Laser tattoo removal

Based on light pulses of very short duration, delivered at wavelengths that I choose according to the colours present in the tattoo, laser tattoo removal aims to fragment the pigments deposited in the dermis into smaller particles, which the body can then eliminate progressively. When fading occurs, it builds up over the course of successive sessions, and not during a single procedure; the degree reached varies from one situation to another, and complete erasure of the design is not an objective that I am able to announce in advance.

Before each session, I carry out an assessment of the tattoo and of the skin: how old it is, the inks and colours used, the density of the lines, the location, the phototype and the condition of the area. Eye protection is put in place, then the laser is applied to the surface to be treated. The sensation felt varies from one person and from one area to another, and any comfort measures that may be offered are discussed before the procedure. The number of sessions, the interval to be observed between them and the duration of each depend on the tattoo and on the response observed: they are specified in consultation and may be readjusted during the course of the protocol.

Areas and situations concerned

The procedure is intended for tattoos on the body, in particular when they are old, when they contain several colours, or when a partial touch-up concerns only a portion of the design. Not all inks react in the same way, and certain colours respond less than others. Certain situations lead me to postpone the procedure, or indeed not to retain it: skin recently exposed to the sun or tanned, a lesion or irritation on the area, certain phototypes, certain skin-related medical history or ongoing treatments. I assess each of these elements on a case-by-case basis.

After-effects may occur following a session: redness, swelling, a sensation of heat, whitening of the area, small crusts or blisters, the intensity and duration of which are variable. Changes in pigmentation, transient or persistent, as well as a scar, are among the possible risks; I set out all of these elements before the procedure. Sun avoidance and local care are required, and the details of these are explained and provided in writing. A prior consultation is mandatory: it allows the tattoo and the skin to be examined, information to be given on the alternatives, the limits and the risks, and a determination to be made as to whether the procedure is indicated, which is not always the case.