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.
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How Tattoo Removal Works
Laser tattoo removal uses pulses of high-intensity laser to penetrate the upper layer of skin or epidermis to break the pigment into smaller particles. Those smaller particles are then absorbed into your body and metabolized.
While mostly effective, laser tattoo removal isnt exactly a quick fix.
It takes multiple treatments to do the trick. How many depends on the size of your tattoo and the colors . Then theres the healing time between treatments usually a few weeks each.
Laser isnt your only option for removing a tattoo. Theres also dermabrasion, which involves sanding off the top layer of skin.
Surgery is another option, though this is obviously more invasive it involves cutting away the tattooed skin and stitching the remaining skin back together.
How Many Sessions Does It Take
This will vary from patient to patient, once again. If your tattoo is already fading, if you use the right follow-up procedures, and you get your sessions done on a regular schedule, then you should expect it to take between 6 and 8 sessions, generally.
This will depend on your skin type, tattoo style, and more. Talk to your dermatologist beforehand and get a personalized estimate.
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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.
Is It Painful To Get Tattoos Removed Laser Tattoo
Does laser tattoo removal hurt more in certain parts of the body? Youll find that laser tattoo removal will hurt more in similar places to getting an actual tattoo. Where there is generally more body fat the treatment will hurt less as the flesh seems to cushion most of the pain, which means areas such as the wrist, feet, face , and fingers
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So Why Exactly Does Tattoo Removal Hurt
Anyone whos ever gotten hurt accidentally by a lighter or hot water can readily understand how heat can hurt.
The pain of removing a tattoo has the same root cause: the very high temperature to which the tattoo ink is heated during the procedure. This kind of ink contains metals whichas anyone whos ever touched the wrong side of a steam iron or stovetop kettle would knowcan get painfully hot.
How Long Does It Hurt
Some patients leave each session with mild discomfort, while some walk away without any issues at all. Again, it depends on a wide variety of factors. Although, if you walked out of your tattoo session without any problems, you shouldnt expect the aftermath of a laser session to be unbearable.
However, some people are sensitive to laser lights and you may experience a mild burning sensation, redness, swelling, or other complications after a season. If this happens to you, you shouldnt panic, as this is totally normal. Contact your dermatologist if this is the case and ask what to do.
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S Of The Body Where Removal Hurts The Least
In meatier places like the thighs, calves, and biceps, laser removal usually causes less pain. Why? These spots have more muscle mass and more fat, which creates a buffer to keep pain at bay. Meanwhile, bonier areas with a lot of nerve endings are more sensitive. For instance, laser tattoo removal will hurt more on the shins than on the calves.
Here are a few other areas that tend to experience less pain:
- The shoulders
- The upper arms
- The front of the thighs
Most of the back tends to be less painful for women during tattoo removal, except for the area around the spine. Areas with taut skin, like the top of the thigh, also tend to be less sensitive than areas with looser skin.
Make Sure To Block Out Your Schedule
While some laser sessions are quick and easy, not all are. Mine have been taking about 45 minutes because we take before photos, clean the areas, inject them with lidocaine for freezing, laser them, ice them, and then bandage them. Oh, and sometimes a weird side effect happens where I taste metal when the laser hits my skin. Adams says it’s a sensation that some people experience when the lidocaine is hit by the laser and that it’s totally normal.
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Factors That Affect Tattoo Pain
Getting tattooed is bound to involve some pain, no matter where you get the tattoo. Thats just par for the course! However, a number of factors affect the specific tattoo pain level youll experience.
With any tattoo, the area can feel tender afterward as well, since the skin is healing. Following proper tattoo aftercare guidelines will help avoid any complications like infection, allowing any lingering pain or irritation to subside as quickly as possible.
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The Takeaway On Tattoo Removal Pain
There are many methods available for successfully removing unwanted tattoos. You can opt for a natural remedy or go for a laser tattoo removal treatment.
When it comes to laser tattoo removal, its normal to wonder, does tattoo removal hurt? As discussed above, laser tattoo removal can cause minor pain during the procedure and for a short time after the procedure. But if you take the right steps, this pain is manageable.
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Least Painful Tattoo Spots
The following body parts tend to be the seven least painful places to get a tattoo. Many of these body parts have many more padding than bonier areas like the ankles and feet.
Remember, exact pain level varies based on a number of factors like age and the skill of the artist. The results shown here are based on the scores from our tattoo pain level survey conducted among artists and enthusiasts.
How Much Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cost
For most patients, pricing is a big factor in their decision. It’s important to have confident yet competitive pricing for your services. We recommend having a clear pricing structure that allows you, the provider, to give a fast and simple answer to the patient’s questions about pricing. It’s best to have the consultation focused on the value of the procedure, not what you charge.
In general, it costs about ten times as much to get a tattoo removed as it costs to have it applied, so there may be some sticker shock for a handful of patients. For this reason, we suggest that you prominently advertise your minimum price on your website. You should feel confident in your pricing you are providing a valuable service that requires highly specialized equipment.
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What To Expect During Treatment
Prior to treatment, a topical numbing cream will be applied to provide a painless experience. And we have a special machine to chill the treatment area too. If youre very sensitive we can numb the area with novocaine like in a dentist office. Most patients are pleasantly surprised at how easy the treatment actually is. Some people feel a slight stinging sensation throughout longer treatments but discomfort levels are much milder than the original tattoo. Treatment times can vary based on the size of the tattoo being addressed. You can expect your laser tattoo removal to last anywhere from 15-45 minutes.
How Painful Is Laser Tattoo Removal
Laser tattoo removal is generally painful. Where the tattoo is located plays a major role in how painful the removal will be. Luckily, pain is relative, and while many people agree that the procedure is particularly painful, others have stated that tattoo removal was no more painful than getting the tattoo in the first place.
Underneath our skin, there are receptor cells. These cells pick up signals through the skin and send them to the brain. Some areas, such as hands and feet, have more receptor cells than others, making them more sensitive.
The laser heats the ink particleswhich are metalsto very high temperatures. The laser is then directed towards one particular spot. Because of the rapid speed, however, the skin tissue is not harmed. The energy from the laser forms a shockwave which sends vibrations through the skin. The vibrations will cause the skin to raise and become pale in color. This effect is normal and will only last a few seconds.
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Does Laser Tattoo Removal Burn Your Skin
Your skin will likely be pale or pink as the scabs separate from the skin. Complete healing usually takes about six to eight weeks. Here are some suggestions that you should follow after a tattoo removal session. Your skin is likely to experience some frosting in the area where the treatment took place.
Getting A Tattoo Vs Tattoo Removal: Which One Hurts The Most
Just like everything in life, when it comes to tattoos, everybody has a different opinion about the topic. If youre doing research about how much getting a tattoo hurts, youll notice that every experience is different. This is because we all have a different tolerance for pain.
But what if after getting the tattoo done you want to get rid of it? When that time comes, youll need to investigate laser tattoo removal to accomplish the job. Much like getting a tattoo, the pain levels each person experiences during laser tattoo removal is very different.
Getting a Tattoo Done vs Laser Tattoo Removal
Do you know the phrase that says, no pain, no gain? This also holds true when getting new ink. Individuals that have gone through the process of getting a tattoo to describe the pain like a sharp, stinging pain or a burning sensation. The level of pain and discomfort will vary largely depending on the area. Areas like the arms, shoulders, and other body areas with more fat tend to be less sensitive to pain. On the other hand, areas like the ribs, feet, elbow ditch, and armpits are more sensitive, meaning youre likely to feel the burn.
What Does Laser Tattoo Removal Look Like?
Speed and energy are essential to crack the ink particles and prevent damage to the skin during the procedure. When the ink particles are broken into smaller chunks, white blood cells absorb them and transports them to the liver.
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It Feels Like Someone Snapping A Rubber Band Against Your Skin
Bulls**t. Complete and utter bulls**t.
I dont even think most laser technicians believe this, even if its the answer they give when you ask them how much tattoo removal hurts.
This might be true if you can imagine someone snapping a rubber band against your skin several times per second, and sustaining that pace for 30-60 seconds at a time. But even that doesnt account for the heat.
Tattoo removal feels like exactly what it is a high-powered laser shooting deep into your skin and breaking up the pigment of your tattoo. Thats not going to be a comfortable thing, no matter how you cut it.
If I had to compare it directly to tattoo application, Id say it hurts 1.5x 2x more than the most painful application spot during my tattoo my sternum. So if youve ever had a sensitive, bony part of your body tattooed like your ribcage or sternum, multiply that by 1.5 or 2x, and I think youll have a pretty accurate expectation going into your first removal session.
But even though tattoo removal is considerably more painful than application, its important to note that its MUCH faster than tattoo application.
How Much Does Tattoo Removal Hurt An Honest Patients Experience
A little over a year ago, I was exactly where you are: considering tattoo removal, and asking myself, How much does tattoo removal hurt?
Let me tell ya a hell of a lot more than many things on the internet may lead you to believe.
When I was 20 years old, I got a sprawling tattoo across the front of my torso. Cool, right? Right?!
I began tattoo removal eight years later, and I was really worried going into it that it was going to hurt more than what the internet had led me to believe.
And oh boy it did.
But I keep going back, time and time again. Why? Because its worth it.
Before we dig in here, know this: Im no wuss. I may be a total idiot , but I definitely have an above-average pain threshold. The moment my first removal began, I knew tattoo removal was one of the most painful things Id experienced in my life.
Maybe its because I have a gigantic tattoo. Maybe its because I didnt prepare myself well enough mentally.
But any way around it, what I read on the internet when researching how much tattoo removal hurt before my first session was a total understatement.
Im hoping this article provides a more accurate an honest answer for you than I got before going under the laser.
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Is Laser Tattoo Removal Painful
If youre interested in laser tattoo removal, the same regions of the body that are most sensitive for tattoos tend to be slightly more sensitive for tattoo removal. However, laser removal is much less uncomfortable than actually getting tattooedand significantly faster!
Each session lasts from a minute to several minutes, depending on the size of the tattoo, and it feels more like getting snapped with a rubber band than having a needle poking at your skin. As with tattooing, following proper tattoo removal aftercare protocol like avoiding alcohol and sun while staying hydrated will minimize any lingering irritation.
Our experienced specialists at Removery are skilled at minimizing discomfort. Book a consultation to find out more about tattoo removal costs and other details, whether in preparation for a cover up or just to get rid of your old ink!
Ways To Make Tattoo Removal Hurt Less
There are a few ways that clinics are able to make a tattoo removal procedure less painful for you.
Numbing Cream – Though numbing cream doesnt completely eliminate the pain of a tattoo removal procedure, it will certainly minimize the intensity of it. We compiled a list of The 5 Best Tattoo Numbing Creams For A Painless Experience to prepare you for your session, but oftentimes clinics will use prescription numbing agents which will be far more effective against the pain.
Cold Air Machines – If youre nervous about pain, ask your clinic whether they use cold air machines during their procedures. High-quality clinics use this cooling technology as a way to numb your skin prior to your laser procedure. The cold air numbs the skin on contact and tends to last longer than numbing creams on their own.
Cold Compress – Ice packs and cold compresses are an easy way to ease the burning sensation of laser tattoo removal. It should never be applied directly to the skin ensure you wrap the ice pack or compress in a paper towel or a tea towel prior to using it on your wound.
Lidocaine Injections – This option is not offered by all clinics because its required that it is administered by a medical professional. Its a localized anesthetic option that can be quite efficient for larger tattoos. Its no more efficient than cold air machines, and is more invasive.
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Laser Tattoo Removal Aftermath
For laser tattoo removal, the majority of the pain is felt during the sessions themselves. Afterwards, it may feel as though you have a sunburn, but the intensity of this goes away in 36 to 48 hours.
The spot where you had the treatment may experience:
- Blistering
- Scabbing
- Redness
These are all normal side effects of the procedure. It is recommended that you drink lots of water following your treatment, keep your hands off the area, do not pick or pull at scabs or blisters, avoid direct sun exposure on the area, and use a vitamin E ointment to help with the inflammation and restore the skin. You should also avoid baths, pools, or hot tubs during your healing period.
It takes around 30 to 40 days between sessions for your skin to be fully healed and ready to sit through another procedure. Usually, less aftercare is required for any subsequent tattoo removal sessions, as your body has less ink reacting to the laser and gets used to the procedure.
You should also know that sometimes laser tattoo removal may leave scarring where your tattoo once was, or may leave a lightened pigment in place of your tattoo. Some tattoos can be completely removed with sessions, but some may leave an imperfect spot in its place. Talk to a tattoo removal specialist to better understand how your tattoo may look following your procedures.