ST. CHARLES – About to celebrate their first anniversary, Vanishing Ink Laser Aesthetics Center located at 2020 Dean Street in St. Charles, has already expanded and grown their medical laser center. What started as a tattoo removal center has now expanded into much more.

“We really listened to the needs of our customers,” said owner and certified laser specialist Diane Gibson. “They were telling us they wanted a place to have their sun spots, wrinkles and stretch marks removed as well – so we decided to make that happen.”

In order to offer these aesthetic services, Vanishing Ink had to purchase a piece of technology called the Icon to do so. The Icon utilizes optimized pulsed light technology, which, unlike lasers, uses several wavelengths of light with special filters that deliver the best wavelengths to treat specific aesthetic conditions. As the pulses of light are treating the targeted area, the energy is absorbed into the skin and the body's natural healing process will begin to create new, healthy skin over the next four to six weeks.

The Icon can help patients focus on skin revitalization which would include skin renewal, hair removal, surgical scars, age spots, stretch marks and acne scars. After their services, they can keep their skin looking beautiful by using the Jan Marini five-step skin care program, which compliments the aesthetic services offered at the Center.

“Although the aesthetic services are not covered by insurance, we believe that obtaining beautiful skin should be affordable, and offer packages that help reduce the cost," Gibson said.

The center has also added an esthetician to the staff, who is also trained in laser technology, who will be offering facials for patients in the near future as well.

“We are excited to be able to offer so much more than tattoo removal, although that is still a big part of our business,” Gibson said. “And we are certainly not against tattoos. People have various reasons for removing tattoos; we just help them with that process.”

Whether a patient comes in to remove an old girlfriend or boyfriend’s name; or a tattoo they had done when they were in college that no longer means anything to them; or perhaps they want a tattoo removed that has faded and become unrecognizable, Vanishing Ink does it all.

The Center uses the Quanta Q-Plus C laser to remove the unwanted tattoo. The laser penetrates the layers of the skin, to break down the ink without scarring. After each treatment, the patient’s immune system will absorb the ink and gradually fade the tattoo until it is gone. It will take multiple sessions, with a four to six week break between each session, for the laser to remove the tattoo completely.

Unlike many med-spas, Gibson has a physician on site that sees patients from their first visit, and goes over their complete medical history with them.

“I am proud to take that extra step with my patients and I think it shoes in their satisfaction with our services” Gibson said.

Megan Russe would agree. She started going to Vanishing Ink in December 2015 for the removal of a small tattoo on her finger.

“I have had a very pleasant experience with Vanishing Ink,” Russe said. “The staff is completely wonderful. They guided me through the whole process and have been nothing but cordial and concerned for my health and overall well-being. That was important to me going into it.”