13^th Global Dermatologists Congress

Biography

Biography: Bettina Rümmelein

Abstract

Improving the final results of tattoo removalIntroduction: Tattoo removal with q-switched laser systems, recently with picosecond lasers, has become daily business in laser clinics. The more we do the more we become aware of problems. The mayor problem is to achieve the complete removal with no residual scarring. While patients five years ago asked for the number of sessions needed, now they ask for the risk of scarring and incomplete removal. The aim of this case study is to evaluate a new standard procedure for tattoo removal treatment.

Material and Methods: We treated 20 patients between 10/2013 and 10/2015 with mono coloured black tattoos of different size. The treatment was always performed in the same way:
1. After application of an anaesthetic ointment the tattoo is treated with a q-switched NeoDym YAG laser biggest possible spot and lowest energy that leads to whitening of the colour. In our system this is mainly 8mm spot, 1.6 J initially. The dosage is adjusted each session up to the reaction of the colour.
2. During the treatment and after the treatment the tattoo area is cooled with air cooling.
3. 15-20min after the first treatment a second treatment is performed with slightly higher energy.
4. Directly afterwards the whole tattoo field is treated with an ablative CO2 fractionated laser 120 micrometre spots, 30watts,
40mJ, medium density.
5. After the treatment we apply a bandage with hyaluronic acid ointment what is continued by the patient for one week.
6. Week 2-8 the patient applies a scar ointment.
7. The next treatment is performed after 8 weeks.

Results: During this period, we finished up 18 out of 20 patients. The treatments were tolerated very well. There were no cases of infection, blistering or prolonged healing period. The results were excellent: 16 patients had total clearance of the tattoo without
scarring, 2 patients had less than 10% residual colour.