Thunder Bay Laser Clinic

This is a laser procedure in which a beam of light at a specific wavelength is applied to the skin and is absorbed by coloured pigments in the skin, including melanin and tattoo pigments. Q-Switch YAG Laser is used for removal of brown age spots on the face, chest, hands and arms and for tattoo removal. This laser also removes permanent tattooed makeup.

Over the past ten years, Q-Switch YAG lasers have been shown to be very effective at removing tattoos. Q-Switch YAG lasers deliver very high power but very short pulses of laser light, which pass through the skin and break up the particles of tattoo pigment, which are then destroyed by the body, by white blood cells and the lymphatic system. This is also the reason why tattoos usually fade over time.

Q-Switch YAG laser treatments make the pigment particles small enough to be destroyed much faster. Multiple treatments, given about one month apart are necessary for best results.

Treatment range includes tattoos in multi-colours, birthmarks, age spots, freckles and sun spots.

We have found that the Q-Switch YAG Laser treatment is effective on any skin type and pigmentation.

The technician will consult with you and review the pre-treatment procedures. Usually a small area is treated before a full treatment is performed. This is to see your skin's reaction. After 2 weeks, a follow-up consultation will occur to ensure the area has responded correctly. At this time, a full treatment can occur.

The skin being treated must not be tanned. If you have a history of cold sores in the area to be treated, a prescription for an anti-viral medication must be prescribed by a physician to be started the day before the laser procedure and taken for a few days afterwards.

If you have had Accutane treatment for acne, you may not have laser treatment for at least six months (and possibly one year) after stopping Accutane.

The length of this treatment varies depending on the size of the area being treated. A few age spots may be treated in a few minutes; a large tattoo may require 30 minutes or longer.

For laser removal of tattoos, the skin is numbed with a local anesthetic. This ensures patient comfort during the treatment. Small age spots may not require a local anesthetic.

The treated skin becomes red immediately after the procedure. An antibiotic ointment might be applied to the area. Some redness and crusting may last for 7 to 14 days. A few pale spots might appear, which show that the treatment is effective.

Most tattoos are consierably improved, and many are completely removed. Some areas may show a "shadow" of the former tattoo, which gradually clears. Some tattoo pigment colours are more easily removed than others.