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Laser Tattoo Removal in Indianapolis by Dr Barry Eppley

The popularity of tattoos in the past two decades has spurned an alternative industry….tattoo removal. According to some studies, approximately 20% to 30% of tattooed individuals will eventually desire their removal. The use of the laser offers a more cosmetically acceptable method than surgery or dermabrasion. When I see patients that are considering laser tattoo removal, laser tattoo treatment would be a more accurate term, I like to emphasize the following principles.

Tattoos are a form of exogenous pigments, historically composed of heavy metal salts and oxides of various colors and dyes. Tattoo pigments, unlike drugs and most cosmetics, are unregulated. The exact composition of tattoo pigments is unknown to either the tattoo artist or the patient. As a result, it is impossible to predict whether any tattoo will respond effectively to laser treatments.

There are two fundamental types of artistic tattoos, professional and amateur. Highly decorative professional tattoos have a variety of pigments and are very difficult to remove, requiring a lot of treatments and complete clearance is rarely achieved. Many times they use colors that are particularly resistant to laser removal including colors such as pink, orange, yellow and lighter greens. Amateur tattoos often use carbon ink as the pigment, are usually one color, and respond fairly well to laser treatments. Some amateur tattoos, however, are placed very deep into the skin, often portions of the tattoo being below the skin surface, and these are impossible to completely clear.

For a patient to consider laser tattoo treatment, they must accept the following:

1) Multiple treatment sessions are always required, anywhere from 4 to 10 treatments per tattoo. It is impossible to predict how many laser sessions may be needed before the first treatment.
2) Complete clearance of most tattoos is not achieved. Lightening, partial clearance, and a residual ‘ghost’ is often the best result for many patients.
3) Patients with darker skin pigmentation are poor candidates for laser tattoo treatments and are at high risk for scarring and hypopigmentation of treated areas.

Lastly, it is important to know that cosmetic tattoos, i.e., permanent makeup such as eyeliners and lip liners, usually contain iron oxide and titanium dioxide compounds These types of tattoos will darken, rather than lighten, with laser treatments.

Dr Barry Eppley
http://www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
http://www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis

Scars – What to do

One of the most common questions we get asked in plastic surgery, on a daily basis, is about scars or scarring. Whether it be an old scar from a previous injury or surgery or a concern about a new scar from a planned surgical procedure, patients have great concerns about an external visible scar. What is often not clear to most is that scars are not all the same and, as a result, the treatments for different types of scars is……different! There is no one method of treatment, for example the laser, that is the miracle solution.. In an effort to deal with the many questions and concerns about scars, I have created a website dedicated to the topic. (http://www.scarscription.com/) It is a simple website that first establishes what type of scar you may have by description and appearance. From there, the many treatment options available for each type of scar is discussed, benefits and risks of each type of treatment, and their associated costs.

When we get an inquiry about scars, particularly by phone or e-mail, I always ask that the prospective patient first visit the ScarScription website. It provides an enormous amount of accurate information that is otherwise lacking on most internet sites.

Dr Barry Eppley
www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com
www.ologyspa.com
Clarian North Medical Center, Carmel, Indiana
Clarian West Medical Center, Avon, Indiana
Indianapolis