The Medlite laser for tattoo removal Let’s face it, we’ve all made a decision or two in the past that we now regret. Fortunately, for those who wish they never got that ex-girlfriend’s name permanently imprinted on their bicep or that “seemed like a funny idea at the time” self-portrait across your entire back, there is a laser-designed to remove that unwanted ink safely and effectively.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Decorative tattoos have a history dating back a minimum of 5000 years. The wish to remove them has probably existed for just as long. Combining this desire for removal, whether it’s for professional, cosmetic, or religious reasons, and the technological advances available today, we have seen a 32% increase in tattoo removal since 2011 according to a Patient’s Guide® study.
The Benefit of Lasers
Lasers began their popularity for removing tattoos in the late 1980s. Prior to this technology, removal involved the use of one or more procedures such as excision (surgical removal of the tattooed skin). Pain and scarring are often common, but even results such as these were often deemed acceptable by a patient if it meant reducing the appearance of their regretted tattoo.
Although this is still common today, lasers have become the gold standard treatment for tattoo removal because of their no surgery, low risk when operated properly, and effectiveness. Each laser tattoo removal process is done on an outpatient basis over a series of visits.
How Does MedLite Work?
If you are still wondering exactly how a simple laser is going to remove the permanent tattoo ink that was inserted deep into the layers of your epidermis years ago, we have good news for you. Known for its superior flat-top beam profile, the MedLite laser by Cynosure is considered a workhorse for many aesthetic doctors that uses the non-ablative, Q-Switched Nd: YAG technology to remove tattoos from those who no longer want to live with their unwanted tattoo ink.
MedLite’s specialized laser light energy is absorbed by the tattoo ink, causing the tattoo ink to break into tiny particles which is then removed by the body’s natural lymphatic system. It emits 2 wavelengths of laser light to achieve lightening of the chosen tattoo or lesion. A given wavelength targets only a single color (or group of nearby colors). For example, the red wavelength removes the green ink and the green wavelength removes the red ink.
The length of each treatment depends on the size of the tattoo and the number of colors it contains. One treatment session may only take about 20 minutes, however, multiple treatments are almost always required to remove the tattoo completely. Talk with your doctor to get a more precise estimate of the cost and number of treatments.