Regret Your Tattoo? Fraxtor vs R-Zero Technique: Which Removal Works Better

Tattoos were once a means of expressing individuality, but over time, many people regret them or wish to have them removed. Fortunately, laser tattoo removal methods are continuously advancing, and among them, the Fractal Art technique and R-Zero Technique have recently garnered significant attention. Today, we will compare these two prominent tattoo removal methods to understand their detailed differences.

The Fractal Art technique is a laser tattoo removal procedure first presented by an Italian doctor at the American Academy of Dermatology in 2013. Generally, when removing tattoos with a laser, bubbles occur at the treatment site, making it difficult to irradiate the laser more than once at a time. This was considered a drawback of existing tattoo removal procedures, as it took a long time to achieve satisfactory results.

The Fractal Art technique uses a method of creating microscopic holes during the procedure to allow bubbles to escape, thereby overcoming this drawback.

1. First Pass: A fractional beam creates microscopic holes in the tattooed area to destroy tattoo pigment and helps any subsequent bubbles to escape easily.
2. Second Pass: After 5 minutes, a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser is irradiated with a full beam to remove pigment even from the deeper layers of the skin.

As such, the Fractal Art technique allows for two laser irradiations in a single session, reportedly achieving about 1.5 times the effect of conventional tattoo removal methods. In Korea, devices such as Fotona StarWalker are primarily used for this technique.

The R-Zero Technique, primarily used at Yonsei Star Dermatology Sinchon, is gaining attention as a method that overcomes the limitations of existing tattoo removal procedures. This also compensates for the drawback of procedures that were only possible once at a time due to bubbles generated after laser irradiation.

The R-Zero Technique uses a special drug called PFD (Perfluorodecalin) to allow up to four laser irradiations in a single session. The laser device used in the procedure utilizes the high-end PicoWay laser, known to be effective for tattoo removal among picosecond lasers.

Picosecond lasers have the following advantages:

• They quickly and finely break down tattoo pigments, aiding in effective removal.
• With a total of four wavelengths—532nm, 730nm, 785nm, and 1064nm—they can customize removal for various tattoo colors.

By using this special drug and high-performance picosecond laser together, the R-Zero Technique can achieve excellent results in a shorter time than general tattoo removal methods, and it can help significantly shorten the tattoo removal period, which previously took at least 6 months or more.

Some people may worry, "Will multiple laser irradiations at once leave scars?" As Yonsei Star Dermatology is also a specialized scar clinic, we perform scar prevention treatment concurrently with tattoo removal procedures. This helps reduce concerns about scarring.

To easily compare the effects of the two procedures, it is as follows:

Considering this difference in effects, Yonsei Star Dermatology recommends the R-Zero Technique, which can achieve 4 times the effect, rather than 1.5 times. This is also why we have adhered to the R-Zero Technique despite encountering the Fractal Art technique in 2013.

For those considering tattoo removal with the Fractal Art technique, Pico Fractal Art, a more advanced version, has recently been applied to tattoo removal. The StarWalker laser, primarily used in the existing Fractal Art technique, is known as a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Tattoo removal lasers can effectively remove pigment by breaking it down more finely when the pulse width is shorter. Pico Fractal Art is a method that uses a picosecond laser, which has a much shorter pulse width than conventional Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers, to help achieve more effective tattoo removal.

So far, we have explored Fractal Art and R-Zero Technique, two representative laser tattoo removal methods. Tattoo removal results can vary significantly depending on the equipment used and the procedure performed. We hope this article helps you choose the tattoo removal method that is right for you.

If you have any questions regarding tattoo removal methods, it is best to consult with medical staff for detailed information.