42 Nelson Street STEPNEY, SA, 5069
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We all change our minds and make mistakes, but we don’t have to live with them.

Laser tattoo removal is available here at Norwood Day Surgery in Adelaide using a class 4 Medical Laser, performed only by a Doctor or Registered Nurse who has completed the latest Laser Safety Qualifications and assisted by staff that have also completed the latest laser safety qualifications available (AS 4173:2004).

Our registered nurse will evaluate your tattoo density and type

A tattoo consists mainly of an exogenous chromophore (ink) injected into the skin. The ink particles are phagocyted – slowly broken down by the fibroblasts of the derma and remain permanently confined to the upper layer of the skin. The density and depth of the ink are the most important factors influencing the results of tattoo removal treatment. For example, amateur tattoos require a different treatment from professional tattoos. Carbon-based black ink is usually used for amateur tattoos, with low-density pigment located at different depths in the skin. Instead, professional tattoos consist of various coloured pigments and have a very high ink density at a very uniform depth in the skin. Given their specific characteristics, amateur tattoos normally require fewer sessions to be removed than professional tattoos.

Do I get anaesthesia for tattoo removal?

The procedure is usually performed without an anaesthetic. The effect of the laser is described as similar to the “sharp ping” of an elastic band on the skin. Some areas are more sensitive than others, and in the case of particularly sensitive patients, a topical anaesthetic can be applied before treatment by our nurse. This takes 45 minutes to take full effect followed by your treatment. We have a local anaesthetic cream specifically made for our laser patients which is more effective than Emla.

How does laser tattoo removal work?

Norwood Day Surgery uses a Q-Switch ND-YAG Duolite Class 4 Medical Laser to achieve clearance of unwanted tattoos. The main feature of the Q-Switched laser is its capacity to generate an extremely powerful pulse (in megawatts) in very short times (several nanoseconds), producing a “photoacoustic” effect that shatters the tattoo pigment. The deep pigment is then eliminated through the phagocyted cells while the more superficial pigment is eliminated transepidermally.

Finally, the pyrolytic alterations of the pigment caused by the laser make any residual pigment less visible. Such short laser emissions enable the thermal effect to be confined to the target, in this case the tattoo pigment, thus protecting the surrounding tissue.

Multi-coloured tattoo removal

No two tattoos are the same, for the treatment to be effective the laser light must be absorbed by the pigment; however, the tattoo colours are sometimes multiple and therefore a single laser may not be sufficient to remove them all. The DEKA system, with its double wavelength, allows several colours to be removed with just one laser. By working in the infrared (1064 nm), black and blue tattoos can be treated whereas green light (532 nm) acts on red and reddish colours. Our registered nurse will recommend the best program specific to your tattoo.

A consultation is required first with our Registered Nurse Helen Marzola to determine your treatment program. Treatment time is usually quick, between 15 minutes to 30 minutes on average for most tattoos and longer for very large tattoos. A price will be given at your consultation for each treatment and an estimate of how many treatments you can expect to have will be explained.

Please note that the results of every procedure will vary from patient to patient. Norwood Day Surgery can neither predict nor guarantee success, please book a consultation to find out if this procedure is right for you.