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Muscle relaxation for individuals having tattoos removed through laser treatment: possible effects regarding anxiety and pain

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Abstract

Effectively managing pain is vital for the well-being and satisfaction of patients undergoing dermatologic treatments involving lasers. This study investigates the potential outcome of using muscle relaxation techniques to reduce pain among people having their tattoos removed with laser treatment. This study consists of 56 participants (mean age 18.1 ± 2.1 years) that had tattoos removed using the principle of selective photothermolysis. These participants underwent muscle relaxation before receiving the laser treatment. Their peripheral skin temperatures (PST) were measured both at the beginning and the end of the muscle relaxation period. Then, the Beck Anxiety Inventory was applied to evaluate anxiety levels. Once the laser treatment was completed, pain levels were measured using a visual analogue scale. A total of 125 person–sessions of laser treatment and psychometric assessments were performed in this study. The muscle relaxation method significantly increased the PST of the participants while reducing the levels of anxiety and pain throughout the course of the laser treatment procedure. The PST, anxiety scores, and pain scores all showed significant correlations with one another. According to the results obtained, this study proposes that muscle relaxation techniques be considered possibly auxiliary treatment options for individuals having tattoos removed through laser treatment. Additional studies with a comparison group and a larger sample size are required in the future to confirm the effectiveness of such intervention.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Shing-Fang Lu, Tong-Ning Tsai, Ming-Hsiung Liu, Yung-Hsuan Lee, and the staff of Taiwan Kaohsiung Juvenile and Family Court, as well as all the patients who participated in this study. This study was funded by a grant from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CMRPG8C1091).

Authors’ contributions

FH and WJC are joint first authors and contributed equally to this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Faye Huang, Tien-Hsing Chen, Shu-Ching Lin & Hsiu-Huang Tsai

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123, Ta-Pei Road, Niao-Sung District, Kaohsiung, 83301, Taiwan

    Wen-Jiun Chou, Yu-Lian Hsieh & Liang-Jen Wang

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Ching Chen, Mian-Yoon Chong & Chi-Fa Hung

Authors
  1. Faye Huang
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  2. Wen-Jiun Chou
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  3. Tien-Hsing Chen
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  4. Ching Chen
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  5. Yu-Lian Hsieh
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  6. Mian-Yoon Chong
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  7. Chi-Fa Hung
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  8. Shu-Ching Lin
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  9. Hsiu-Huang Tsai
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  10. Liang-Jen Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liang-Jen Wang.

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Huang, F., Chou, WJ., Chen, TH. et al. Muscle relaxation for individuals having tattoos removed through laser treatment: possible effects regarding anxiety and pain. Lasers Med Sci 31, 1069–1074 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-016-1947-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-016-1947-2

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