Comparative efficacy and safety of traditional single-shot and two successive pass and diascopy method in Q-switched Nd: YAG laser-assisted tattoo removal: an evaluator-blinded trial

Abstract

Background

Various methods for tattoo removal have been employed over the last century, including different methods of laser treatment.

Aim

To compare three different methods of Q-switched laser treatment.

Methods

A prospective, comparative cohort study was carried out on 17 subjects with tattoos. Each tattoo was segmented into three sections. The first part underwent a single application of the with QS Nd:YAG. The second part received two pass of QS Nd:YAG treatment with a 15-min interval at each session. The third part received a laser treatment with a 4 mm thick silicone blade on the skin (diascopy).

Results

The study included 17 participants aged 18 to 37 years, with an average age of 26.41 ± 9.64 years. Males represented 94.1 % (n = 16) of the sample, while females accounted for 5.9 % (n = 1). The highest clearance degree was achieved by two-shot laser method (3.47 ± 0.68), followed by one-shot laser method (2.72 ± 0.62) and diascopy method (2.45 ± 0.86). Although the clearance degree of two-shot method was significantly higher than one-shot method (P value: 0.014), one-shot and diascopy methods did not show any significant difference in this regard (P value: 0.11). There was no significant difference between mean pain severity expressed by patients in the three treatment methods. None of the patients showed any side effects after treatment.

Conclusion

We found that using two passes of laser treatment in one session enhanced the clinical efficacy, with comparable safety profile to standard one-shot method or diascopy method.