Laser technology is unique in its ability to remove pigment from a tattoo without damaging the more superficial layers of the skin. Q-switched lasers are able to produce these results, emitting energy that reaches the pigment and fragments it in millionths of a second. The tiny fragments of pigment are then eliminated by the patient’s immune system. This fragmentation must be achieved progressively, without causing any lesions to the skin that would result in scarring. While dark colours (black, dark blue etc.) give very good results (sometimes surprisingly so), it is almost impossible to remove light colour tattoos (pale yellow, pink, white, orange etc.).