The new laser that blasts unwanted tattoos to pieces in half the time it took previous treatments
PicoSure laser is the first new option for tattoo-removal in two decades
New laser delivers energy to the dermis without damaging the top skin layer
It splits the ink into smaller fragments so that it can be broken down by the body and then excreted naturally
By Mail on Sunday Reporter
Published: 17:03 EDT, 18 May 2013 | Updated: 17:03 EDT, 18 May 2013
With a third of the UK population now sporting one or more, tattoos are no longer the preserve of convicts, military men and bikers.
They are almost the norm – even Samantha Cameron has one, while top model Cara Delevingne revealed a new lion tattoo on her finger last week.
However, a recent survey suggests one in five Britons regret having these permanent pieces of art drawn on their bodies, and in 2011 there was a 32 per cent rise in demand for removal procedures.
Medical manufacturer CynoSure last month unveiled its PicoSure laser, the first new option for tattoo-removal in two decades.
Lion brand: Model Cara Delevingne shows off her new tattoo on her index finger
This device can clear tattoos within three treatments – twice as fast as previous lasers. The first machines will be delivered to British clinics next month.
One study using PicoSure reported a greater than 80 per cent success rate in clearance in 22 people with multicoloured tattoos.
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After a two-week treatment period, an average of 94 per cent clearance was achieved for blue and green ink. 'Before, removal of these colours was very difficult, if not impossible,' said Dr Roy Geronemus, who performed the study at Laser & Skin Surgery Centre of New York.
Tattoos are created by injecting ink a millimetre into the dermis – the middle layer of skin.
Removal once involved dermabrasion (sanding away the skin), acidic skin peels or cutting out the image and patching the area with skin grafts, often leaving scars.
The new lasers deliver energy directly to the dermis without seriously damaging the top layer of skin, splitting the ink into smaller fragments so that it can be broken down by the body and then excreted naturally. It's said to feel like having an elastic band snap against your skin.
Cosmetic doctor Tapan Patel, of Trueskin Clinics, the first to offer the treatment in the UK, says: 'Imagine the ink as rocks. Current laser systems only break the ink into pebbles, but the new laser smashes rocks into fine grains of sand so it delivers far better results.'
It's estimated that sessions will cost £600.
trueskin. co.uk