Side Effects Of Laser Tattoo Removal
While somewhat rare and not usually serious, there are some side effects associated with laser tattoo removal. Here are the most common:
- Scarring: Scars can be the result of the original tattoo process or the removal process. Sometimes, a faint scar in the image of the original tattoo is visible after tattoo removal.
- Blistering: Laser removal can cause the skin to blister it is a temporary condition.
- Infection: While rare, infection can occur anytime the integrity of the skin is broken. Antibiotic ointment is routinely ordered to treat the area after tattoo removal to help prevent infection.
- Hypopigmentation or loss of pigmentation: The skin in the area where the tattoo is removed commonly turns lighter than the surrounding tissue. The area appears as white spots and can be temporary or permanent.
- Hyperpigmentation or increased pigmentation: There can be deepened skin color of the treated area in some skin types, especially on dark-skinned individuals. The area appears as dark spots.
- Swelling: Swelling at the site is temporary and expected immediately after the procedure. It is treated with ice packs to the area, or the patient may be given anti-inflammatories.
- Scabbing: Scabbing is a typical reaction to a skin breach. Scabs usually last about two weeks.
- Change in skin texture: These changes are not very common and are usually temporary.
Introduce The Discussion Of This Topic Even If The Patient Doesn’t
Many patients have the misconception that the laser “burns” the tattoo ink out of the skin. By discussing how tattoo removal works, you can help patients appreciate the role that the laser has in eliminating their unwanted tattoo.
We suggest having a simplified answer such as this:
“Each pulse of the laser sends light energy into your skin. We use different wavelengths of laser light to treat different colors of ink in your tattoo. As the light energy is directed into your skin, it is selectively absorbed by the tattoo ink particles trapped in the dermis of your skin. When the ink particles absorb this energy, they instantly shatter into tiny fragments. Once the laser has broken the ink into smaller pieces, your body’s immune system works to remove the ink over the following weeks, flushing it away from the tattooed area. We see the result of this as the tattoo lightening in appearance. Each additional laser treatment breaks down more and more ink until the tattoo can no longer be seen.”
This description achieves a few things:
If The Tattoo Already Features Scarring Expect That To Remain
What many people don’t know is that any scarring that remains after a tattoo removal procedure is often left over from when the tattoo was originally applied by the tattoo artist.
When the proper laser protocols and patient aftercare are utilized, it’s very uncommon for a patient to scar from a Q-switched laser treatment. However, it is very common for a tattoo to feature pre-existing scarring from when it was applied.
When a Q-switched laser treats the skin, it targets and breaks down the tattoo pigment in the skin. If pre-existing scarring is present, it will break down this pigment within the scar tissue. Once the tattoo removal process is complete, the ink will have been eliminated from the location but any of the scarring from the original tattoo will likely still remain.
During the initial consultation while you are assessing the tattoo, touch it and see if pre-existing scarring is present. If so, mark it as such in the patient’s records and inform the patient that the laser will not eliminate scar tissue, just their ink.
A Q-switched laser is not the best device to use for scar revision and will not provide significant improvement to remaining scarring. Some skin specialists use fractional lasers to resurface scarred skin after the tattoo removal process.
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The Healing Process: What To Expect After Tattoo Removal In Nyc
Not every tattoo ends up looking as we expect, and some individuals who get tattoos may otherwise realize later on that they would rather not have a specific tattoo on their body. Tattoo removal in NYC provides individuals with the choice to remove an unwanted tattoo by undergoing a simple, effective process using state-of- the-art tattoo removal technology.
After you have undergone your tattoo removal procedure, it is important but also helpful for your own sake to be aware of what you can expect during the healing process. Although laser technology such as PicoSure has made innovative strides as an increasingly efficient tattoo removal method, there are still some effects that you may notice following your procedure.
How The Laser Works
This is a process that utilizes your immune system to remove ink in a safe way, says Cooper. Your body already wants to remove the ink particles in your skin, which are deposited into small pockets in the dermis layer of skin when you get a tattoo. In fact, your immune system has been trying to do that since you first got the tattoo. When you get a tattoo, your body is actively trying to remove it. Its a foreign body in the skin that shouldnt be there, says Cooper. However, the ink particles are about 100 to 200 nanometersfar too big for your immune system to process prior to laser treatment.
The laser directs energy to those ink particles so they shatter and break apart into smaller pieces, allowing your bodys immune system to target and eliminate them. Your white blood cells are able to engulf those smaller ink particles, whereas before, the ink particles were too big for them to engulf, Cooper explains. The white blood cells then carry the ink particles into the bodys lymphatic system. Most is then expelled through the digestive system, although some can also come out in sweat or urine.
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Maintain A Healthy Immune System
Caring for tattoos after laser removal means boosting your bodys overall health. In other words, keeping your immune system strong is a vital part of tattoo removal aftercare.
Why? Your laser session is just the first step of the process. Afterward, your body has to work hard to flush out the ink and regenerate new skin. White blood cells rush in to remove the ink that the laser removal process has shattered into tiny particles, flushing them out of the skin. Here are some tips for strengthening your immune system, benefiting your healing and overall health.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water will improve your circulation, bringing lots of those white blood cells to the affected area. This will ramp up both ink removal and skin repair, helping your skin heal as efficiently as possible!
Eat Clean
Eat healthy foods that give your body lots of nutrition. This will give your body the fuel to regenerate healthy skin cells. Eat lots of veggies and choose lean proteins to provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to regenerate.
Make sure youre eating regular meals, too.
Exercise
Proper tattoo removal aftercare will lead to optimal healing. We commend you on your desire to keep your skin and body healthy, and your specialist will support you by answering any questions you have about the healing process.
What Are The Laser Tattoo Removal Healing Stages
By Michael Svendsenon August 29, 2019
Aftercare is a critical component of a successful tattoo removal. By taking the proper measures following laser tattoo removal sessions, your skin will heal beautifully. Though you can trust your specialist to treat thearea with care and expertise, youll also need to take some of the responsibility home with you. You will receive aftercare instructions following your sessions, though its never unwise to know how to look after your skin beforehand.
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Number Of Laser Tattoo Removal Treatment Sessions Needed
The number of treatments necessary to remove a tattoo via laser can be predicted by the Kirby-Desai Scale. The number of sessions depends on various parameters, including the area of the body treated, skin color, ink color present, scarring, and amount of ink present. Effectiveness of the immune system may play a role as well.
Complete laser tattoo removal requires numerous treatment sessions, typically spaced at eight weeks or more apart. Treating more frequently than eight weeks increases the risk of adverse effects and does not necessarily increase the rate of ink absorption. Anecdotal reports of treatments sessions at four weeks leads to more scarring and dischromia and can be a source of liability for clinicians. At each session, some but not all of the tattoo pigment particles are effectively fragmented, and the body removes the smallest fragments over the course of several weeks or months. The result is that the tattoo is lightened over time. Remaining large particles of tattoo pigment are then targeted at subsequent treatment sessions, causing further lightening. Tattoos located on the extremities, such as the ankle, generally take longest. As tattoos fade clinicians may recommend that patients wait many months between treatments to facilitate ink resolution and minimize unwanted side effects.
Who Can Benefit From Laser Tattoo Removal
Your healthcare provider will work with you to determine how best to remove your tattoo. In the past, tattoos could be removed by several methods, but many of them left scars. Some people felt that the scar was more unattractive than the tattoo itself.
If you have a tattoo that has been treated with other methods, you may benefit from laser therapy. These treated tattoos may respond well to laser therapy as long as there is not a large amount of scarring.
People who have had laser tattoo removal cite these benefits:
- The procedure can be done on an outpatient basis, with no overnight stay.
- It reduces the risk of scarring and infection.
- Its generally safer than other options.
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Will Laser Treatments Completely Remove My Tattoo
Your tattoo may not be completely removed, which is relatively common. Some colors of tattoo dye resist laser removal, and some pigment is too deep to be reached with the lasers that are currently available. Certain colors may be easier to remove than others. Blue/black tattoos respond particularly well to laser treatment, because they are better at absorbing light. The response of other colors is being studied.
What Should I Know About Tattoos And Tattoo Removal
Tattooing is an ancient art. The word is derived from the Tahitian word tattau, meaning to mark. Its estimated that more than 25% of the U.S. population has a tattoo, and nearly half of millennials have one.
While the popularity of tattoos is on the rise in recent years, so too is the number of people seeking to remove them, according to the American Society for Dermatological Surgery. Reasons for removal range from a change in job or lifestyle or because they simply no longer like the tattoo.
But heres the rub: because the permanent ink granules from professional tattoos were injected below the skins surface when it was applied, removing a tattoo is far more complicated than applying one. It will normally take a few sessions of laser therapy to do the trick.
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It Might Be Worth Getting A Cover Up Tattoo Instead Of A Full Tattoo Removal
One tattoo removal method that isn’t talked about as much is semi-removali.e. If you don’t want to take your tattoos all the way off, you can simply lighten them enough to get some good cover-up work done. I have a friend who had a bird piece lightened enough to have a tattoo artist ink a lightbulb over the top. I thought it was smart because it meant her new tattoo didn’t have to be heavy-handed.
How Long After Laser Tattoo Removal Will My Tattoo Fade
Laser tattoo removal is a specialized procedure that utilizes quick pulsing energy to target tattoo pigments and triggers the skin to release these pigments. Upon release, the skin naturally reabsorbs these pigments and disposes of them. Because the treatment targets the pigments and not surrounding skin, it can produce astounding results without scarring. In fact, most patients only experience a few hours of pink, sensitive skin after treatment.
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What About Home Treatments
Tattoo removal creams and chemical peels are the most widely available and least expensive option. Theres a reason why: Theres no solid evidence that they work.
At best, they might slightly lighten a tattoo, according to anecdotal reports. At worst, they can result in a serious chemical burn .
Due to the high risk of skin irritation and allergic reaction, experts dont recommend using DIY tattoo removal creams to get rid of your tattoo.
The Easiest Method To Eliminate Tattoos Forever
For instance, some tattoo inks are a lot more responsive to laser treatment than are others. Furthermore, little tattoos could be great prospects for medical elimination, while others are simply as well big to get rid of with a scalpel.
Before laser treatment, the skin is numbed with an injection of a anesthetic. After that a powerful pulse of energy is related to the tattoo to warm and smash the tattoo ink. Multicolored tattoos could require treatment with numerous lasers and also different wavelengths .
Laser Tattoo Cost
Throughout dermabrasion, the tattooed location is usually chilled till numb. After that the tattooed skin is sanded down to deeper levels with a high-speed rotary gadget that has an unpleasant wheel or brush. This permits the tattoo ink to seep out of the skin. Laser Tattoo Cost
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Exercise On A Regular Basis
While a link between tattoo removal and exercise might not be immediately apparent, what exercise does is improves the immune system by boosting the cells in your body that attack foreign bodies, including broken-down tattoo ink. Visiting the gym a few times a week, or even just walking for half an hour a day, can speed up the healing process.
Can I Shower After Laser Tattoo Removal Treatment
Sure, you could shower 2 to 3 hours after the laser tattoo treatment. however, you should be careful about high-pressure water to hit the treatment area.
Before you completely recover from blistering and scabbing, you cannot use hot tubs, swimming pools and any form of soaking. The healing time for blistering and scabbing is usually around 2 weeks. Follow the rules will decrease the risk of infections.
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You Can Enjoy A Safe Effective Process
When you choose this treatment, you can rest assured that you will benefit from the highest safety standards and the most effective means of removing ink. Our lasers are FDA approved and have helped many patients get rid of their unwanted tattoos without harmful methods. You will be amazed by the results they offer. In the past, many tattoo removal treatments yielded spotty results. Today, our advanced lasers can treat all colors faster and more completely than ever before.
What To Expect During The Treatment
The laser tattoo removal process breaks up particles into smaller bits with ultraviolet light beams that your bodys immune system can quickly expel. As mentioned, it requires between six to twelve sessions depending on the size, color, age, etc., of any given ink in question. However, it does not last for more than an hour or so.
You will generally feel a bit of stinging and prickling during the process, but nothing too extreme. The treatment is not as painful as it may sound. In fact, most people say it only feels as if theres a mild rubber band being snapped on their skin. However, there may still be some discomfort during the laser tattoo treatment due to heat produced by the laser.
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Never Judge A Patient For Their Tattoos
We always suggest starting out the patient consultation with the question, “Which tattoo are you looking to treat today?” This question allows the patient to tell their story about their tattoo and discuss their intentions for coming to you.
Patients that want their tattoo artwork revised fit into two categories:
Selective removal patients are looking to erase a part out of a larger tattoo piece. This is a common request for patients with name tattoos. For example, they like the overall design of their tattoo but dislike that it features an ex-boyfriend’s name. Patients also request selective removal if their tattoo artist botched the artwork in an area or the tattoo extended further than they wished they just want certain parts of the tattoo “cleaned up.” When performing treatments for selective removal, you likely will need precision to only treat the areas of the tattoo that are desired to be removed usually firing the laser at lower repetition rates will help when treating these specific areas.
Generally, selective removal patients want complete removal of the specific areas they want erased, but sometimes they want it faded in preparation for a cover-up tattoo.
Reduce Tattoo Removal Scars And Pain With These Tips From Medermis
Tattoos are a wonderful way to express yourself. This form of body art is so popular that 45 million Americans have some kind of tattoo, but they are a lifetime commitment. One study found approximately 23 percent of people who get tattoos regret the decision.
Why do people change their minds?
- The tattoo might no longer hold the same emotional significance it did when you first got it.
- Maybe the quality of the artwork is not what you expected, or perhaps the quality did not age well.
- You could feel your personality or circumstances have changed, and the tattoo no longer reflects who you are.
- Although taboos around tattoos are changing, you might be concerned about how the ink might affect your professional life.
Whatever the reason you are no longer happy with your tattoo, you do not have to live the rest of your life with it on your skin. A successful tattoo removal is a viable option. Read our ultimate guide to tattoo removal.
In the past, tattoo removal involved physically scraping away the ink, which unsurprisingly damaged the skin, but now we have far more sophisticated tattoo removal methods.
The current standard for tattoo removal is laser treatment. The most common type of laser treatment uses equipment called the Q-switched laser, which pulses light rapidly to dissolve the tattoo pigments without serious side effects.
While laser tattoo removal treatment has minimal risks, it is important to know proper tattoo removal aftercare.
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