I asked Dr. Rick Noodleman of The California Skin Institute, where I am treated, to give me a simplified explanation of the science behind tattoo removal: "The laser breaks up the pigment particles, and then your body digests them [through your bloodstream] and gets rid of them." Newer lasers break up the ink particles into smaller pieces, which allow them to be more easily digested. In the past, certain colors were more difficult to remove, but as lasers advance, more tattoos are candidates for removal.
While getting my tattoo removed, I picked up some interesting advice from the nurses, as well as theories on what can affect tattoo removal success: namely, that tattoos closer to your heart are easier to remove because there's more blood flow, that the extra ink in my tattoo may require more sessions, and that a diet high in antioxidants could aid the process. While Dr. Noodleman was quick to refute these as minor to non-factors in aiding removal, I figure taking this dietary advice certainly can't hurt.
