What Wavelength is Best for Tattoo Removal?

June 13, 2024

With the best laser tattoo removal, you no longer have to carry your ‘inked regrets’ for life. With just a few zaps, you can start erasing unwanted tattoos on your skin – all without having to undergo surgery or other invasive procedures. But here’s the thing: not all lasers for tattoo removal are made equal.

In this post, we’re going to share with you the different types of wavelength tattoo lasers and what it does on your skin. Keep reading to ensure you’re getting the right treatment!

What are the best lasers for tattoo removal?

Currently, two of the FDA-approved laser tattoo removal technologies are the Q-Plus EVO series and Candela PicoWay. We both offer these sought-after treatments at Pure Skin Laser Center, but it’s important to know that they operate in different ways. Here’s how each one works:

Q-switching lasers

The Q-Plus machine uses the Q-switching Nd: YAG laser tattoo removal technology. These nanosecond lasers produce powerful pulses of energy that only lasts for nanoseconds. These pulses shatter the ink particles while keeping the surrounding skin intact.

Moreover, this machine has four widely used wavelengths: 1064 Nm, 532 Nm, 694 Nm, and 755 Nm. Each of these wavelengths target corresponding tattoos and specific colors.

532 Nm. This is specifically the best for laser tattoo removal of red ink as well as orange, yellow, pink, purple, white, and other light-colored tattoos.
1064 Nm. When it comes to black tattoo removal, the 1064 Nm wavelength is the most effective. It also works for other darker shades like purple and blue tattoos, not to mention that this is also our commonly used laser for darker skin types.
694 Nm. If you need tattoo removal of green ink, this wavelength is our usual option. It’s effective for unusual colors like bright blue or green and it’s also the safest for areas of the skin that heal slow, like those on your hands or feet.
755 Nm. As an expert in tattoo removal and Nd:YAG, we know for a fact that green is one of the hardest color to erase. This is where the 755 Nm really comes in handy for complete color tattoo removal. It erases green pigments better than any other wavelengths.

By switching between these wavelengths, we are able to deliver effective ink tattoo removal for a wide range of shades. But despite that, you should still know that tattoo removal using Q-switching lasers requires multiple sessions, especially for full-sleeve and full-color tattoos.

Picosecond lasers

While Nd: YAG tattoo removal uses nanosecond lasers, our Candela PicoWay machine uses Picosecond lasers. In contrast, Picosecond is 1000 times shorter than nanosecond, this reduces the amount of heat by a big notch.

As one of the latest technologies in color tattoo removal, Picosend can erase even the most ‘permanent’ and stubborn inks on your skin.

Whether you have trendy wavelength tattoos, aerospace tattoos, or the most intricate ink, this technology can erase it for you.

Overall, the Picosecond machine uses the same wavelength but at a much faster pulse rate. Also, we prefer the Picosecond laser for our clients with very sensitive skin since this technology reduces the amount of heat the skin is exposed to.

Which laser wavelengths are the most effective for your tattoo?

How tattoo removal works differ on every skin type, including the right choice of lasers to use. This is why our laser technicians conduct a consultation before we start the treatment – ensuring that we pick the right wavelength that matches your skin type and tattoo color.

In general, we use the Fitzpatrick scale as one of the tools to identify what laser is best for colorful tattoo removal. This scale measures the amount of melanin on your skin and its potential for sunburn or tanning. And since Picosecond and Picosecond and Nd:YAG tattoo removal laser both emit some level of heat, the Fitzpatrick scale is a very crucial tool for us.

For the most part, here are our recommended wavelengths for every skin type:

Fitzpatrick Skin Type 1

This is the lightest of all skin types and always burns when exposed to heat or sunlight. For this, we often use the 1064, 785, 730, and 532 Picoway lasers to remove all colors without damaging the surrounding skin.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type 2

This is slightly darker than the Skin Type 1, but still prone to burns and can be difficult to tan. We also use Picosecond 1064, 785, 730, and 532 wavelengths here to erase all ink colors, even the hard-to-remove blue light tattoo.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type 3

This is considered the middle of the scale, which can produce freckles after multiple exposures to heat. We also use the same Picosecond 1064, 785, 730, and 532 wavelengths for this skin type, where we can successfully erase different colors for tattoos.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type 4

This skin type is now on the darker shade often seen among Hispanics and Asians. It rarely burns, so we prefer to use here the 1064 and 785 wavelengths for black, red, green, and blue tattoo removal.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type 5

As the last type on the scale, this is the darkest shade where we recommend the 1064 wavelength. It’s effective for laser tattoo removal on black skin, though some colors may only achieve reduction in intensity.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type 6

Other factors we consider when choosing the right laser wavelength

While your skin type is a very important consideration, it’s only one of the things we check when preparing for your laser tattoo removal. We also have to assess the following aspects:

Ink color. It’s very crucial for us to know what ink color you have you on your skin. From there, we can choose the right wavelength that can erase the color while keeping your skin type in mind. Usually, darker shades need more sessions, which will impact the laser tattoo removal cost.
Tattoo depth. Most tattoos are 1.5 mm to 2 mm deep into your skin. The deeper the ink is, the more rigorous tattoo removal we have to do, which means you may need multiple sessions for full erasure.
Tattoo location. Our laser technicians also have to consider where your tattoo is located. If it’s on a sensitive area like the face, neck, or private parts, we will be using the gentlest wavelength possible to avoid skin damage.
Tattoo age. The age of your tattoo will also impact how effective our laser treatment will be. Usually, older tattoos that have already faded are easier to erase since the ink particles have already broken down on their own. Meanwhile, if you’re older, your skin may heal slower, therefore requiring a longer period to fully erase the ink.

Looking for the most effective laser tattoo removal in North Hollywood?

Whether it’s your ex’s name, a drunken tattoo, or any inked regrets, Pure Skin Laser Center is here to erase it for you! We only use FDA-approved laser technologies to target all tattoo inks across skin types. Rest assured that your skin is in safe hands with our trained, certified, and experienced laser experts.

If you want to know more about our laser tattoo removal treatment, feel free to contact our medical spa today! Our team will be happy to talk to you!