Older technologies

Existing laser tattoo removal technology relies on high energy laser pulses, with each pulse lasting around a nanosecond (one thousand-millionth of a second). When this laser light is absorbed by the ink, it heats up rapidly and expands. These very hot, expanded ink molecules are now in contact with the skin. This is what causes burns, blisters and sometimes even long-term damage such as scarring.

Once expanded, the ink breaks apart, releasing a large amount of energy into the surrounding skin very quickly. Bubbles of carbon dioxide are also released, floating to the surface of the skin and causing an effect known as frosting; an immediate whitening of the skin that occurs as soon as the laser impacts the skin. Frosting normally takes up to two hours to recede, meaning that the tattoo can only be treated once per session.

Older technology also uses large spot sizes, meaning the area of the skin that the laser beam hits is not very precise and the laser often falls on untattooed skin. The combination of burns from the heated ink as well as laser overspill causes severe pain, long recovery windows and often irreversible damage to the skin.