Tattoos and the pigments used can only be removed using Q-switched lasers. Although there are 3 different wavelengths available to target specific tattoo pigments and match certain skin tones, there are still limitations to using laser energy for tattoo removal.
When lasers are used for tattoo removal, the pigment is absorbed by the laser energy, which breaks it down into smaller pieces that the body’s normal metabolic processes can remove.
While this method is effective, there is a limit to how much laser energy can be absorbed in a single session, and the skin must completely heal before the subsequent treatment. This usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks. Most tattoos take 6-10 sessions to be removed entirely, which can create a very long and inconvenient process.
Dr. Salzman has started using a new process for laser tattoo removal that significantly decreases the time needed between treatments. By applying a patch embedded with a liquid called perfluorodecalin (PFD), your aesthetician can now make several passes over the same area in the same session.
Since PFD is an ingredient in most moisturizing lotions, it helps calm down your skin and promotes fast healing. The calming effect of the patch also allows the use of higher-intensity laser energy with less discomfort or pain. The same area of a tattoo can be treated multiple times between 3-5 minutes apart.
As PFD helps to increase the healing of the skin, you can also come back for follow-up treatments after 3 weeks instead of 6.
If you have a tattoo you would like removed, but don’t want to wait over a year to see the final results, contact Dr. Salzman at Salzman Cosmetic Surgery and Spa to see if a PFD patch can help. Call the office at 502-425-5200 or visit www.itbecomesyou.com to schedule a consultation today.
