by We acquire tattoos for numerous reasons – a profound affection for ink, the mistaken belief that it would enhance our coolness or attractiveness, or simply too many drinks during a night out in Thailand. The motivations for wanting to erase a tattoo are equally diverse.
As you mature, the desire to eliminate the Chinese characters, your zodiac sign, the barbed wire, and the Southern Cross on your calf may intensify. Or maybe you’re a masochist and wish to remove an old tattoo to make room for a new one.
Regardless of the reason, laser Melbourne tattoo removal is the method for erasing a tattoo. Within this singular option lies a dermatology clinic with professionally trained medical staff and cutting-edge lasers or a small pop-up shop with a laser operator lacking medical training.
The decision on where to remove your ink should be carefully considered. The average person with tattoos usually bases their choice on location and price, but these are not the only factors to consider.
Not all tattoo removals are created equal, and the individual and technology used to remove your ink are crucial factors in terms of duration, pain, cost, and outcomes. Not all tattoos vanish entirely after treatment; this is simply a reality. Often, numerous sessions are required to successfully remove a tattoo, with the tattoo’s nature and size playing a significant role. Inexperienced tattoo removalists who use incorrect settings or a subpar removal device can exacerbate the situation, making it more expensive and challenging. Does this make you reconsider? It should.
Who is qualified for tattoo removal?
The brief answer is both no one and everyone. There’s a demand for high-powered light, laser, and radiofrequency devices to be used exclusively by specially trained medical professionals. In Australia, regulations regarding laser tattoo removal lasers or devices are minimal to non-existent. Anyone with the financial means can open a shop. And they do.
Doctors believe they should remove tattoos
Some doctors argue that laser tattoo removal treatment should be conducted by a physician or another medical professional, such as a trained nurse under supervision. In Australia, the choice is yours.
Why choose medically trained professionals for tattoo removal?
Medical-grade lasers used by physicians are generally more potent than those found in Melbourne tattoo removal shops. This increases the likelihood of successful removal without the risk of burns or mistakes associated with less experienced operators. Conversely, less powerful lasers or IPL devices may fall short of effectively eradicating tattoos.
Furthermore, a cosmetic dermatology clinic, with its extensive medical expertise and experience in skin and laser treatments, is often equipped with a wider and superior range of lasers compared to a smaller tattoo removal establishment. This distinction is crucial for reasons we will explore shortly.
The confidence of tattoo removal shop proprietors
Experienced and well-trained tattoo removalists equipped with high-quality machinery can perform most tattoo removal procedures competently. This field is not solely the domain of medical professionals.
However, there is concern among Melbourne tattoo removal shop owners that excessive regulation and medicalisation of the process might discourage individuals from seeking desired treatments, lead to unsafe at-home removal attempts, and inflate costs— all valid concerns.
Tattoo removal has been declassified as being a medical procedure similar to laser hair removal. Both tattoo removal shops and beauticians frequently utilize the same equipment, trained by the manufacturers.
The significance of your practitioner and laser
Dermatology clinics boast a range of advanced lasers capable of targeting multiple tattoo pigment spectra. In contrast, a local shop typically possesses a single machine, often an IPL device, which is generally effective only for small black tattoos.
When it comes to removing larger or colourful tattoos, the costs in terms of time, money, and discomfort can escalate. In such scenarios, the expertise of your practitioner and their array of lasers become increasingly important. A dermatologist’s clinic, equipped with multiple state-of-the-art lasers, can more efficiently address a wider array of colours, operate faster, and often cause significantly less pain.
Understanding laser tattoo removal
During tattoo removal, the pigment absorbs the laser’s repeated pulses of intense heat, causing it to shatter into tiny fragments. Your body’s immune system then absorbs and eliminates these fragments between sessions.
The importance of laser selection
However, the heat from the laser affects not only the pigment but also the surrounding cells, leading to pain and inflammation. This inflammatory response influences both the discomfort experienced during sessions and the recovery time between treatments.
The versatility of lasers
Lasers operate by targeting specific light frequencies, which we perceive as colour. For instance, a laser frequency attracted to red is used to treat visible spider veins, while brown is targeted for pigmentation. Typically, lasers have one or two target frequencies and, less commonly, three or four. No laser can address all colours of the rainbow; such a device does not exist. Therefore, having access to more lasers allows for a broader spectrum of colours to be targeted, making the removal of richly-coloured tattoos more manageable.
