Posted on 19 Nov 2015

Tattoos are more popular than ever, but when you get one and then want it removed or simply faded to cover with another tattoo, the process can be a lot more difficult. Or at least it used to be.

With new advanced laser technology, tattoo removal is much easier, but how easy it is can depend on the color of your tattoo. Some colors are easier to remove than others. Let’s take a look at what tattoo removal consists of and how certain colors react to laser removal.

What is Tattoo Removal?

At Neaman Plastic Surgery, we offer laser tattoo removal with the Candela PicoWay laser treatment system. The laser system can target several different ink colors. It works by targeting the ink below the skin and completely shattering the pigment, allowing it to fade or be removed entirely.

Black

Black is typically the easiest color of ink to remove with grey being a close second. Why? Because the type of laser used to remove tattoos has an easier time targeting black ink on the skin. Because black absorbs light the best, it will absorb the laser energy. Energy will then easily break up the black pigment and allow the tattoo to fade and disappear.

White

White tattoos are perhaps the most difficult to remove, especially on lighter-colored skin. Because white reflects light, it will also reflect away the laser energy instead of absorbing it. This makes it a much more difficult color to target on the skin. If you have a tattoo with any white ink in it, multiple treatment sessions will likely be required to fade the color.

Neon Colors

Neon colors are very difficult to remove because, unlike black, they don’t absorb light well. Similar to white or pastel tattoos, neon colors reflect away the light, and the laser has a harder time breaking up the pigment. Multiple treatments are likely necessary if you want to remove a tattoo with neon ink.

Red

Red is another color that is quite easy to remove. Because it tends to absorb light instead of reflecting it, it absorbs the laser energy, which then breaks up the ink and allows it to fade and disappear. The Candela PicoWay is especially good at targeting and removing red ink, as well as brown and orange.

Blue, Green, and Purple

Blue, green, and purple ink are all quite difficult to remove, especially if the clinic you go to does not have a specialized laser that works on these colors. Luckily, at Neaman Plastic Surgery, we use the Candela PicoWay laser, which uses 532nm, 730nm, 785nm, and 1064nm wavelengths and can directly target green, blue, turquoise, teal, and purple ink on the skin.

Schedule a Consultation

Do you have a tattoo you want removed? Our team at Neaman Plastic Surgery can help you remove or fade an unwanted tattoo in only a few treatments.

Learn more by connecting with our Medi Spa team at Neaman Medi Spa. Call our Salem, OR office at 844-338-5445 or use our online scheduling tool for a complimentary consultation. We can’t wait to build a customized tattoo removal treatment plan for you!

Dr. Keith Neaman

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon at Neaman Plastic Surgery | Learn More

Dr. Neaman is a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in surgical body contouring. He prides himself on being on the cutting edge of plastic surgery. He takes an informative approach to each consultation, and through open dialogue and communication, he helps his patients decide on a treatment plan that meets their needs.


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