Age Spots, Tattoos

MEDLITE IV YAG™, ACCOLADE ALEXANDRITE™ LASERS FOR TATTOOS

NATURE OF THE PROCEDURE

The laser is a beam of light that will selectively target certain tissues based on the wavelength chosen. We know from experience exactly which wavelength to chose for certain colors, and when the laser beam hits the targeted tissue, that particular wavelength is selectively absorbed into the pigment of the tattoo. At that point, the light turns into heat, and the heat "explodes" the pigment itself. Once this happens, the pigment particles have been reduced to fine "dust" and the body scavenger cells (macrophages) carry the pigment away. You might wonder why this didn't happen originally, but when the tattoo was originally applied, the globs of pigment were too big to be engulfed by these cells. We are simply enabling the body to clear this pigment.

Unfortunately, we cannot control what type of pigment was used, how much, or the depth. Some colors are much more difficult to remove than others (particularly red, yellow, and green) and certainly fluorescent pigments are almost impossible to remove. Some tattoos are now made with "laser resistant ink" and this is impossible to treat.

Once we fragment this pigment, we cannot predict what the body is going to do with it - not how much, nor how quickly. In general, even under the best of circumstances, we have learned from experience that you are going to need at least two sessions, usually a minimum of two months apart. The longer you wait between sessions, the better since there is more natural clearing by the body. Sometimes it can take three, four or five sessions, and sometimes the ink is never fully cleared because the body just isn't going to do it. Because of this, Dr. Coverman always tells patients that tattoos will be "faded." Often this can be 100% or close enough to it. Sometimes however, there may be some residual pigment that will just never come out. No percentage of improvement can be made per session, per area, or overall after all treatment sessions.

Dr. Coverman has extensive photos available for you to see how this procedure progressed in other patients.

FEES

The fee is based strictly on the size of the tattoo and how much time it is going to take. The minimum fee for any tattoo is $450, and a rough guideline is as follows:

1. Minimum fee - $450 - PER SESSION
2. 3 inches by 3 inches - $500 - PER SESSION
3. 3 inches by 5 inches - $600 - PER SESSION

Other variables that might affect the fee and cause it to be more might be the anatomic location such as a sensitive area on the face, or how much ink there is. Some tattoos are fairly "broken up" with normal skin in between, and other tattoos are solid. If there is solid ink, it will require much more time, and many more passes of the laser beam.

It is stressed that these figures are not firm or guaranteed, and all prices can only be quoted after Dr. Coverman has seen the patient, and made an individual, case-by-case determination.

All fees are subject to change. The fee is always what is current at the time of your actual treatment. Old fee schedules, handouts, or web site fees do not apply. Any quoted fees must be in writing and are only good for six months. No "verbal" quotes are accepted.

These fees are PER TREATMENT SESSION and additional full fees will be charged for EACH treatment session.

SCHEDULING

Dr. Coverman must see you first to determine if you are a candidate. There is a separate fee for this visit. He will examine, measure, and photograph your tattoo. He will discuss risks, benefits, alternatives, and fees. The type of ink will be important, plus history of prior scarring. The actual treatment fee will be IN ADDITION to the consultation fee, and the treatment will be performed on a different date.

Dr. Coverman does not offer "free" consultations.

There is a $200 non-refundable fee for missed appointments without a 24 hour notice.

PRETREATMENT

Dr. Coverman or his assistants will inject a local anesthetic, and there is no extra charge for this. It makes the treatment painless at that point.

If you have ever had herpes or think you may have (cold sores or fever blisters), inform Dr. Coverman or our staff prior to scheduling your appointment. We will give you a series of anti-herpes pills to take the day before the treatment, the day of, and the day after. This should help or suppress or prevent herpes from flaring, but there are no guarantees. A herpes flare could cause pain, pigment, infection, and scarring.

TREATMENT DAY

You will be wide awake and just wearing goggles. Once the treatment begins you shouldn't feel anything.

POST TREATMENT

Special wound care instructions will be given to you, and often a special gel dressing will be applied (at extra charge) which reduces any discomfort afterward and gives much better healing with less chance of any scar. This product (Vigilon) is available at our office.

COMPLICATIONS

As with any ablative surgical procedure that can be unwanted pigment (whether lighter or darker) as well as scarring and hair loss in the treated area. There is no guarantee as to what percentage of the tattoo will fade per treatment session or overall after all treatment sessions.

FOLLOW-UP

Usually none is necessary - Dr. Coverman may have you come back once a month for a few months at no additional charge, just to see how the lesion is doing and to advise you when it might be best to do the next treatment session.

You may go back to work after your treatment, but use common sense! Physical labor, gym workouts, gardening, etc. are prohibited! There will be an open wound, although bandaged.

Top