Undoing The Eyebrow and Eyeline Tattoos

Thanks to advances in medical technology, eyebrow and eyeliner tattoos can nowadays be erased, though the process may be neither short nor simple. Dr Lisa Chan explains how it can be done.

In our fast-paced world, time is of the essence. Eyebrow and eyeline tattoos have been common since the 1990s, as they can shave minutes off your morning routine. In the past, they involved the deposition of metallic pigments in the deeper dermis, but techniques have now evolved and micro-blading of personalised non-metallic pigments into the superficial dermis has become more popular.

As with all tattoos though, regret can set in, especially if the job wasn’t done to the client’s satisfaction, resulting in asymmetry, patchy colouration or unnatural results. Eyebrow and eyeline trends can also change, and what once looked good may have become outdated. With time and sun exposure, tattoos can also fade and blur, and these changes may not always be appealing.

Fortunately, advances in medical technology have allowed patients with tattoo regret to erase these unsightly reminders. Newer tattoo removal techniques, such as the picosecond laser, can target ink deposits in the dermal layer of the skin with an ultra-short duration, high-intensity beam. This causes the tattoo pigment to fragment into tiny particles and be removed naturally via our own lymphatic system from the body. As each tattoo is unique and may be made up of different depths and several colours, removal can be a lengthy process requiring anywhere from three to 12 sessions, typically spaced a month or two apart. The number of sessions needed will depend on a number of factors including tattoo age, size, location, patient immunity and colour.

Recent and large tattoos have a larger volume of ink that needs to be removed, and tattoos deep in the skin are harder to target than those that have been injected more superficially. In patients with poor immunity, the lymphatic system may also be overloaded and take longer to expel ink particles from the body than in patients with good health.

Tattoo colour is another indicator of how fast and easily the tattoo can be removed. Darker colours such as black, brown and dark blue are easier to remove than reds, yellows and greens. Tattoos comprising many different colours will require the use of several different wavelengths and may need to be removed in separate sessions. It’s not uncommon for tattoos that appear as a single colour to be made up of several different hues, which become more obvious after one or two laser sessions.

As the eyebrow and eyeline are delicate areas, tattoo removal in these areas must be done with the utmost care. The eyes should be protected with opaque goggles or lubricated metal shield lenses in the case of eyeliner tattoo removal. Patients with recent eye surgery, corneal grafts or Lasik procedures should check with their ophthalmologist on whether such eye shields can be worn. Eyebrow hairs may temporarily turn white after treatment, but should regain their usual pigmentation in time. As the procedure can be uncomfortable, the use
of topical or local anaesthesia can also help with the experience.

When done correctly, the surrounding skin will remain unaffected by the laser beams. It’s important for the practitioner to use the right type of laser and the correct wavelength for the ink colour being targeted, and to set the appropriate pulse duration to avoid unwanted side effects like loss of natural pigmentation, paradoxical darkening, burning or scarring. Make sure you speak to your physician and have a thorough discussion on the pros and cons of any suggested treatments so you can make an informed choice.