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Rhianna is such a “Flower Rebel”… or maybe a “Rebel Flower”? Wait, we’re actually not sure which one she is 
According to a recent report by Popeater.com, Rhianna got a new neck tat in NYC that might be backwards! The tattoo officially says “Rebelle Fleur” (French), but it translates into two different English meanings depending on whether or not it’s used in a sentence.
If is stands alone, it translates to “Rebel Flower”, but if it’s in a sentence, it says “Flower Rebel”. We not sure which Rhianna translation she intended, but we’re assuming she doesn’t want to be a Flower Rebel… mostly because we have no idea what that means
Since she’s no stranger to tat’s, she’ll probably keep it as is, but let’s say that she changes her mind in the future… just like millions of people do every year! Could she have it removed?
Keep Reading to find out…
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What is Laser Tattoo Removal?
Laser Tattoo Removal is a professional service offered by Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists where a medical-grade laser is used to disintegrate the tattoo pigments under the skin. In essence, this is the same idea as using a laser to treat broken capillaries or birth marks, but it’s very different from laser skin resurfacing. Skin resurfacing involves the controlled destruction of a top layers of the skin’s surface so that it grow back super smooth, whereas laser pigment removal is intended to produce as little damage as possible to the skin surface.
How does Laser Tattoo Removal work?
If you think back to your 8th grade biology class, you probably remember seeing the “spectrum” of light and the “wavelengths” associated with each of the colors and kinds of light. Well, lasers work on this principle too. There are several different kinds of lasers, and each laser has it own wavelength. Skin pigments and blood vessels also have their own colors and corresponding wavelengths, so the trick to effective laser pigment removal is to match them up with an appropriate laser. When the laser light penetrates the skin, it gets absorbed by the pigments that match it wavelength, and the energy in the laser causes the pigment to disperse. It’s obviously a lot more complicated than this, but hey, we’re not rocket scientists right?
Does it matter if I have a colored tattoo?
Definitely! As we just discussed above, the wavelength of the laser has to match the wavelength of the pigment that needs to be removed. Some lasers can be switched between a few wavelengths, but tattoos with intense colors require different lasers than a standard black tattoo, and capillaries, birth marks, and port-wine stains require different wavelengths altogether.
Here are some of the most common pigment removal lasers:
- Alexandrite 755nm: Blue-Green pigments
- Q-Switched Nd:YAG: Red-Yellow-Orange-Brown (532nm) and Blue-Black pigments (1064nm)
- KTP (532): Capillaries
- Q-Switched Ruby: Violet-Purple pigments
How many treatments will I need?
Most tattoos require several sessions to removal completely, and some tat’s can never be totally removed. The exact number of treatments depends on how complicated the tattoo is, and how good a job the artist did. The more professional the tattoo, and the more colors it has, the more treatments you’ll need to make it disappear.
Where can I have it done?
Any reputable plastic surgeon or dermatologist who is experienced in laser procedures will be a fine choice to tackle your tat! Just make sure you do your research before you make an appointment, and stay away from the sham docs who will do anything for a paycheck.
Are there any other considerations?
Yes, and particularly in Rhianna’s case. One of the main complications from laser treatment is hypopigmentation (white spots), and this particular complication is much more common with darker skin tones. The darker your skin, the more likely this will happen. If you have dark skin, you should decide how much your tattoo bothers you before you take the plunge to get it removed. You could wind up with something that looks worse than the tat, so be careful!
Nicholas Vendemia, M.D.
Plastic Surgeon, New York City
MAS / Manhattan Aesthetic Surgery
www.ManhattanAestheticSurgery.com
Photo Credit: NYDailyNews
NOTICE: None of the celebrities or individuals discussed here have ever received treatment, surgery, medical advice, or evaluations from any author, physician, surgeon, or representative of this blog. All images and photos in this article represent models only. No actual patients or clients are shown.
Karin Ruiz–
Nicholas Vendemia, M.D.
Ann Yacullo-
Grant Stevens, M.D.
Laura Pietrzak, PA-C
Shea Slaymaker, PA-C
