Can I Have My Tattoo Removed
Laser
A question asked so regularly yet rarely answered with real clarity. In an age where nearly every question can be answered with just a few words typed into a google browser, this lack of certainty can be frustrating.
Here, expect straight-talking, fact-driven, real answers, covering the main variables which determine whether your tattoo can be removed effectively. These include the different types of tattoo removal, the immune system, ink properties, individual skin types, tattoo location as well as pregnancy and different health conditions.
The good news is, after a huge amount of investment and research over the last decade, the options for removing your ink are now better than ever. New and advanced technology means that now, more people than ever before can experience effective tattoo removal – with less pain, less damage, and faster, better results.
CONTENTS
NAAMA Studios tattoo removal
What Is Saline Tattoo Removal And How Does It Work
Its a process that uses saline to fade or completely remove tattoos.
The solution is injected into the tattoo using a tool similar to a tattoo gun or microblading pen, then left for a short period of time. This allows the salt water to break down the ink in your skin and essentially pull it out.
This will trigger a process called osmosis, in which the saline will pull out the pigment through the skins outer layer. That area will heal, scab over, and fall off to reveal a lighter tattoo.
The saline fluid is typically made up of sodium chloride and purified water. Some brands include additives like aloe vera and orange seed extracts, which make the saline more effective and soothing.
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Removing Tattoos At Home
For anyone who doesnt have the time or the money to visit a clinic and have their tattoos professionally removed, DIY solutions are worth a try. But they couldnt be more wrong: most of the time, these seemingly cheaper alternatives bring more harm than good.
Here are some of the absolutely ineffective home remedies to watch out for:
- Salabrasion peels a thin layer of the epidermis by rubbing salt at the skins surface. It can lead to scarring and extreme pain.
- Yogurt and aloe vera are not dangerous for the skin, but theyre not effective in removing tattoos either.
- Sand is meant to mimic dermabrasion. But there is no evidence that sand can help remove the tattoo pigment.
- Lemon juice is known to lighten the skin. But like any natural ingredient in this list, there is no evidence that lemon can remove ink particles on the skin. This acidic solution can produce rashes on the skin if exposed to the sun.
- Salicylic acid is an exfoliating agent that removes dead skin cells. However, this only works on the surface of the skin. It cannot reach deep enough to penetrate the tattooed layer of the dermis.
- Glycolic acid is more potent than the previous acid, but similarly, it can only reach the epidermis. That makes it useless in removing the tattoo completely.
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Are There Any Promising New Methods On The Horizon
In 2020, the FDA approved a new device that uses rapid pulses of acoustic shock waves to remove tattoos. It will be used as an accessory to laser surgery.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
The old saying think before you ink remains good advice for anyone considering getting a tattoo because body art is more permanent than perhaps you might realize at first. But modern laser surgery methods, when overseen by qualified medical professionals, are safer and better than previous alternatives.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/25/2020.
References
What Is The Price Of Laser Tattoo Removal
Tattoos are a means to reveal on your own, yet occasionally what you desire doesn’t match the tattoo you have. Luckily there’s an simple repair for that! A whitewash is one more tattoo which covers or replaces your existing one.
A completely matched solution if you’re at probabilities with your skin art and do not recognize how else to do away with it without going under the needle again?
Where Can I Get A Tattoo Removed Near Me
A tattoo is a permanent life choice. We can help with that if you are looking to remove your tattoos! We provide the most current in laser innovation as well as therapies from knowledgeable experts at economical rates. Where Can I Get A Tattoo Removed Near Me
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Fewer Treatments With Exceptional Results
Removing a tattoo always requires more than one treatment to remove all the layers of ink. But with the advanced PiQo4, we can eliminate your tattoo with fewer sessions and with a shorter treatment time at each session compared to other lasers.
After we evaluate the characteristics of your tattoo, we can discuss how many sessions you will need. Then we schedule your laser treatments about 6-8 weeks apart, so your body has time to heal and clear away the pigment.
If the time has come to get rid of your tattoo, call Dr. Goodnights Everlasting Beauty, or schedule a consultation online.
How Long Does It Take To Scrub Off A Tattoo
Most tattoo removal sessions last between three and six months on average. You must wait at least 48 hours after each session before receiving another session to allow the area to heal. Given these numbers, removing a tattoo usually takes between 12 and 24 weeks on average.
Laser Tattoo Removal: Different Types Of Lasers
It is critical to comprehend the differences between different types of lasers and their functions before undergoing laser tattoo removal as a permanent solution for your tats. CO2 lasers are the most commonly used laser for tattoo removal. This laser is capable of removing color pigments and black ink with very little damage to the surrounding skin. If you want to perform a more advanced procedure, such as a three-day laser treatment, you should consider Fraxel laser resurfacing. Because of its laser technology, this device is specifically designed for tattoo removal, allowing it to easily break down the tattoo into smaller pieces that can be removed more quickly. This laser, on the other hand, is more expensive than a CO2 laser, and scarring rates are higher. Regardless of which laser is used, you should have a consultation with a qualified tattoo removal specialist to determine what type of tattoo you want removed and what time period it will take. Their expertise will allow you to select the most effective laser treatment and treatment plan.
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How To Remove Tattoo Eyebrows At Home
Theres a lot of advice about the best methods for home-based eyebrow tattoo removal, many of which involve sometimes dangerous chemicals inadvisably applied around the eyes. Luckily, theres no need to jump into these extremes considering that simple natural remedies can prove far more effective, including
Can You Get A Tattoo Over A Fresh Tattoo
You may have gotten a tattoo recently and hated it the first time you looked at it, so you may be considering doing a cover-up immediately. But is it a good idea? And how long should you wait until you do a cover-up on a fresh tattoo?
As is the case with multiple cover-ups, it is possible for you to tattoo over a fresh tattoo, but that doesnt make it a good idea. You are going to want your skin to heal first and be scab-free. And this doesnt mean that you should pick the scabs off because it will extend the healing process, and if it bleeds, it could push the ink out.
The best advice will come from the tattoo artists who know what inks they used and your skin type. The appropriate time to do a cover-up will also depend on the tattoos size and how populated it is. So dont trust everything you read on the Internet and rather get advice from a professional that knows you personally.
Another thing to consider is that tattooing over a fresh tattoo would be incredibly painful from start to finish. If the skin is still wounded, it will be extra sensitive, and the experience will be incredibly uncomfortable, to say the least.
Finally, it is important that you take the time to consider what your cover-up tattoo is going to look like, how to incorporate the new design into the old one, and other important considerations that you probably didnt take the first time around, which is why you want to cover the original tattoo up, right? Dont make the same mistake with your cover-up.
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How Can You Accelerate The Process
There are a few things that you can do to help your body respond to your sessions. First, try to treat yourself well and boost your immune system. Eat healthy, nutritious food, and get enough sleep. When your immune system is optimized, your macrophages can do their job more easily. Second, dont smoke. Smoking compromises the body and can slow down the process. Third, avoid getting a sunburn close to your appointments. Laser treatments cannot be performed on sun-damaged skin, meaning that you might need to push back the date.
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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Theres No Home Remedy
There are creams and balms that promise to lighten or erase a tattoo. Dont bother.
I dont believe in any of them, says Hooman Khorasani, Chief of Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery at Mount Sinais Icahn School of Medicine in NYC. Ive heard of patients trying them, but the science behind them is not really great.
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Laser Treatments Need Time To Work With Your Body
Getting laser treatments is the safest and most complete way to get rid of your tattoo. With each session, the wavelengths blast some of the ink particles into fragments that are small enough for the macrophages to eliminate. Your body needs some time after every session to go through its clearing processes. By continuing your sessions, you will ultimately see your tattoo fade away.
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How Long Does It Take To Remove An Eyebrow Tattoo With Saline
Similar to laser removal, this technique requires 3-10 treatments. It depends on how saturated your eyebrow tattoo is, pigments, your skin type, etc.
You need to wait for about 8 weeks between the saline removal sessions. The skin needs to be completely healed in order to continue with the treatment.
Image source: Instagram @kellylouise_aesthetics
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Help I Want My Tattoo Removed
As the years go by and your life evolves, you might end up regretting a tattoo you loved at a younger age. When you decide its time to remove a tattoo, you can count on exceptional results with laser tattoo removal at Dr. Goodnights Everlasting Beauty.
Why should you seek a plastic surgeon for tattoo removal? Because you want it done right the first time. The best way to be sure your laser procedure is safe and effective is by choosing a doctor who understands the nuances of tattoo removal and uses todays most advanced laser.
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Why Does It Take More Than One Session To Remove A Tattoo With Lasers
Professional tattoo artists apply ink in layers, so it takes more than one session to remove them. Because lasers break the ink pigment into smaller particles, it then takes some time between sessions for your body to flush out the ink. Your skin also needs time to heal, as laser treatments can sometimes cause swelling, blistering, and can temporarily alter the color of your skin.
Protect Your Skin When In The Sun
Unlike other laser tattoo removal systems that can burn and damage the skin, with NAAMA’s unique Lightsense laser system, there is no need to alter your lifestyle or avoid sunlight whilst undergoing treatment. Simply, protect your skin with a sun-safe skincare routine and use a moisturising sunscreen with high SPF when exposing your treatment area to direct sunlight within two weeks of your treatment. Exposing your skin to direct sunlight without protection whilst it is still recovering can lead to changes in pigmentation.
Please note, if you are treating coloured ink and tan deeply between sessions such that it materially alters the colour of your skin, we may need to reassess your treatment schedule. Please contact your consultant in this instance.
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Answer: Permanent Tattoo Makeup Removal
Thank you for your question. I do not recommend having laser removal of tattooed makeup. This is because most of the ink used for tattoo makeup is not the same as used on the body as they contain metals, such as iron. This can result in the tattoo turning a rusty brown or black color. It is always recommended to thoroughly research your physician before treatment. Best of Luck!
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No New Ink Between Visits
Getting a new tattoo will trigger your immune system. Shortly after you get it, your immune system takes over and tries to remove the new, large foreign ink particles.
If youre in the middle of a removal plan, youre immune system is working overtime already. Its trying to absorb and drain the small unwantedink particles that the laser destroyed.
Getting inked will hinder your bodys ability to travel your unwanted ink through your lymphatic channels.
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Mechanism Of Laser Action
Experimental observations of the effects of short-pulsed lasers on tattoos were first reported in the late 1960s by Leon Goldman and others.In 1979 an argon laser was used for tattoo removal in 28 patients, with limited success. In 1978 a carbon dioxide laser was also used, but because it targeted water, a chromophore present in all cells, this type of laser generally caused scarring after treatments.
In the early 1980s, a new clinical study began in Canniesburn Hospital‘s Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit, in Glasgow, Scotland, into the effects of Q-switched ruby laser energy on blue/black tattoos. Further studies into other tattoo colors were then carried out with various degrees of success. Research at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow also showed that there was no detectable mutagenicity in tissues following irradiation with the Q-switched ruby laser. This essentially shows that the treatment is safe, from a biological viewpoint, with no detectable risk of the development of cancerous cells.
It was not until the late 1980s that Q-switched lasers became commercially practical with the first marketed laser coming from Derma-lase Limited, Glasgow. One of the first American published articles describing laser tattoo removal was authored by a group at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1990.
Q-switched lasers are the only commercially available devices that can meet these requirements.
During Eyebrow Tattoo Removal
The cosmetic provider will cleanse the regions around your eyebrows and apply a numbing gel to ensure a painless experience. You will also have to wear protective glasses. The cosmetic provider will move the laser device over your eyebrows while delivering quick pulses of laser energy to disperse the unwanted pigments in your skin. You might feel a gentle warming sensation, but theres no pain or discomfort. The laser device features a cooling tip that ensures youre comfortable during the treatment.
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What Colors Can A Laser Remove From The Skin
The laser we use affects different colors differently because it is an incredibly concentrated light beam. Brighter pigmentations will reflect more of the lasers light. Thus, if your tattoo comprises bright colors, you will need more removal sessions than you would if you had a dark tattoo that absorbed more of the light beam.
Chemical Peel Tattoo Removal
Trichloroacetic acid peels can also be used to remove tattoos. TCA is a mild acid that is applied to the skin to remove the outer layers of the skin, and with them, the tattoo ink.
This type of procedure may be mildly painful, but typically does not require the use of an anesthetic.
Like the other types of tattoo removal, TCA peels will result in an open wound that will need to be cared for after the procedure is completed. Daily cleaning with soap and water, application of an antibiotic ointment and a dressing are all that is necessary. These wounds will typically heal in approximately 5-7 days.
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Keep The Treated Area Dry And Clean
One of the most important steps you can take to care of your skin after laser tattoo removal is to keep the treated area dry and clean. Use tepid water and a gentle cleanser to clean the area gingerly. Then, use a soft towel to pat the area dry.
During the first 72 hours following your laser removal session, you should apply an antibiotic ointment as directed and keep the treated area covered with a bandage. You should change the bandage at least daily. Both the antibiotic ointment and the bandage helps to keep the treated area clean.