments for tattoo removal treatments.

Acne scar treatment tips

Acne scar treatment tips

1. Using tretinoin speeds up the skin's remodeling process and helps heal post-inflammatory changes.
2. Surgical removal (or excision) of acne scars is especially effective for ice pick and boxcar scars.

3. Accutanea may be prescribed for severe cases.
4. Acne staining can be treated with exfoliating creams and facials.
5. Skin grafting may be necessary under certain conditions.
6. Lasers of various wavelength and intensity may be used to recontour scar tissue and reduce the redness of skin around healed acne lesions.
7. Hippocrates serum for treatment of acne scarring is a high potency resurfacing serum to retexturize your skin.
8.Cellex-C is yet another acne scar removal cream that is recommended by many.
9.Elicina cream is a natural day and night protein cream for all ages and skin colours.
10. Mederma is a type of acne scar removal cream. It is actually a gel based medication and has been very helpful in many situations.

Home remedies for scars

A scar is the pinkish or brown patch of skin that grows in the place where you once had a wound or sore. They are areas of fibrous tissue that replace normal skin tissue after destruction of some of the dermis. A scar is thus the skin's natural way of repairing itself from injury. Most people have scars.

Every skin injury or wound heals with a scar. The appearance of a scar however depends on the type and extent of the wound, as well as how an individual's body heals. Scar tissue is not similar to the tissue that it replaces and is usually of inferior quality. There is no hair growth on the scar tissue, and the skin there becomes less resistant to ultraviolet radiation.

Scarring occur when the deep dermis layer of skin is damaged. The deeper the damage, the worse the scar. Many skin scars are pale and leave a trace of the original injury that caused them. The time that a scar takes to form may range from a few days to, in some serious and rare cases, several years. Various treatments can speed up the process in serious cases. To repair the damage, the body has to lay down new collagen tissues As the body cannot re-build the tissue exactly as it was, the scar tissue will have a different texture and quality than the surrounding normal tissue. An injury does not become a scar until the wound has completely healed.

Many factors affect the severity of scar formation, such as size and depth of the wound, location of the injury on the body, blood supply to the area, age of the person, thickness, type and colour of the person's skin, direction of the scar. Once a scar forms, it is permanent. However, it may be made less visible or displaced surgically.