Research conducted by dermatologic laser surgeon Eric F. Bernstein, MD, MSE, and Jennifer M. Civiok, BS, was selected as Editor’s Choice for the December 2013 issue of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (LSM).
The manuscript titled ‘A continuously variable beam-diameter, high-fluence, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser for tattoo removal: comparison of the maximum beam diameter to a standard 4-mm-diameter treatment beam’ was published in LSM, the official journal of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS).
‘More tattoos are being inked now than ever before, and with human nature what it is, more requests to erase much of that ink are at all-time highs,’ commented Dr. Bernstein. ‘I am thrilled that this manuscript is being featured in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, the premier journal for cutting edge articles on the science of light, lasers and other electromagnetic energy and their application in medicine.’
The manuscript describes a state-of-the-art tattoo removing laser that incorporates a novel variable-spot size with a very high-energy laser. This means that for the average person with a tattoo, they may not only regret their decision quicker, but now they have the option of a more complete removal of their tattoo with fewer side-effects.
‘This is because the Revlite SI laser incorporates a Max-On setting that delivers the most energy available with any laser spot size that is selected,’ said Dr. Bernstein.
The study compared larger laser spot sizes using the Max-On setting to a standard 4mm-diameter treatment beam. In conclusion, larger laser spots mean better removal because more of the laser energy reaches the tattoo ink beneath the surface of the skin.
The Editor-in-Chief of LSM, J. Stuart Nelson, MD, PhD. commented on the study, ‘Tattoo removal is a booming business. So is removal. In this manuscript the authors investigate a new tattoo-removal laser that offers a unique setting to give the largest spot size with each laser energy used. The authors showed that larger laser spots (that come from high-powered lasers) remove tattoos better than smaller ones, and that this laser works extremely well at removing tattoos. The take home message, is to go to a doctor who is an expert, using state-of-the-art equipment to get the best tattoo removal possible with the least risk of side-effects.’
