What machines are used for laser tattoo removal?

Tattoo removal, whether it is done with a laser or using any other method, has still not become a common practice. So forget the low cost machines sold on unscrupulous e-commerce sites. Every single one of them is as ineffective as it is dangerous. Genuine laser tattoo removal machines often represent a very significant investment, one that only certain studios working within a strict professional framework can afford.

What is a laser tattoo removal machine?

A laser tattoo removal machine is a device developed by companies that specialise in laser engineering. These devices are the result of several years of research and sit at the cutting edge of technology, picosecond lasers in particular. At Ray studios, for example, we only use PicoWay® picosecond laser machines developed by Candela, because they are the most effective and the safest. These machines represent a considerable investment, and not every centre is equipped with one. It is not always possible to have a tattoo removal treatment with a dermatologist, for instance, who is not necessarily a specialist in this area either.

This is also why claims about affordable machines, going as far as suggesting that tattoo removal could be carried out at home, should be treated with extreme caution. “Cheap” tattoo removal, costing a few tens of euros, is therefore more myth than reality. A laser is not a trivial tool and can cause significant side effects if it is not handled by a trained skin therapist who knows how to set it according to the tattoo being treated and the customer's history.

How does a laser tattoo removal machine work?

The principle of the laser is based on pulses of energy delivered to the area containing the tattoo. These pass through the upper layer of the skin to reach the ink directly and break it down into finer particles. This allows the body to clear them naturally through the lymphatic system. The picosecond laser, the latest generation, has, as its name suggests, an extremely short impact time, in the order of a picosecond (one thousandth of a billionth of a second). The advantage of this reduced impact time is that it spares the treated area and has a limited effect on the skin itself, which reduces side effects and supports healing.

Laser tattoo removal machines can also be adjusted to suit any type of tattoo. The PicoWay® lasers used at Ray studios are the most advanced in this respect and can treat almost every tattoo colour, thanks to a system comprising four wavelengths, each suited to a particular colour spectrum. While current technologies cannot yet treat white, all other colours can be faded with the laser, with the darkest colours being the ones that fade best.

The 1 064 nanometre (or nm) wavelength is used to treat the darkest colours, black first and foremost, but also brown, purple and dark blue. The 785 nm and 730 nm wavelengths treat blue or green with a yellow tendency and with a blue tendency respectively. Finally, the 532 nm wavelength is better suited to warm colours such as red, pink and orange. 

Setting the laser machine correctly also makes it possible to treat all skin types, known as phototypes. These run from level I for very fair skin to level VI for very dark skin. Until a few years ago, carrying out a tattoo removal treatment on the higher phototypes was difficult, and often out of the question. Today, treating a tattoo on mixed or black skin has become entirely possible, even if some differences remain, in treatment time for example.

Using the right laser machine is essential, but it is not everything

As we have said, using a recent laser machine has many advantages: broader effectiveness, limited side effects, faster healing, reduced treatment time and so on. However, other factors come into play in a successful treatment. Working with a competent and experienced skin therapist who knows the machine they use, both in terms of its settings and the effects it produces, is just as important. Individual results vary.

At Ray studios, every treatment begins with an initial consultation carried out with one of our skin therapists. During this appointment, they put together a suitable treatment plan with you, determine your assessment (a clear diagnosis based on profiles of customers similar to yours) and explain the Full Remove plan, which covers unlimited sessions for a single fixed price. If there is no contraindication and you agree, they may offer to move straight on to your first treatment session, or to book another appointment later. In every case, they will tell you what to do before, during and after the session and answer all your questions. In particular, you will need to apply an anaesthetic cream one hour before each session to limit the potential discomfort caused by the laser. They will also recommend a moisturising cream to apply in the days following the session, to support healing as well as possible.