Not all decisions have lasting consequences, but until a few decades ago, tattoos were considered a decision you lived with for the rest of your life. If your tastes, interests, or circumstances changed, you had no choice but to hide your unwanted tattoos behind long sleeves or makeup. Now, you have more options if you no longer want that ink. Not everyone who gets a tattoo regrets it, but for those who do, laser tattoo removal at New Jersey’s Skin & Laser Center of NJ offers an effective, noninvasive, nonsurgical solution.
Laser tattoo removal works by targeting ink particles deposited by the tattoo needle with powerful bursts of energy. This energy causes the microscopic metals in the ink to break down into smaller pieces so that white blood cells responsible for removing foreign bodies can carry them away. At Skin & Laser Center of NJ, we use Q-switched ATV laser technology to help people put the past behind them and step into the future free of unwanted tattoos—and the regrets associated with them.
In late 2016 she founded the Skin & Laser Center of NJ, LLC in Mahwah, NJ where she continues to treat her medical and cosmetic patients, and further pursues her interest in laser medicine. Dr. Lieb’s mission is to provide high quality dermatologic care using up-to-date medical information and cutting edge technology in an efficiently run practice. Dr. Lieb is board certified in dermatology, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, a member of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the New Jersey Dermatologic Society. Dr. Lieb is a Staff Dermatologist at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.
At the beginning of your laser tattoo removal session, your provider will begin by cleaning the treatment area of any lotion or makeup. Depending on the location and size of the tattoo, your provider may choose to apply ice or numbing cream to the area to help reduce the sensation of the laser.
You will be given goggles to protect your eyes. Then the ATV laser will be moved over the tattooed area of skin, emitting powerful bursts of light energy. Depending on the size and location of your tattoo, the entire laser tattoo removal session could take between 10 and 30 minutes.
Results and the number of laser tattoo removal treatments required depend on several variables, including the size of the tattoo, your skin texture, the ink colors used in the tattoo, where the tattoo is located on your body, and the complexity of the tattoo. Most patients require between six and 12 treatments to fully achieve their goals, with six to 12 weeks between each session to allow the skin time to fully heal.
Following your provider’s aftercare instructions can help the skin heal more quickly, maximizing the results of each laser tattoo removal session. This will include keeping the treated area covered for a specific amount of time and applying an antibiotic ointment. Avoiding sun exposure and wearing sunscreen with a high SPF is also essential, as the skin will be more sensitive to sunlight after a laser tattoo removal treatment.
Staying hydrated, avoiding smoking, continuing to exercise, and minimizing alcohol consumption will help you stay in top shape so your skin can heal more quickly. Steaming the skin and applying petroleum jelly may help accelerate this process. It’s also essential to avoid picking at any scabs that form on the treated area. Scabbing is a natural part of the process. The healing process generally takes between four and eight weeks, but following these aftercare instructions can impact how long it takes.
