Tattoo Removal Increasing Among Thirty-Something Women, According To Long Island Plastic Surgeon Laurence Glickman, MD, MSc, FRCS(C), FACS

GARDEN CITY, N.Y., July 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Laurence Glickman, a partner at Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, PC, the longest running private medical practice of its kind in the U.S., is seeing an increase in tattoo removal patients among thirty-something women.  Although Dr. Glickman's patients range in age anywhere from 18-60, the most common patients are women in their 30's who regret a tattoo they obtained earlier in life.

"What happens is women join the workforce and at some point in their career they decide that the tattoo they got during in college does not present a professional image," says Glickman.  "In other cases, if the woman has a family it might send the wrong message to their children."

Although Dr. Glickman is seeing a rise in tattoo removal procedures throughout the year, most patients inquire during the summer when skin is exposed, but that is not when the treatments are best performed.  

"The cooler months are when I prefer to do tattoo removals because the procedure makes the skin sensitive, and it must remain covered after treatments," says Glickman.  "Patients and particularly women inquire about it when they start trying on swimsuits for the beach but I end up telling them they should wait or they won't be able to be in the sun at all."

With laser technology, there are many sorts of treatment for removing or lightening a tattoo.  The Medlite® laser, considered to be one of the premier lasers for tattoo removal, penetrates the skin and destroys tattoo ink using pulses of laser energy to break the ink down into tiny particles. These ink particles are then gradually filtered out by the body. The procedure is customized for the individual, and has proven extremely effective on a variety of skin tones and ink colors. Multiple treatment sessions are typically necessary to completely eradicate the appearance of the tattoo.

The extremities are generally better areas to laser than the other parts of the body, although the success of treatment is also relative to the tattoo size, color and type of ink used.

"It is hard to tell how a tattoo will respond to the treatment until it is performed. However certain pigments including yellow, green and orange respond poorly to the laser. Ironically, blacks and browns (the darker tones) absorb energy from the light source best," adds Glickman.

About Long Island Plastic Surgical Group

For 65 years, Long Island Plastic Surgical Group has been dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care, while pioneering and performing the most advanced reconstructive and cosmetic surgical procedures. As the largest and longest running private academic plastic surgical practice in the nation, LIPSG surgeons have more than 250 years of combined experience as leaders and innovators in the field. The size of the practice and diversity of expertise is reflected in its 10 specialty centers: Skin Care and Age Management; Non-invasive and Surgical Facial Rejuvenation; Pediatric Plastic and Craniofacial Surgery; Facial Reanimation and Peripheral Nerve Repair; Microsurgery and Hand Reconstruction; Breast and Body Cosmetic Surgery; Burns and Complex Wound Management; Breast Reconstruction Surgery; Post-Weight Loss Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery; and Migraine Treatment. For more information about LIPSG, visit lipsg.com.

SOURCE Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, PC