Tattoo Removal using (1064 nm and 532 nm) Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser

Abstract

Background: A tattoo is a foreign material implanted into the dermis by needle or some other trauma that results in a visible mark in the skin .either decorative or cosmetic tattoos or may be traumatic tattoos resulting from car accident or iatrogenic tattoos placed in radiation ports. There are many ways for tattoo removal one of them is laser treatment by Q-Switched (1064 nm and 532 nm) Nd: YAG Laser. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Q-Switched Nd: YAG (1064 &532 nm) Laser in treatment of tattoos. Patient and Method: Nineteen lesions of tattoo in different body sites in nine patients collected in private plastic surgery clinic in Baghdad from 1 st of September 2010 till end of February 2011 treated by Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser with energy density 8.5 J/cm 2 and multiple sessions of treatment up to five with to 6weeks interval. Results: The response of tattoo to laser treatment was variable from patient to patient and from session to session of same tattoo. In general the results were encouraging in majority of lesions except in 5 lesions in which ink has been used for tattooing introduced so deep by manual pricking with needle. Conclusion: switch Nd-YAG laser is a safe and effective option for tattoo removal.