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Tattoo Removal: Techniques and Devices

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Dermatologic Complications with Body Art

Abstract

About one in five of the tattooed individuals regrets their tattoo(s) and considers removal. Some make an unwise decision and try chemical and thermal methods which mostly result in permanent disfiguring scars. Nowadays treatment with specific lasers offers the best solution. Q-switched lasers have become the first choice. However, laser tattoo removal is painful, tedious, expensive, and not always successful. To avoid dissatisfaction, good knowledge of the devices and patient selection is needed. Professional advice, correct information of the potential side effects, and good aftercare are required.

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Acknowledgment

Dr. Bieke Heykants, Da Vinci Clinic, Beerse, Belgium (film picosecond)

Dr. Els Wittouck, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende, Belgium

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium

    Evelien Verhaeghe M.D.

  2. Dermatology, Blankenberge, Belgium

    Christa De Cuyper M.D.

  3. AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Brugge, Belgium

    Christa De Cuyper M.D.

Authors
  1. Evelien Verhaeghe M.D.
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  2. Christa De Cuyper M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evelien Verhaeghe M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge, Oostende AV, Belgium

    Christa De Cuyper

  2. Department of Dermatology, Clinica Las Condes, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile

    Maria Luisa Pérez-Cotapos S

8.1 Electronic Supplementary Material

Video 8.1

Laser tattoo removal. Part 1 laser tattoo removal black panther; Dr. De Cuyper, Dr. Wittouck. Part 2 laser tattoo removal by Bieke Heykants: picosecond laser to treat spontaneous darkening of a nipple-areola tattoo. Part 3 laser tattoo removal, black tattoo; Dr. Verhaeghe, Dr. De Cuyper (MP4 119770 kb)

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Verhaeghe, E., De Cuyper, C. (2018). Tattoo Removal: Techniques and Devices. In: De Cuyper, C., Pérez-Cotapos S, M. (eds) Dermatologic Complications with Body Art. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77098-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77098-7_8

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