Hollywood Spectra laser tattoo removal

Medical tattoo removal with the Hollywood Spectra laser allows you to get rid of a tattoo you regret having or whose original appearance has become distorted.

This is quite a long treatment, however, as it requires several sessions spaced longer and longer apart. The number of sessions will depend on how many different pigments (colours) there are to remove.

Tattoo removal, step by step

Before starting treatment, photos will be taken of the tattoo in order to assess how effective the treatment might be.

We recommend applying an anaesthetic cream (such as Emla) then covering the area with an occlusive dressing around an hour before the session, especially if the treatment area is large. You will feel some sensitivity during the treatment, but it is quite bearable.

If the tattoo is covered by hair, the area will need shaving prior to treatment (except the eyebrows).

Just before the session, the doctor will remove the anaesthetic cream and disinfect the area.

Special protective glasses designed for the Hollywood Spectra laser must be worn by the patient and the doctor throughout the session.

The session begins and the laser beam is passed over the whole tattoo, from one to several times depending on the pigments present. Please note that, in the case of circular tattoos around a joint (finger, ankle, etc.), the sessions may be carried out in stages, spaced 48 hours apart, in order to avoid any compression in the joints (compartment syndrome) caused by post-laser oedema.

When the laser is passed over the skin, it will feel like an elastic band snapping on the skin and a sharp cracking noise is emitted with every shot.

The session duration depends on the tattoo’s size and depth (from a few minutes to 30 minutes).

At the end of the session, the tattoo will have a temporary white appearance. Some small marks (redness) and/or dots of blood and some swelling will appear in the minutes following treatment.

A petroleum jelly (Vaseline or Homéoplasmine) is applied then a dressing is applied over the whole treatment area.

Over the next few days, the patient must avoid rubbing the area, having hot baths, doing intense exercise or exposing the area to ultraviolet rays (sun).

Nota Bene

For “dermo-cosmetic” tattoos, i.e. “permanent” make-up:

The quality of the tattoo removal will depend on the quality of the tattoo and the pigments used.
These tattoos are often carried out using multiple, low-quality pigments, and an orange tint often remains after the tattoo has been removed.

We then recommend having the area retattooed by a dermo-pigmentation expert, to cover up the area that cannot be treated with medical lasers.

If the treatment area is covered by hair (eyebrows, for example), the patient should expect the hair to be temporarily whitened after every session.

After-effects of the Hollywood Spectra laser treatment

Like all treatments using this type of laser, side-effects are expected but are temporary. The doctor will tell the patient what to do:

Small scabs may appear but must not be scratched or picked. They will fall off on their own after 7 to 10 days.
The epidermis may have a bubbled appearance, but this has no real consequences and will not affect how the skin heals.
The skin may feel “sunburnt” and some redness and swelling may occur. This usually only lasts a few hours.
At the end of the series of sessions, there may be some residual hypopigmentation, e. the patient’s skin may be a bit lighter in areas. This is permanent, but is not due to the tattoo removal, rather the scarring caused by the tattoo itself when it was introduced into the deep layers of the dermis.

We recommend disinfecting the area and applying a healing cream twice a day for 15 to 21 days after treatment.

High-factor sun protection is also required (SPF50+) for the month following treatment.

Counterindications

Like for any aesthetic medicine treatment, patient safety is the doctor’s priority. Therefore, there are some counter indications to consider before undergoing this type of treatment:

Essential oils should not be applied locally or taken orally in the days before the treatment
Creams containing fruit acids or retinol should not be applied in the 48 hours before treatment
No sauna, steam room, exfoliation treatments in the 72 hours before the session
The skin must not be fragile, damaged or infected
The patient should not be pregnant or breastfeeding (as a precaution)

The skin should not be tanned or recently exposed to the sun (less than a month). The skin must be completely tan-free in order to remove tattoos containing the colours orange, red, green and blue.
The patient must not use self-tanning products or take beta-carotene in the month before each treatment.

Fees

The fee depends on the pigments present in the treatment area.

The fees per session are set out by the laser specialist during a free consultation prior to treatment, when a quote is drawn up and the effects are explained.

Please note that, the more ink the tattoo contains, i.e. the deeper and darker it is, the more sessions will be required in order to remove it.

We recommend spacing the first sessions at least 2 months apart, then leaving even more time between the final sessions in order to allow the body enough time to eliminate the fragments of pigment naturally.

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FAQ — Your questions about Hollywood Spectra laser tattoo removal

How does a laser tattoo removal session go?
An anaesthetic cream is applied under an occlusive dressing about 1 hour beforehand, especially for large areas. The laser beam passes over the tattoo once or several times depending on the pigments. The session lasts from a few minutes to 30 minutes depending on the size and depth of the tattoo.

Is it painful?
It feels like an elastic band snapping, described as sensitive but very tolerable; an anaesthetic cream is recommended.

What are the after-effects?
Temporary whitening of the tattoo, sometimes small red spots or pinpoint bleeding, swelling. Crusts may form (do not pick them), falling off within 7 to 10 days. Aftercare: healing cream 1 to 2 times a day for 15 to 21 days, SPF50+ sun protection for one month.

How many sessions are needed?
It depends on the density, colour and depth of the ink: the greater they are, the more sessions are needed. Sessions are at least 2 months apart at first, with longer intervals later to let the body eliminate the pigment fragments.