Opt For Laser Treatment To Get Rid Of Tattoos.

Ku with the device he uses for tattoo removal

GEORGE TOWN: Those who wish to remove their tattoos should opt for laser treatment carried out by certified medical practitioners.
 Plastic surgeon Dr Lee Kim Siea said such treatment is safer compared to other methods such as skin grafting or dermabrasion (removing the top layers of skin). He said the method would require one or more visits to the clinic, depending on the colour and depth of the ink penetration.
 “In fact, this technology has existed for at least 20 years. “I have performed this method hundreds of times to remove tattoos and there is no problem so far. “The risk is minimal and there is no report of skin infection,” he said.
 Dr Lee, who has 17 years of experience in the related field, was commenting on the case of would-be policeman N. Dinesh Nair, 25, who died on Sept 25, two weeks after he underwent a tattoo removal procedure at a private clinic in Sungai Petani. The initial probe revealed that Dinesh could have died of excessive bleeding due to skin infections and other medical complications.
 It was reported that he had begged a private doctor to remove the tattoos on Sept 12 as he had an impending police recruitment interview. On Dinesh’s death, Dr Lee said it could be due to allergy to the medication and anaesthetic.
 Wan Ling Beauty Academy brand director Nicholas Ku said they would factor age, health conditions and skin allergy reaction before carrying out tattoo removal on customers using the laser technique. “We will turn away those with diabetes, hormone imbalance and heart-related problems.
 “Those who have sensitive skin and are allergic to certain medications will not be entertained as well,” he said. Ku said he had carried out such techniques on many customers, especially would-be brides and grooms. “Many expressed regrets about their tattoos.
 Some women also wanted to remove their tattoos so that they look better wearing V-neck or low-backed clothes. “There were also some who wanted to get rid of tattoos because the design no longer looked nice on their flabby skin,” he said. Ku said black tattoos were easier to remove while pink and green were difficult. “We would normally advise customers to return a month after the first treatment. That’s the recovery period needed before we perform a second one,” he said.