A Practical Approach to Cosmetic Tattoo Removal with the Nd:YAG Laser

The Q-switched neodymium-yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser remains the gold standard method for tattoo removal including cosmetic tattoos. Modern picosecond lasers are referenced to the Nd:YAG laser and essentially do the same job. Persons with cosmetic tattoos in the face are especially eager to achieve perfect removal or correction and from start are critical to suboptimal results. Customers mostly request complete removal; sometimes the goal is fast treatment and bleaching to prepare for a cover up tattoo. Removal or correction of eyebrows is the largest group, followed by lip tattoos and eyeliners. The article gives a systematic and stepwise introduction to routine cosmetic tattoo removal by laser in an Austrian private medical practice. Rationales and selection of customers who can benefit from treatment, preparation, performance, and aftercare is reviewed. Emphasis is given to qualified power adjustment of the laser equipment and the treatment strategy, e.g. the delicate navigation between efficient removal and the risk of short-term and long-term adverse effects. Treatment relies on a partnership between provider and customer. Over the months of treatment, customers gain more insight into the possibilities of treatment, so that they get an understanding of the realistic results that can be achieved. Therefore, customers are also satisfied even with results that are not always optimal since best treatment was given a fair chance.