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Tattoo Removal Procedures Flashcards

7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Tattoo Removal Procedures flashcards as text

  1. Which laser wavelength is BEST suited for targeting red tattoo ink?

    Answer: 532nm KTP (frequency-doubled Nd:YAG)

    Red ink absorbs green light (532nm) most effectively because complementary color absorption means the green wavelength is selectively taken up by red pigment.

  2. What is the PRIMARY mechanism by which Q-switched lasers fragment tattoo ink?

    Answer: Photomechanical (photoacoustic) shock waves that shatter ink particles

    Q-switched lasers deliver energy in nanosecond pulses that create photoacoustic shock waves, mechanically shattering ink particles into smaller fragments the immune system can clear.

  3. Paradoxical darkening after laser tattoo removal is MOST commonly associated with which ink color?

    Answer: White or flesh-toned

    White and flesh-toned inks containing titanium dioxide or iron oxides can oxidize upon laser exposure, turning dark or gray—a reaction called paradoxical darkening.

  4. Which Fitzpatrick skin type group carries the HIGHEST risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) following tattoo removal?

    Answer: Types IV–VI

    Darker skin types (IV–VI) have more reactive melanocytes that respond strongly to laser-induced inflammation, significantly increasing PIH risk.

  5. Which factor in the Kirby-Desai scale most dramatically increases the predicted number of removal sessions?

    Answer: Layering (cover-up tattoos)

    Layering or cover-up tattoos stack multiple ink layers, exponentially increasing the total pigment load and number of sessions required for clearance.

  6. When treating a multi-color tattoo, which approach is generally recommended?

    Answer: Use multiple wavelengths in the same session to target different colors

    Using multiple wavelengths in a single session efficiently targets different ink colors simultaneously, reducing total treatment time without substantially increasing adverse effects.

  7. Pulse duration in Q-switched tattoo removal lasers is measured in which unit?

    Answer: Nanoseconds (ns) or picoseconds (ps)

    Q-switched lasers operate in the nanosecond range and newer picosecond systems deliver even shorter pulses, both essential for achieving the photomechanical effect needed for ink fragmentation.