Tattoo
removal was one of a handful of procedures that saw a significant increase
(+39%) between 2014 and 2015, according to the 2015 annual statistics of the
American Society of Aesthetic Plastic surgeons. And so are patient concerns
with the possibility of scarring as an unwanted side effect. However, U.S.
researchers recently reported a low incidence of hypertrophic scarring and no
cases of keloid scarring following tattoo removal with the Q-switched
neodymium-doped:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser.
In a
retrospective review of 1,041 charts of patients treated under one study
protocol and with more than five treatment sessions, researchers found three of
the patients (or 0.28%) treated with the laser had evidence of hypertrophic
scarring.
These three hypertrophic scars, the researchers write, represented
early stage scarring and did not denote extensive or disfiguring lesions. None
of the patients studied emerged from their laser tattoo removal treatments with
keloids, according to the study.
According
to researchers, they used the laser at accurate, protocol-based settings.
Treatments were performed at four-week intervals to allow for healing.
While
there may be a perception among some patients, even physicians, that
hypertrophic scars and keloid formation is associated with tattoo removal, it
is more likely a reflection of selecting inappropriate treatment devices,
performing aggressive protocols, giving poor post-procedure care or patient
confusion about tissue texture changes, dyschromia and these scarring types.
The
authors write the incidence of scars they found was lower than even they had
anticipated. The study should help providers to better educate patients about
what to expect, as well as realistic and theoretical adverse outcomes.
Disclosure:
The authors indicated they had no conflicts of interest and no outside funding
for the study.
No comments:
Post a Comment