What is Tattoo Ink?
What is ink?
Ink comes in multiple different colours and compositions:
- Inorganic pigments are very large in particle size and, therefore, a bit more difficult to remove from the tissue (it takes several sessions to break them down into a small enough particle to be expelled from the tissue). They are also notoriously warm in tone and can leave a warm stain in the skin forever, even after removal.
- Organic pigments are very small in particle size and are fairly transparent, making the removal process of such pigments simpler to carry out. They boast a cooler colour. Fortunately, cooler colours are easier and quicker to remove than warmer colours.
- Titanium Dioxide is the colour white and is an incredibly dense and opaque ink, which does not fade well. It is extremely large in particle size and is extremely difficult to expel from the tissue. It can show as an off-white (light yellow) colour, or it can look like a vibrant orange colour. Once the colour white has been mixed with multiple other colours, it becomes a tainted white. Red is mixed into eyebrow inks to create the colour brown, and is the largest in particle size out of all the colours. Red is very difficult to remove from the tissue due to its particle size. Quite often, a technician will suspect that there are leftover warm inorganic inks left in the tissue post-removal. However, it is usually the tainted Titanium Dioxide that is boasting quite a vibrant orange/red colour in the tissue. This is really difficult to remove due to the particle size and the weight of the inks. White pigments reflect laser light rather than absorb it, significantly complicating the removal process.
- Carbon Black is a very small particle and is often described as 'impossible' to remove from the tissue. It is, in fact, very easy to remove on its own due to its low level of opacity and the fact that it is such a tiny particle. However, when it’s paired with Titanium Dioxide, it can be very difficult to remove.
We will never be able to estimate how ink will react when we perform laser. We do not know what and how much ink has been implanted. We also cannot gauge how the body will react and how well it will expel the ink. We do rely on the body’s waste system (specifically white blood cells and lymphatic transportation) heavily to aid removal. We see removal over time, not necessarily immediately, and we cannot guarantee 100% removal of something that is designed to last forever.
To learn more about ink, click here.
Ink Depth
Body Tattoos are deeper within the tissue in the lower layers of the dermis, and Cosmetic Tattoos are superficial (supposedly) in the upper layers of the dermis. It isn’t the laser beam hitting the skin that causes discomfort for the client, it is the heating and shattering of the ink. Removing body tattoos is more painful due to the depth of the ink and the amount of ink that is present; cosmetic tattoos are usually less uncomfortable. The more ink that is present, the more uncomfortable it will be. I.e. The more dense the tattoo (more ink packed into that area), the more uncomfortable it will be. Some tattoos can be very dense. Whereas shaded work, or fine line isn't as dense. Ideally, cosmetic tattoo artists won't pack in a lot of ink into the targeted area, but this isn't always the case, making removal more uncomfortable and a more difficult and a longer process.