Picosecond lasers for tattoo removal: a systematic review

Given that the pigment particles in tattoos have a relaxation time of 70 % clearance of tattoo pigment. Secondary outcomes were 90–100 % clearance of tattoo pigment, number of laser sessions required, and adverse effects. Eight trials were included, six with human participants (160 participants) and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Lasers in medical science 2016-09, Vol.31 (7), p.1397-1405
Main Authors: Reiter, Ofer, Atzmony, Lihi, Akerman, Lehavit, Levi, Assi, Kershenovich, Ruben, Lapidoth, Moshe, Mimouni, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Animals
Blister - etiology
Clearances
Clinical Trials as Topic
Dentistry
Guinea Pigs
Humans
Hyperpigmentation - etiology
Hypopigmentation - etiology
Ink
Laser surgery
Lasers
Male
Medical science
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Nanostructure
Optical Devices
Optics
Original Article
Pain - etiology
Photonics
Pigments
Quantum Optics
Relaxation time
Side effects
Tattooing - adverse effects
Tattoos
Young Adult
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Summary:Given that the pigment particles in tattoos have a relaxation time of 70 % clearance of tattoo pigment. Secondary outcomes were 90–100 % clearance of tattoo pigment, number of laser sessions required, and adverse effects. Eight trials were included, six with human participants (160 participants) and 2 with animal models. Seven of the eight trials explored the usage of either 755, 758, 795, 1064, or 1064/532-nm picosecond lasers for black and blue ink tattoos. In the human trials, 69–100 % of tattoos showed over 70 % clearance of pigment after 1–10 laser treatments. Reported side effects included pain, hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, blister formation and transient erythema, edema, and pinpoint bleeding. Included articles varied in type of laser investigated, mostly non-comparative studies and with a medium to high risk of bias. There is sparse evidence that picosecond lasers are more effective than their nanosecond counterparts for mainly black and blue ink tattoo removal, with minor side effects.
ISSN:0268-8921
1435-604X
DOI:10.1007/s10103-016-2001-0