Learning About Tattoo Removal Laser Equipment
At New Look Laser College, we have a several tattoo removal laser systems for our use during each course. These systems have a wide range of capabilities, so training clients will experience using a variety of systems for treating different types of tattoos. The decision on which tattoo removal laser to use in your clinic is one of the most important you’ll make, so it’s important to have a well-rounded perspective of laser capabilities.
The Science of Q-Switched Lasers
A Q-switched laser produces energy used to shatter tattoo ink in a very specific and complicated way: a series of specialized components in the laser create an incredibly short pulse of energy that has enough power to shatter tattoo ink while not causing long-term damage to other elements of the skin. These pulses last for only billionths of a second – often around 10 / 1,000,000,000 of a second.
This extremely short pulse of energy allows heating and shattering of a tattoo ink particle in a short enough time that energy isn’t in the skin long enough to damage other things you want to keep – hair folicles, skin color, blood, etc. Other types of lasers used for other procedures use some of the same wavelengths of light as a tattoo removal laser, but the pulses of energy last for much, much longer.
For example, a laser used for hair removal produces pulses of energy that have a duration of some number of “milliseconds” (a thousandth of a second). This is clearly a very short amount of time, but a hair removal laser that has a pulse of energy for 10/1000 of a second compared to a tattoo removal laser with a pulse of 10/1,000,000,000 of a second keeps energy in the skin for a MILLION times longer. Tattoos only need to be heated for a very short amount of time – but at a very high temperature – to shatter. Otherwise, the energy is dissipated into the surrounding skin and will cause very undesirable side effects, including scarring. For more about how tattoo removal works, click here.
The FDA-cleared Q-switched lasers we use at New Look Laser College have been specifically designed for treating unwanted tattoos and other aesthetic issues. Depending on the exact system used, Q-switched technology is able to remove tattoos, treat toenail fungus, treat pigmented lesions, treat vascular lesions, and provide non-ablative skin rejuvenation.
The Q-Switched Lasers at NLLC
There are three lasers that are in our treatment room at NLLC. Each has its advantages, but all are very effective for removing tattoos.
Astanza Duality – This is the primary system that you will be training on. It is highly powerful, easy to use, and features the two most commonly used laser wavelengths for tattoo removal. The Duality has advanced features such as an articulated arm easy positioning, color touch screen, advanced power production, and square spot beam for even energy distribution.
The Duality laser system incorporates a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser with 1064nm and 532nm wavelengths. This powerful laser is capable of removing a very wide range of black and colorful tattoos and with a repetition rate of 1 to 10 pulses per second.
Astanza EternityTSR – This laser is an exceptionally powerful tool for removing brightly colored blue or green tattoos that would otherwise be difficult to remove. It’s also a great tool against highly resistant black ink tattoos. We will use this system on some tattoos in class to demonstrate the how ink colors respond differently to different wavelengths of laser light.
The Eternity laser system is a Q-switched Ruby laser that produces the useful 694 nm wavelength. The Eternity and Duality lasers are paired together to make the Astanza Trinity system – the world’s most powerful multi-wavelength Q-switched laser system available.
Astanza TrinityTSR – The Astanza Trinity tattoo removal laser system combines the power of two tattoo removal lasers, the Duality and the EternityTSR, to give practitioners exceptional tools for treating unwanted tattoos. With 532nm, 694nm, and 1064nm wavelengths, high energy production, and a variety of beam improvements, the Astanza Trinity tattoo removal system can remove virtually any tattoo quickly, safely, and effectively.
The Trinity is the ideal choice for elite practices that want top-of-the-line technology to treat colorful inks, including resistant shades of blue and green.
Our Relationship with Astanza
New Look Laser College is the training division of Astanza, a manufacturer of Q-switched laser systems. New Look Laser College is strictly a training program, and our focus is on training you to learn tattoo removal – regardless of which brand of Q-switched laser you choose to use at your practice.
That said, if you would like to learn more about the specific systems we use during the course, we’re happy to share Astanza product information with you outside of class time. If you want to explore more information about Astanza laser technology now, please click here to visit the separate Astanza website. If you purchase a laser system from Astanza, the NLLC course tuition is applied as credit toward your laser.
Thank you for your interest in New Look Laser College – the world’s leading training program for laser tattoo removal.