So Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt
The answer to that question is relative. Like hot sauce, the level of pain depends on your personal pain tolerance. Many clients compare tattoo removal pain to a rubber band snapping on their skin. Given that you have already had the experience of being tattooed, you can probably handle the minimal discomfort. It might be reassuring to know, however, that MEDermis Laser Clinic uses a special numbing technique that is unique to our clinic.
Our priority is to make you as comfortable as possible, so before, during, and after the procedure, the technician will use the Cryo5 chilling device to blow very cold air on the area and numb it. In addition, this technique always preps the surface of the skin for the laser so that you can get the best results with minimal pain.
The overall sensation varies from person to person, but there are a few things weve noticed over the years.
- If you dont experience pain getting a tattoo, you likely wont experience pain in the removal process.
- Women tend to have more tolerable experiences with laser removal and handle the treatments better than men.
- We work with every patient and will stop immediately if they need a break.
With this in mind, its important to remember that tattoo placement will play a huge role in your removal process.
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.
Tattoo Removal Outcomes Before As Well As After With Picosure
Tattoo removal can be an time-consuming and pricey process. For a tattoo to completely disappear, it will normally take anywhere from 4 months up to 2 years of treatments with the variety of sessions varying on variables such as ink color and kind . Aftercare practices differ amongst various facilities however typically include applying lotion or cream, wrapping in plastic film for protection against infection while recovery takes place over eight weeks in the house before getting rid of stitches that have actually been placed around the location by your physician – all done without damaging any kind of skin nor scrubbing away dead cells.
Does It Hurt More To Remove A Tattoo
Q-switched lasers are reported by the National Institutes of Health and wellness to result in a much lower rate of scarring than various other kinds. This is true for areas with slim skin as they will be most likely to show scars, while some thicker-skinned regions may not exhibit any at all! Does It Hurt More To Remove A Tattoo
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Offer Skin Numbing To Keep Patients Feeling Happy
The most popular numbing method is a Zimmer Cryo 6, which is a powerful chilling machine that blows cold air on the skin before, during, and after treatments. It’s highly effective and an asset to busy practices that need a solution that is fast and easy-to-use.
Other options for numbing include good old-fashioned ice packs, lidocaine injections, or topical numbing creams. Each numbing method has its pros and cons. We have a blog post dedicated to the topic of pain management for this procedure: Skin Numbing for Tattoo Removal Treatments
Older And Simpler Tattoos Are Less Painful To Remove
So how long does a tattoo take to get removed? According to Dr. Goldberg, that is a loaded question that can’t be pinpointed with one direct answer. However, he says older tattoos are removed more quickly typically. ” always a question that is asked but unanswerable since the FDA does not control tattoo parlor delivery of ink, and we never know what is in them. The general rules are the older the tattoo, the quicker it clears the less color, the quicker it clears,” he says. “If there is one tattoo that has been placed on top of another tattoo, it takes that much longer. As a general rule, the Lumenis laser requires one-third less treatments as compared to older lasers of five years ago.”
So what are the benefits of using a Lumenis laser for removal services versus the other lasers on the market? Dr. Goldberg says that the Lumenis PIQ04 system is the most diverse system on the market, combining four different wavelengths with four different pulse durations to make for a quicker, less painful removal process.
So before you drunkenly hit up the tattoo parlor around the corner from you, consider whether or not you might want to get it removed later, and if you’re willing to put up with everything that goes along with it.
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What To Expect After The Process Is Complete
The tattoo removal process is quick and only slightly uncomfortable. However, it is normal to experience some side effects.
Some people may see redness, swelling, and slight blistering in the treated area. On some occasions, you may see temporary lightening or darkening of the skin.
These side effects are common, especially in the first few hours after treatment, but they will subside.
Most people find that their skin returns to normal in about two weeks.
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Some People Experience Scarring At The Site
Unfortunately, tattoo removal doesnt come without risks. Some people end up getting their tattoo removed only to discover that the process left behind some scarring or skin discoloration.
The amount of scarring or discoloration will vary from person to person. However, there are things you can do to reduce the severity of those scars. Discuss your concerns with your removal team and let them make the appropriate recommendations based on your skin type and the tattoo you have in place.
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Avoiding And Protecting Yourself From The Sun
Following laser treatment, you do not need to stay out of the sun entirely however, it is paramount to keep the treated area covered. If you get sunburnt, not only will it mean that you might have to postpone your next appointment, it could cause significant damage to skin that is highly sensitive.
Just to be safe, it is advisable that if you go out in the sun, you should put on sunblock with at least an SPF of 25 . This is because sunburn is the worst thing for your skin following laser removal.
Getting sunburn and damaging the skin on other parts of your body will lead to dehydration and resources, that your body should be using to heal the treated area, will have to be allocated to the burnt skin as well.
Burning or even tanning will slow the healing process down and ultimately delay matters. This means more time until the ink is completely removed. So stay covered and spend as little time as possible in the sun.
How Painful Is Tattoo Removal
The pain experienced during laser tattoo removal is very minor. Tattoo removal does hurt a bit, but Removerys clients often say it feels no more painful than getting slapped by a rubber band.
Laser tattoo removal is the most effective process available. Any method that claims to be pain-free is not actually doing much to remove the ink from the skin, whereas more painful tattoo removal methods are likely to cause long-term damage and permanent scarring.
Our Picoway tattoo removal method causes less pain than most other tattoo removal techniques. Its also faster, meaning less time spent undergoing the minor pain of tattoo removal.
The procedure does come with some degree of pain the stinging sensation of which could be compared to the flicking of an elastic band against the skin,says Dr. Rekha Tailor, medical director of Health & Aesthetics.
How long does pain last after the tattoo removal session is over? Normally it goes away within a few hours. You might simply feel like you have a sunburn until then. If the sensation continues for several days after tattoo removal treatment, contact the Removery clinical team to make sure youre not experiencing an infection or allergic reaction .
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Once The Tattoo Is Gone Its Gone Forever If You Dont Like Your Tattoo Its A Worthwhile Expense
For many practices, the minimum treatment session price for an extra-small tattoo is somewhere in the $75 $125 range. Any price in this range is considered a normal minimum price for a single treatment. By having the minimum price stated, it allows patients to have a rough idea of the expected cost before they come into your clinic for their consultation.
Before starting any treatments, its important to set clear expectations and inform patients that tattoos do take multiple sessions to remove. Doing so eliminates any illusions or confusion they may have about per session pricing being the same as the total cost for complete removal. One way to communicate this effectively and to give patients an opportunity to save money is to sell treatment packages. Selling packages allows your practice to receive revenue upfront and also locks the patient into repeat visits to your practice.
If youre still looking to determine the right pricing structure for your practice, check out our blog post: Pricing for Laser Tattoo Removal Treatments.
Your Pain Experience Depends On A Few Things
No two peoples pain experience is exactly the same for a few reasons, beginning with your personal pain threshold.
The skill and experience of the person doing the removal can also impact how painful the experience is, which is why having it done by a licensed dermatologist is recommended.
A trained dermatologist can adjust the treatment to your comfort level and give you a numbing cream or injection of a local anesthetic to minimize or prevent pain.
You know how some parts of the body are more painful to tattoo than others? The same goes for tattoo removal.
We asked Dr. Stacy Chimento, board certified Miami dermatologist of Riverchase Dermatology, to explain why.
Touch receptors are distributed unevenly throughout the body, therefore making some areas of the body more sensitive. Different parts of the body also differ in types of touch receptors. Some receptors are more sensitive to pressure, while others respond to low- or high-frequency vibrations, says Chimento. Your fingertips, ribcage area, forehead, ankles, wrists, and around your armpit are some of the places where it may be more painful for laser tattoo removal.
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Yes Laser Tattoo Removal Hurts But Its Not Unbearable
Getting a tattoo isnt painless, so patients shouldnt expect the removal process to be painless. Yes, laser tattoo removal hurts. That being said, weve never had anyone come in for a tattoo removal session and not return to complete the process.
In fact, our patients who have had laser tattoo removal sessions elsewhere have told us that their treatments are much more comfortable with us. Thats because our laser, the Revlite SI laser delivers constant power, instead of varying levels of power, so there isnt a spike in speed that would make it more uncomfortable1.
Its kind of like hammering a nail in a board. Each time the hammer hits the nail head, theres a varying amount of power. The more power the hammer hits the nail with, the farther into the board the nail is driven. Similarly, if a laser delivers a pulse at a stronger power it delivers a stronger sting, but because the power we are delivering is constant, each pulse feels the same.
Answers To Faqs About Tattoo Removal Pain
If something hurts when you put it on, it makes sense for it to not hurt when its taken off, right? Unfortunately, this isnt always so.
Removing a tattoo can hurt just as much, if not more, than getting it done. 84% of the participants in astudy described the pain they went through while undergoinglaser tattoo removal as moderate to extreme.
Pain is usually what deters people from getting their tattoos removed, however regrettable they may be. But this doesnt mean that nothing can be done to make the pain easier to bear. Here are six straightforward answers to frequently asked questions about why tattoo removal hurts and ways to help alleviate tattoo removal pain.
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Skin Chillers Work Great
One of the most important aspects of being a great clinic is focusing on patient comfort.
The traditional skin numbing method has always been through the use of ice packs.
However, times have changed, theres now a much better option for laser tattoo removal pain relief.
The Zimmer Cryo-6 advanced skin chiller.
It works by applying cold air to the tattoo site before, during and after each treatment.
Here at Ink Revoke, we believe that these are the safest, most effective ways to numb the skin, without losing effectiveness.
Check out this helpful resource:
Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt More Than Other Options
I really want to get rid of my tattoo but I’m afraid of the pain. Does laser tattoo removal hurt?
We have 5 or 6 pain reduction methods at our disposal. Most patients say it hurts more getting the tattoo. Make sure that the specialist you go to for tattoo removal has pain reduction methods in place, too.
We have 5 or 6 pain reduction methods at our disposal. Most patients say it hurts more getting the tattoo. Make sure that the specialist you go to for tattoo removal has pain reduction methods in place, too.
Laser tattoo removal is painful when no anesthetic is used. If your tattoo is not that large, your practitioner can use injected lidocaine to numb the area, making it pain-free or at least much more comfortable. Other options for tattoo removal either do not work , or leave horrific scarring .
Laser tattoo removal is painful when no anesthetic is used. If your tattoo is not that large, your practitioner can use injected lidocaine to numb the area, making it pain-free or at least much more comfortable. Other options for tattoo removal either do not work , or leave horrific scarring .
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It Gets Easier Over Time
Most patients say that their first laser tattoo removal sessions are the most painful. The more you undergo, the higher your pain threshold increases.
In most cases, it takes at least four sessions for the tattoo ink to disappear completely. By the third or fourth session, youll feel far less pain than you did in the beginning.
Learn more about how laser removal works in our Tattoo Removal FAQs article!
Theres No Ink That The Procedure Cant Remove
One of the most common myths surrounding laser tattoo removal is that some ink just wont come out. While its true that some colors and shades take longer to remove, they will eventually fade. Once the removal is complete, all traces of the dyes will be gone, too.
Its just a matter of time.
If you have a brightly colored tattoo that you no longer want to look at, youll still be able to get rid of the ink. If your tattoo is a simple dark outline, youll be able to get the design removed in full.
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Why Is Laser Tattoo Removal Painful
Preparing yourself for laser tattoo removal psychologically can help ease you through the procedure. Familiarizing yourself with what causes the pain during laser tattoo removal is the first step towards getting over the pain.
The pain experienced during laser tattoo removal is caused by ink particles being shattered beneath your skin by the energy of the tattoo removal laser. The light emitted by the laser is absorbed by the ink particles as heat, causing them to burst.
Because the laser emits light in short bursts, the tissue around the ink has enough time to cool so the surrounding dermis is left unharmed and your skin undamaged. The pain is temporary and has no lasting effects on your skin.
When undergoing laser tattoo therapy you will only feel pain during the treatment period. You will not experience any discomfort between sessions, meaning the down-time between procedures can be relatively low.
Some people consider pain relief medication for their laser tattoo removal procedure, but most tattoo removal clinics will recommend avoiding pain relief medication because the pain is temporary and pain relief medication can cause complications.
S Of The Body Where Removal Hurts The Most
Where does tattoo removal hurt the most? Certain places have more sensitivity during tattoo removal treatments because the skin is closer to the bone. For instance, laser tattoo removal on the ankle or fingers could hurt more for that reason. Additionally, while you can easily let some parts of the body rest after laser removal, its hard or impossible not to move other parts .
The following are some of the more painful areas for laser tattoo removal:
- The joints. At the knees, elbows, and ankles, the skin is close to the bone, making them more sensitive to laser tattoo removal. Youll also be moving them frequently after your session, which can increase the pain experienced after your sessions.
- The ribs and sternum. The rib cage is one of the trickiest places for tattoo removal . Not only is the skin close to the bone, but the act of breathing may also prolong the discomfort caused by removal.
- The fingers and feet. These extremities have a lot of nerve endings, making both tattooing and tattoo removal more uncomfortable.
- The area around the armpit. Because this spot has very thin skin, it tends to be one of the most sensitive places to undergo laser removal treatment.
- The head. Anywhere on the head tends to experience a high level of sensitivity during tattoo removal.
Again, the areas where tattoos hurt most are the same places where laser removal causes more discomfort.
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