Tattoo removal and (Dr. Will Kirby's contributions to the field of laser tattoo removal specifically) were covered in an article in The Spring 2010 issue of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology's DermLine magazine. From the article:

Tattoo removal was the topic of two articles recently penned by Will Kirby, D.O.; Alpesh Desai, D.O.; and Tejas Desai, D.O.

The article published in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Aesthetic Dermatology, focused on the treatment of large bulla formation after tattoo removal with a Q-switched laser.

Three cases of patients who experienced bullous reactions shortly after undergoing Q-switched laser treatment for tattoo removal were presented. All three individuals reported  painful blisters occurring approximately 18 to 24 hours following laser treatment. Interestingly, all three had been treated approximately six to eight weeks earlier with the same  laser device and similar settings without complications. They admitted that they did not follow recommended aftercare instructions, such as elevating, resting, and intermittently applying ice to the area.

In brief, the blisters were cleaned with alcohol and serous fluid was aspirated from each bulla until they were flattened. The areas were coated with petrolatum ointment and  dressed with a bandage that was sufficiently compressed. The areas healed without any signs of scarring.

The authors suggest that the patients experienced extensive cytolysis of epidermal cells secondary to thermal injury from the laser treatment, resulting in the formation of large  bulla. Nonadherence with recommended aftercare instructions might have contributed to their formation. The authors note that bulla formation following treatment with a  Q-switched laser is rare, occurring in less than one in a thousand treatments. They recommend that healthcare practitioners performing laser tattoo removal not only emphasize  aftercare instructions, but consider using a cooling device during the procedure to minimize the risk of adverse events.

In the article entitled Tattoo Removal: Wiping the Slate Clean, which appeared in the January/February issue of Skin & Aging, the dermatologists review current modalities as well as older ones that are becoming obsolete. Because Qswitched laser devices deliver very little damage to the surrounding hemoglobin, melanin, and water, plus are associated with a relatively fast and uncomplicated healing time, the authors suggest that they have become the gold standard of tattoo removal treatment.

Estimating the number of laser treatments required to remove tattoos have become more precise, they say, thanks to the Kirby-Desai Scale, which the authors published in 2009.

Non-laser techniques that are still being used include dermabrasion; salabrasion; liquid nitrogen; phenol solution and trichloracetic acid; thermal cautery, electrocautery, and infrared coagulation; surgical excision; continuous wave lasers; and intense pulsed light devices. However, the authors note that these treatments offer unpredictable results and may result in scarring, undesired pigmentary alterations, pains, and incomplete resolution of the tattoo ink.

Visit www.drtattoff.com for more information on tattoo removal.