Venus Eraser Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers are effective for removing both amateur and professional tattoos. They deliver light of specific wavelengths in very high peak energy pulses, which are absorbed by the pigment in the tattoo, resulting in an acoustic shockwave. The shockwave shatters the pigment particles, releasing them from their encapsulation and breaking them into fragments small enough for removal by the body. These tiny particles are then eliminated by the body. Since the laser light must be absorbed by the pigment particles, the laser wavelength must be selected to match the absorption spectrum of the pigment. Q-Switched 1064 nm lasers are best suited for treating dark blue and black tattoos, while Q-Switched 532 nm lasers are best suitable for treating red and orange tattoos.
The Venus Laser Erasers also have the advantage of being particularly effective for darker skinned people.
Although a laser can produce the right wavelengths of light, without sufficient power and time, the desired effect will not be achieved. Tattoo dyes can be difficult to break down, and only recently have lasers been able to produce sufficient energy to achieve the expected results.
