OUR SERVICES

The number of treatment sessions required is as follows:

The above information serves only as a general guide. No guarantee can be made that the specific patient will benefit from the treatment of that the pigmentation/ tattoo will be totally removed at the end of the treatment sessions.

You have been treated with the Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser. The treated area is very delicate and should be treated with care. Please read and follow instructions given.

Care of the treated area

• Keep the treated area dry for 24 hours following the Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser treatment.
• Remove the dressing after 24 hours.
• If it is difficult to remove the dressing, soak it in saline solution (salt water) to loosen it.
• Clean the wound with the prescribed cleansing solution using cotton balls. Apply gentle pressure and clean the wound and the edges.
• After cleansing the wound, dry the wound.
• Apply antibiotic ointment with cotton applicators. (Q tips)
• Cover the wound with non-stick dressing (eg. Melolin). This will prevent the dressing from sticking to the wound. Secure the dressing with tape.
• Apply antibiotic ointment to the treated area twice a day for 7 days or until the surface is totally healed.
• Showers are permitted but gently pat the area dry. Do not rub with a towel or washcloth because the area is extremely delicate when a crust is present.

You may experience some discomfort after Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser treatment. For adults take two tablets of paracetamol (eg. Panadol) every six hours for pain when necessary (if you not allergic to it).

• If swelling occurs, an ice pack wrapped in a soft cloth can be applied.

Precautions to take following your laser treatment

• Avoid direct exposure to the sun. Use a sunblock regulary once the crust disappears.
• Do not rub, scratch or pick at the treated area. A protective dressing should be applied if the area is irritated by clothing or jewellery.
• Do not apply make-up until the crust disappears. (Usually 3 – 7 days).
• Avoid swimming and contact sport while crusts are present.
• If the treated area shows signs of infection (tenderness, redness, swelling or pus), notify your doctor or Nurse-in-Charge.

Pain

You will feel some pain during treatment. The pain is mild and it is similar to snapping the skin with a rubber band. Some areas are more sensitive than others.

Wound Healing

Laser surgery may cause a superficial burn on the surface of the skin which takes several days to heal. This may result in swelling, weeping and crusting of the treated area. This usually takes 4 to 10 days to heal.

Pigmentary changes

In most patients the treated area loses pigmentation (hypopigmentation) and becomes lighter in colour than the surrounding skin temporarily. This type of reaction tends to gradually fade away and return to normal over a period of 2-4 weeks. With repeated treatments the pigment loss may become more persistent and takes longer to resolve (up to 6 to 8 months). There is a risk of permanent pigment loss in the area of treatment, leaving a white area similar in shape to the original tattoo or pigmented lesion being treated. This is rare and is usually minimized by allowing adequate healing time between treatments.

There is a risk of increased pigmentation (hyperpigmentation) as a healing reaction. Post-laser reactive hyperpigmentation is very common in Asian skin.  If this should occur, the increased pigment usually fades away over a 6 – 12 month period. This can be minimized by avoiding sun exposure during the first few weeks after laser treatment.

Scarring

Scarring is a very rare occurrence but it is a possibility. To minimize the chances of scarring, it is important that you follow the post-operation instructions carefully.

Persistence of tattoo or pigment

Some tattoo ink or pigment is located too deep in the skin to be removed completely in spite of repeated treatments. Vague spots of colour may remain after treatment. There may be some ink colours that change colour prior to removal and others that simply will not respond to this laser. (eg. green tattoo) It may not be possible to completely remove all tattoo and skin pigmentations with this laser. If this situation arises, there may be other treatment alternative available.

Immediately after treatment, the laser-treated area will turn dark-grey.  This will persist up to two weeks until the dead red blood cells are cleared internally by the special cells in your skin.  Occasionally, a very thin scab will form on the surface of the skin.  This will fall off within two weeks.

In the first few hours after treatment, the laser-treated area may feel hot, like a sunburn.  You may relieve this by applying cool cloth soaked in cold water, or you can use cloth wrapped around ice cubes or an ice pack.

For the next three to four days:

• avoid hot water contact to the face
• avoid hot conditions e.g. sauna, spa
• you can wash the face with tepid water but avoid soaps and rubbing or friction on the skin
• avoid or minimise sun exposure
• you may use moisturiser on the face if it is applied gently and not rubbed in

After the first four days, you may use a sunscreen if you are going outside.  It is very important that you avoid excessive sun exposure for the first 3 months.  Otherwise brownish pigmentation may occur which may take a few months to fade.

Optimal results will be achieved with the flashlamp pulsed dye laser only if you are not sun-tanned.  It is also recommended that you avoid exposing the treated area to the sun and cover the area with a sunblock that is approved by your doctor.  Of course, this area may be exposed to the sun when your course of treatment is complete.

Patients with tanned or darker skin types will achieve less satisfactory results from this form of treatment.

The cost per treatment ranges from $200 to $2,500 depending on the size of the lesion treated.  Most patients will require about 4-6 treatment sessions.