Guide to Evaluating Laser Tattoo Removal Machines

Evaluating The Laser Tattoo Removal Machine

As the tattoo industry continually grows, so does the demand for laser tattoo removal services. You’re probably thinking, “how can I get started in the tattoo removal industry?”. Well, it all starts with knowing the medical regulations in your state. If you are qualified to fire a laser, knowing what quality laser equipment to purchase is the next step.

We’ll be breaking down what the technology behind laser tattoo removal is, the types of laser wavelengths used for tattoo removal, important factors you’ll need to consider when evaluating the best laser tattoo removal machine to buy,  and how much laser tattoo removal machines cost. 

So if you’re interested in starting your own tattoo removal business, you’ll need to learn which lasers are the most effective for your services. Next, we’ll be covering the technology behind the laser tattoo removal machine.

Understanding Laser Tattoo Removal Technology

How does the laser tattoo removal device work? Well, the machine generates short pulses of high-intensity light to the target area. The light effectively shatters the tattoo ink while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed. The shattered ink particles are then harmlessly removed through your body’s immune system in the following weeks. With time and continued sessions, a seemingly permanent tattoo can be removed. 

Another important factor when determining the best removal equipment is wavelengths, pulse duration, and spot size. All lasers have options to utilize multiple wavelengths in order to effectively target different ink colors within the skin. The amount of power available within a pulse at a certain wavelength determines how efficiently a tattoo can be removed while leaving the remaining tissue unharmed.

Types of Laser Wavelengths Used for Tattoo Removal

Typically, there are two wavelengths utilized to target tattoo ink. The two most commonly used wavelengths are 1064 nm and 532 nm. Each wavelength is best utilized for a variety of ink pigments across the spectrum.

It’s important to invest in a laser that operates with multiple wavelengths available to target all ink pigments from a variety of skin tones.

The following lasers are currently available on the market in both picosecond and q-switched pulse durations:

• Q-switched Nd: YAG laser (1064 nm, 532 nm). The 1064 nm wavelength is FDA approved to remove black and tribal blues. The 532 nm wavelength is useful for removing red and reducing orange, purple, and other warm toned colors.

• Q-switched alexandrite laser (755 nm) which is useful for removing difficult light blue and green pigments.

• Q-switched ruby laser (694 nm) which is useful for removing difficult light blue and green pigments.

As you can see, wavelength is a light spectrum. 1064 nm lives in the infrared category of wavelengths which means that it is not visible to the human eye. 532 – 785 nm live within the visible light spectrum. 755 nm and 694 nm are better wavelengths for treating greens and blues and 532 nm is best for treating orange and red ink pigments. Unlike 1064 nm, the 532 nm requires a longer pulse duration due to the wavelength which creates more heat that is released into the skin.

The difference between picosecond and nanosecond is that a picosecond is 1000X shorter than the nanosecond. The pulse duration of the picosecond laser is one trillionth of a second which releases the energy in a shorter period of time than a nanosecond laser. This reduces the amount of heat exposed to the surrounding tissue.