Here's a laser tattoo removal video in which we performed the procedure on a gentleman wishing to remove tattoos of skulls from his fingers and a tattoo of a nude woman from his hand:

As you can see, this tattoo removal procedure proved very effective. He will likely only need a few more laser tattoo removal treatments for the tattoo to disappear completely and for there to be no evidence that the ink was ever there.

Dr. Tattoff and nurse Sarah Brice were featured on Kat Von D's tv show, LA Ink, last week. On the show, Sarah gave the shop manager, Aubry, a consultation for laser tattoo removal on a lower back tattoo. This type of tattoo is often referred to as a tramp stamp, and we remove tattoos from this region of the body quite frequently. In the video, Aubry asks questions related to tattoo removal for her particular piece, and Sarah provides answers to her. Some points of note:

• White tattoo ink is hard to treat. It can turn gray.
• Blisters resulting from laser tattoo removal are normal, but if not properly taken care of they can scar. At Dr. Tattoff we provide clear aftercare instructions to minimize the risks of scarring. We've seen scarring only on very, very rare occasion and when it does happen it's typically because the patient didn't follow the aftercare instructions.
• Laser tattoo removal takes multiple sessions and can take a year or more. Patients need to be committed to getting the procedure done before they begin their first treatment.

Here's a clip of Aubry's laser tattoo removal consultation:

Visit drtattoff.com for more information on laser tattoo removal and laser hair removal, or to request an appointment for a free consultation!

Laser tattoo removal expert Dr. Will Kirby was recently named to the Editorial Advisory board of Healthy Aging, a prominent dermatological medical journal. From the announcement:

No, Healthy Aging is not starting a TV program, but if we did, we'd want Dr. Kirby on it. Will Kirby, DO, FAOCD, is the owner of Kirby Dermatology and Dr. Tattoff, both in Beverly Hills. You may know him also as a featured physician on Dr. 90210, The Doctors, Extra and reality shows Big Brother and Love Shack. He can now add Healthy Aging Editorial Advisor to that list of accomplishments.

Dr. Kirby is a board certified dermatologist, clinical preceptor at Western University of Health Sciences, consultant to pharmaceutical and medical device companies and founder of his own line of skin care products, Kirby Dermaceuticals. He's an expert at laser tattoo removal and has published numerous articles on the subject.

As a member of our advisory board, Dr. Kirby will assist us in planning issues, advise us on medical aesthetic trends and occasionally contribute articles.

As an introduction, we sent him a few get-to-know-you questions:

What interests you most about dermatology?

Perhaps what interests me most about dermatology is that it is one of the few medical specialties that is both cerebral and technical. Every day I get to use both my brain and my hands! Because of this unique blend I am continually learning and am always engaged.

With a Beverly Hills practice, you must see a lot of glamorous people. What advice do you have for average people who want to preserve their skin and look their best?

Every day patients come to my office seeking advice on complexion enrichment, and I tell them that looking your best begins with compliance and education. Half of a patient's skin care regimen is what they obtain from me and half is what they do in their own home every day and night.

There have been a lot of technological advances in dermatology recently. What new technologies are you most excited about?

There have been so very many wonderful advancements in the dermatology field in the last few years. I may be biased, but I think we have only seen the tip of the iceberg regarding laser technology, and that field offers a tremendous amount of excitement for many of my fellow dermatologists.

Are there any common misconceptions the public has over what a dermatologist does or can do?

It is truly remarkable that much of the pubic still doesn't know what dermatologists do. Just the other day a patient I have been seeing for tattoo removal asked if I could refer him to someone who could take a look at an odd mole! I feel that it is imperative that dermatologists continually educate their patients about the dermatology profession.

Widely recognized as the world's leading authority on tattoo removal, Dr. Tattoff's medical director, Dr. Will Kirby, published yet another tattoo removal article in the January/February 2010 issue of the medical journal Skin & Aging. From the article:

TATTOO REMOVAL: WIPING THE SLATE CLEAN
WILLIAM KIRBY, DO, FAOCD, ALPESH DESAI, DO, FAOCD, TEJAS DESAI, DO, FAOCD

Tattoos are becoming increasingly more prevalent in our society. In 2003, a Harris Poll estimated that 16% of the U.S. population had at least one tattoo. A 2006 study survey showed that 24% of people aged 18 to 50 had tattoos. This increase in tattoo placement will likely be followed by an increased interest in tattoo removal. The ability to remove tattoo ink safely and efficiently has improved greatly in the last decade with improved laser technology. This article will discuss current modalities used for tattoo removal as well as older methods that are becoming obsolete.