Tattoo Removal
Our state-of-the-art Candela PicoWay® (with a wavelength of 730nm and 785nm) is perfect for removing blue, green, and purple tattoo ink as well as their shades of teal, turquoise, lime green, etc. It is also perfect for extremely stubborn shades of black that other clinics cannot completely remove.
Just as every client is different, every tattoo that undergoes laser tattoo removal is unique. Our goal at Removery is to remove all unwanted tattoos, regardless of the colors of ink in the design, and to do so, multiple laser wavelengths are needed to get the job done.
Based on the concept of light absorption, some tattoo pigments absorb some wavelengths of light better than others. To provide effective tattoo removal treatments, you’ll want to make sure that your tattoo removal clinic has the appropriate wavelengths that will be well-absorbed by the tattoo ink you’re removing.
Our goal is absorption. Tattoo removal works by breaking up the ink particles in the skin, which your immune system then carries away (i.e. the fading process). To achieve this, the laser directs light energy toward the ink. The energy is absorbed by the tattoo ink particles, which instantly break down into microscopic fragments.
If the tattoo ink doesn’t absorb the laser’s light, it’s because an ineffective wavelength has been used. If the ink doesn’t fragment and the tattoo won’t be removed. It’s as simple as that. Check out some of Removery’s color tattoo removal before and afters.
At Removery, we use both the 1064nm and 875nm wavelengths to treat blue, green, and purple inks. The 1064nm wavelength clears away any darkness or “mud” in the tattoo. Blues and greens will often contain darker pigments that we want to remove with the 1064nm wavelength because darker pigments absorb that wavelength the best while using an appropriate level of energy that is safe for your skin. We will then use the 730nm and 785nm wavelength to target lighter shades of blue and green.
As you progress through removal, it’s not uncommon for tattoos to change colors. Sometimes a tattoo will appear darker at first, because the laser has turned the larger ink particles into small fragments, and then gradually fades as you progress through your 10-12 treatments. On average it takes 3-5 treatments to fade your tattoo. If you’re interested in fading your ink for a cover up check out our tattoo cover up page.
At each appointment, we will determine which wavelength is best based on the response the tattoo has on your skin. Often, you will see what we call tattoo “frosting” occur at your removal session. Frosting is a short-term reaction that causes a white “frost” to form on the top layer of your tattoo. This is a good indication that the tattoo ink has responded to the wavelength used and it’s breaking down into tiny particles for your white blood cells to carry away. Check out Removery’s Frosty Friday series on YouTube.
There are some other wavelengths used for tattoo removal – namely 585nm and 650nm. While these wavelengths could potentially be a good choice for removing blue and green inks in theory, they cannot produce the same energy as the 1064nm and 875nm wavelengths.
Beware of clinics that tell you they can remove your blue, green, or purple tattoo with these wavelengths when in reality, they really can’t. They might be able to start the removal, but they won’t be able to completely remove your tattoo. We have many clients who have gone down this (expensive and frustrating) road only to come to Removery where we actually have the appropriate technology to remove these tattoo ink colors completely.
Tattoo pigments are made up of various compounds. The colors blue, purple, and green ink rarely cause allergic reactions. Some tattoo colors such as red and pink have higher amounts of heavy metals and have a higher risk of causing an allergic reaction. Tattoo ink manufacturers are not required by the FDA to provide information about what compounds and chemicals are used in the tattoo ink. Learn more about what to do if you suspect having a tattoo ink allergy on our tattoo allergy page.
The best way to know how much your color tattoo removal will cost is to book a free consultation with one of our removal specialists. With years of experience, we’ll be able to understand your specific tattoo removal goals, recommend a treatment plan, and let you know what your overall tattoo removal cost will be. Book a free consultation today or call our specialists to talk about your tattoo removal options.
We’re on a mission to give you the most straightforward, easy and efficient laser tattoo removal experience. Your estimate will be entirely bespoke to your tattoo; the size, the colours, the ink. It won’t take long and afterwards you’ll have a plan to finally get rid of your unwanted tattoo and get back to being you.
