How Tattoo Ink Colours Are Made
First and foremost, lets take a closer look at what the laser is actually attempting to remove. Tattoo ink might seem fairly innocuous, but the way it is made will probably come as a surprise.
The bright colours are created from compounds that mostly use heavy metal. For example, yellow can contain cadmium, chromium or lead, blue can contain copper or cobalt, while purple can contain manganese or aluminium salts.
In spite of their meticulously clean nature, which means no pathogens transfer, tattoo studios are effectively sterile environments that enable you to have heavy metals injected into your body.
The Location Of Your Tattoo
Surprisingly, the speed of your tattoo removal process is affected by where you chose to get the ink done. Tattoos that are closer to your heart can be cleared faster than ones that are far away. This is because areas near your heart get stronger circulation and more immune system cell activity. For this reason, tattoos on your hands and feet might require more time than designs on your chest.
What Are The Side Effects Of Tattoo Removal
Almost every patient will experience some side effects of treatment in the first few days after receiving their laser treatment. Not surprisingly, the skin will be red, irritated, and sensitive. In some cases, there will also be blistering and bruising. Something many people arent prepared for is the way their skins natural pigmentation changes. Tattoo removal lasers are designed to target and breakup pigments, and sometimes, this includes the skins natural pigments. This can lead to either hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation . Changes to skin color as well as the other immediate side effects are temporary. As the skin recovers it should return to normal. This is why you need to wait six weeks or longer between treatments to ensure the skin is completely healed before retreatment.
Read Also: Uv Sterilizer For Tattoo Equipment
Are There Alternative Methods For Removing Tattoos
Asides from using laser beams, there are other methods of tattoo removal. One of them is the surgical method. It involves cutting the tattooed part of the skin. This method is, however, very invasive and expensive. Furthermore, there will be a need for a lengthy hospital stay and the recovery time is much longer. Unlike the laser technique, the surgical method is excruciating and may cause skin disfiguration.
Another method is dermabrasion. It involves removing skin layers with a rotating sanding-like device. Dermabrasion aims to promote the growth of more youthful skin. The downside to it is that it is painful and expensive. The results also vary significantly for different people. While DIY removal kits are still available, they are largely ineffective.
Get the Best Laser Tattoo Removal Results in Dubai from Experts at Eden Derma Clinic
The laser tattoo removal technique is the most effective and safest option if you want to get rid of your tattoo. At Eden Derma Clinic, we boast experts with the right skills and experience in tattoo removal. Our Picosecond Laser Technology is the best you will find in town. You can be sure of the best results with zero harmful effects. Schedule a free consultation with us today, and we look forward to working with you!
and get a Welcoming Voucher for
Your First Treatment
What Can You Expect From The Process
When you come into Still Waters Day & Medical Spa for tattoo removal, well give you a pair of glasses to protect your eyes from the laser. Well also apply some anesthetic to the area being treated to ensure that you are comfortable throughout the process.
For the first several days after your treatment, youll want to keep the area hydrated with a layer of antibiotic healing ointment. Keep it bandaged with sterilized gauze and refrain from putting any other creams or makeup to the area that has been treated. After three days, the bandage can be removed, but youll still want to keep the area as clean and dry as you can. At this point, you can moisturize the area with Aquaphor or vaseline. Vitamin E can also be helpful, as it helps to restore damaged skin cells. Whenever you go outside in the sun, wear a sunblock of at least SPF25+.
You can shower once you remove your bandage to keep the treatment area clean. You should make sure you are gentle with the treatment area and use mild soap. You will want to avoid high-pressure water and pat the area dry. You shouldnt soak the area until it is completely healed, so you will want to avoid baths, swimming pools, and hot tubs as this can impede the healing process.
Read Also: Edit Tattoo On Body Online
Is It Safe To Choose Laser Tattoo Removal Treatment
Laser tattoo removal treatments have now become much safer and more effective because of the latest technology. They also have fewer risks than before .
Laser treatments are safer than other surgical methods like dermabrasion or excision. Excision works by cutting out the tattoos with a scalpel, whereas dermabrasion sands off your skins upper layers with different tools. That means they run the risk of leaving you with scars.
Note that this is general advice, and it should not keep you from consulting your doctor. To have a detailed discussion about your case, you should schedule an appointment with an experienced healthcare provider that knows using tattoo lasers.
How Much Does It Cost
The cost of removal varies. A good rule of thumb is that your tattoo removal will cost ten times more than the cost of application. In most cases, the smallest, postage stamp-sized tattoos will cost about $50 to place, so you should budget at least $500 for removal. However, there are other factors that influence the cost, so you really need to schedule a consultation with a professional to get an accurate estimate. Many providers offer free consultation appointments and tattoo removal packages to help offset the costs of the removal process.
You May Like: Laser Tattoo Removal Charleston Sc
Targeting The Tattoo Ink
Tattoos come in every color imaginable. And, just like all other objects around us, different colors of tattoos absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light at different rates. For example, a red tattoo looks red because it absorbs green light and reflects the red light .
Because the goal of laser tattoo removal is to have the tattoo ink absorb the laser light, you want to make sure that the wavelength you use is well-absorbed by the tattoo. Returning to the example of the red tattoo, the red ink should be treated with green laser light, as it absorbs the green light . Since the 532 nm wavelength of laser light visibly looks green, it is the ideal wavelength to use for treating a red tattoo.
When treating multicolored tattoos, it is important to have access to a variety of laser wavelengths for treatment versatility. The most common wavelengths used for laser tattoo removal are 1064 nm and 532 nm they can treat 95%+ of tattoos. Additional wavelengths that some practitioners use are 755 nm and 694 nm these wavelengths function very similarly and are useful for treating rare ink colors, such as bright blue or green.
Addressing Your Concerns About Pain
A dime-sized tattoo on the forearm may only take a few seconds of laser removal which would be relatively tolerable. A larger tattoo on the lower back may increase discomfort due to a longer duration of removal.
Beyond providing cold compressed air, there are other things we can do to help reduce discomfort for our clients. Below are steps we are actively taking to better your tattoo removal experience.
Don’t Miss: How To Start A Tattoo Removal Business
Does Laser Tattoo Removal Really Work
You may have heard laser tattoo removal promoted as an ideal way to get rid of that unwanted ink. But using lasers to remove tattoos sounds like something out of science fiction. Does laser tattoo removal really work? Is it actually an effective treatment? At Bentley Skin Care in Springfield, MO, were here to answer all your laser tattoo removal questions.
How Are Tattoos Created Are They Really Permanent
First, lets take a look at how tattoos are actually made. To create a tattoo, ink is injected into the inner layer of skin, called the dermis. While the outer layer of skin is constantly shedding cells and replacing them with new cells, the dermis is quite stable. When the ink is first injected, the immune system recognizes the material as foreign and tries to remove it. However, most of the ink granules are too large for your immune cells to engulf, so they stay in place. Tattoos will fade over time as the ink granules break down, but they are designed to be permanent.
Tattoo inks, which are classified as cosmetics, are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and often contain heavy metals and other toxic ingredients. As tattoos have become more popular, a wider variety of ink colors have become availableincluding red, orange, yellow, light blue, and fluorescent options.
These new colors can behave unpredictably over time and in response to laser treatment. According to Seminars in Plastic Surgery, some inks contain zinc or titanium oxides, which turn black or gray in response to laser treatment. These tattoos can often still be removed, but they require more treatments. In contrast, black or dark blue tattoos made with conventional India ink tend to be much easier to remove with lasers. Brown and green tattoo inks also respond well to laser treatment, according to StatPearls.
Also Check: Maybelline Tattoo Studio Gel Pencil Liner
The Laser Tattoo Removal Process
So, how does it actually work? Its pretty interesting. If you have a tattoo you likely noticed a few things directly after getting it. First, your skin healed. Then, within the first year, your tattoo probably got a little lighter. Both of these things happen because your body recognizes tattooing for what it is the introduction of foreign matter into your body. When the tattoo ink is deposited deep into your skin, white blood cells take off, attacking the ink in an attempt to remove the foreign particles and heal the skin. While the skin heals, the bulk of the ink will remain in place. This is because ink particles, for the most part, are much too large for the white blood cells to carry away. The tattoo will fade a bit as the smaller particles are removed, but the bulk of the ink remains.
In order to remove a tattoo, the larger ink particles need to be broken up into pieces small enough for the white blood cells to remove. Thats where the lasers come in. Using state-of-the-art Q-Switch lasers, the dermatologist can control settings matched to remove the specific ink color. These lasers are both extremely hot and extremely fast. Newer tattoo removal lasers are often referred to as pico-lasers. This is a reference to their speed because the lasers work in picoseconds. A picosecond is one trillionth of a second.
Heres what happens during a laser tattoo removal session:
Where Do I Start
Once youve decided that using laser treatment to remove your unwanted tattoo is the right move for you, where do you go from there? Its important to find a trustworthy, experienced partner who can make your treatments go as smoothly and effectively as possible.
Go With the Pros
When youre getting a tattoo removed, you want it done right. After all, the whole point is to make it appear as if the tattoo were never there in the first place. Thats why youll want to go with proven professionals who have the training, experience, and passion to do the best job possible for you.
At Bentley Skincare & Wellness, our staff includes a doctor and multiple licensed estheticians and laser technicians. In addition to years of training and experience specifically in the area of skincare, our dedicated and passionate staff also bring a host of other valuable professional and life experience to their practice, resulting in a unique and multifaceted approach to their work.
How to Prepare
Other than a commitment to do what it takes to get rid of that pesky tattoo once and for all, there is not much that you need to do to prepare for a laser treatment to remove your tattoo. Because it is a safe, relatively noninvasive technique that targets the ink particles and ignores your skin, you might find the experience of removing your tattoo to be a much more pleasant experience than getting it was.
Also Check: How Does It Cost To Remove A Tattoo
Risks Involved With Laser Removal
From a practical standpoint, the risks involved in this type of removal process are quite low. In extremely rare cases, the laser might cause a bad reaction with the ink. When these rare reactions happen, the ink will darken rather than fade. Even if this unlikely reaction takes place, the darkened area can be corrected with extra sessions.
Darker skin color is slightly more susceptible to excessive fading, even in the natural skin color, but this effect typically goes away.
Those who are likely to form keloid scars will be given a treatment with lower intensity. At any rate, scarring is extremely unlikely as most treatments are very quick and pain/scar-free.
You May Like: Free Tattoo Removal For Gang Members
Is Laser Tattoo Removal Procedure Painful
Yes. The procedure causes people different levels of physical discomfort. For some, it was as painful as having a tattoo done, while others felt someone was snapping rubber bands at their skin.
You can use some type of anesthesia like creams or local injections, considering where your tattoo is and how much pain you can tolerate.
Read Also: Tattoo Removal San Jose Ca
How The Laser Tattoo Process Works
During your initial consultation, a medical professional will examine your tattoo. Different tattoos require different courses of treatment depending on their size, the types of ink used, skin type, and the area of the body theyre on. The laser is calibrated based on these factors. You may require more than one session, and you should wait eight to ten weeks between treatments. Once we have completed your initial examination, we can better estimate how many treatments you will likely require.
What Should You Do After Treatment
After your treatment, you may find that your skin is somewhat sensitive. You may have prescription antibiotics to encourage better healing. You may be instructed to use a simple moisturizer or aloe vera gel to soothe the skin after your treatment. Likewise, you need to continue avoiding direct contact with the sun for at least two to four weeks to protect your skin.
Immediately after your treatment, you will need to avoid hot water, steam, chlorine, saunas, and harsh skin cleansers or exfoliants for at least 48 to 72 hours. Its also encouraged to drink plenty of water to help your skin recover more quickly from the treatment.
Recommended Reading: Tattoo Cover Up San Antonio
What To Prepare Before Your Laser Tattoo Removal Session
Before your laser tattoo removal session, you will need to:
- Avoid sun exposure. It is crucial to avoid sun exposure before and after your treatment. The sun can increase your risk for scarring.
- Stop using Retin-A or any other medication that can make your skin sensitive to light. If you use Retin-A or any other medicines that can make your skin sensitive to light, you will need to stop using it at least two weeks before your treatment.
- Shave the area that is being treated.
- Arrive rested and hydrated.
How Do Tattoo Removal Lasers Work
Tattoos placed by both professionals and amateurs can be removed by our tattoo lasers. Tattoo lasers work by targeting colored pigment particles. The particles absorb laser light, which is converted into heat almost instantly. This heat destroys the particles, and they are eliminated through the skin and internally by your immune system. Immediately after your procedure, the treated tattoo can appear white, but it becomes pink and crusted over the next few days. As your skin heals, your tattoo fades.
Don’t Miss: Best Rated Tattoo Shops In San Antonio
Is Laser Tattoo Removal Painful
People who have tattoos removed have reported varying levels of discomfort. Some said that it feels the same as getting a tattoo, while others liken it to the feeling of a rubber band being snapped against your skin.
You may prefer to use some form of anesthesia, such as a topical cream or local injection, depending on the location of the tattoo and your ability to endure pain.
Tattoo Removal: Everything You Should Know
Whether that tattoo just doesnt look great anymore, or it brings up bad memories, getting it removed will be on your mind. And theres nothing wrong with that. You should feel happy with your body whether that means adding tattoos or removing them.
So, how exactly do you go about getting tattoo removal? Well, weve created this guide so you can find out. From legitimate tattoo removal methods to common questions and concerns.
Lets cut to the chase, starting with the most popular way to remove a tattoo: laser tattoo removal.
Dont Miss: Ombre Eyebrow Tattoo Vs Microblading
Don’t Miss: The Cost Of Tattoo Removal
Surgical Excision Tattoo Removal
Tattoos may also be removed by direct surgical excision. This involves simply cutting out the skin that contains the tattoo. This technique is best used for small tattoos and may not be practical for very large tattoos. The skin surrounding the tattoo is then brought together and closed.
This type of tattoo removal will likely require the use of a local, regional or even a general anesthesia depending on the size of the tattoo. A surgical scar will be created by this type of tattoo removal.
Post-procedure bandages should be left in place for 48 hours. Once the bandages are removed and the surgical site should be cleaned daily with soap and water. A dressing may be applied to cover the wound for the first week after surgery.