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Laser tattoo removal as an ablation process monitored by acoustical and optical methods

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Abstract

Strength of the laser–tissue interaction varies even within a single tattoo because of the inhomogeneous distribution of the tattoo pigment embedded in the skin. A monitoring system is therefore developed for simultaneous monitoring of the laser tattoo removal process based on acoustical and optical techniques. A laser-beam-deflection probe is used for measuring the acoustical signals accompanying the breakdown, and a CCD camera captures the level and the spatial distribution of the plasma radiation. Using these methods we examine the degree of excitation-pulse absorption within the pigment and the degree of the structural changes of the skin. A Nd:YAG laser with a top-hat beam profile, designed for tattoo removal, is used as the excitation source in our experiments. Special attention is given to structural changes in the skin, which depend on the applied fluence. Tattoo removal with multiple pulses is also analyzed. Experiments are made in vitro (skin phantoms) and ex vivo (marking tattoos on the pig skin). The presented results are important for the understanding and optimization of the process used in medical therapies.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the EUREKA organization under the project “Intelligent Laser Sources in Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine—iLUMEN”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fotona d.d., Stegne 7, 1210, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Boris Cencič

  2. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Peter Gregorčič, Janez Možina & Matija Jezeršek

Authors
  1. Boris Cencič
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  2. Peter Gregorčič
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  3. Janez Možina
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  4. Matija Jezeršek
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Correspondence to Matija Jezeršek.

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Cencič, B., Gregorčič, P., Možina, J. et al. Laser tattoo removal as an ablation process monitored by acoustical and optical methods. Appl. Phys. A 112, 65–69 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7203-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7203-0

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