How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work
Laser beams use concentrated bursts of energy to heat up the ink beneath the skin, which breaks the ink into smaller particles. Tattoos with different colors might require the use of multiple lasers operating at different frequencies. Those smaller ink particles can then be eliminated naturally by the bodys own immune system.
The Better The Tattoo The Harder It Is To Remove
You spent a whole month searching for the best tattoo artist and then spent another month on the waiting list. At long last, he or she inked you up and went full Salvador Dali, turning your flesh into an eye-catching tapestry. The good news is you probably ended up with a really sweet tattoo. The bad news is your tattoo is going to be much harder to remove than some amateur job, which typically wouldnt dig as deep into the skin.
How Many Tattoo Removal Sessions Does It Take On Average 10
Removery has treated over 120,000+ tattoos and has refined tattoo removal protocols. With years of experience, we are confident in stating that most tattoos can be removed in about 10-12 treatments. However, there are some exceptions and considerations when choosing full tattoo removal.
This client achieved full removal in 9 sessions, which is less than the average of 10-12. Some other clients require 12+ treatments and we will explain why in this article.
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Will It Work On My Tattoo
As with any cosmetic treatment, the effectiveness of using a laser to remove a tattoo will depend on individual circumstances. However, with the right treatment regimen, tattoos of all pigmentations and sizes can be removed with a laser. For example, certain colors or more dense tattoos may require multiple sessions, though results will be visible from the first treatment, with the unwanted tattoo beginning to fade away after just one visit.
What Colors Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work On?
Because the laser is essentially a very highly concentrated beam of light, it has a different impact on different pigmentations. Pigmentations that are brighter in color will reflect more of the laser light, making the laser less effective at breaking up the ink with pigmentations of that color. These colors tend to be in the fluorescent range and absorb relatively little light at the lasers wavelength.
This does not mean that a laser cannot be used to remove tattoos in these colors, but it does mean that such colors may require additional treatments as compared to other pigmentations against which the laser is more effective.
Darker Colors Break Up Best
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.
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For Some People Its All Of The Above
Laser tattoo removal is a safe treatment option as long as you are generally healthy and arent currently pregnant or nursing. Talk with your doctor if you have any chronic medical conditions that could affect your tattoo removal. Keep in mind that you shouldnt go in for procedures with sunburned skin or an unhealed wound.
Beginning laser tattoo removal can allow you to feel comfortable in your own skin again. However, you probably want to find out the average cost of tattoo removal before you take the plunge. How expensive is tattoo removal? Lets take a look at what determines the total cost.
Removing A Brand New Tattoo
Brand new tattoos have neither undergone years of body rejection nor sun exposure.
So, theyll take longer to break down using laser tattoo removal.
But, that doesnt mean that removing a new tattoo is impossible – itll take longer to remove, but certainly not impossible.
If youre unhappy with your new tattoo and want it removed as soon as possible, you need to allow your body adequate time to recover from the trauma and be completely healed before undergoing laser therapy.
Remember that getting a tattoo is a very invasive affair for the body.
For the best laser removal results, dont neglect your after tattoo care procedures. A successful healing process of a tattoo on healthy skin makes for an easier and quicker laser tattoo removal.
There are various side-effects associated with removing a new tattoo too soon, such as hyper- and hypo-pigmentation. The skin pigment around the treated area darkens or lightens as the melanin production increases or decreases. This can eventually fade with time as the skin goes back to normal.
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Tattoo Age And Ink Quality
A tattoos pigment tends to fade over time, meaning an older tattoo is easier to remove. A newer tattoo will usually be bolder and brighter, which means it takes more sessions to break up the pigment. This affects the cost of laser tattoo removal.
The ink quality also plays a role in determining tattoo removal costs. High-quality ink is made to last longer, so it takes longer to break up and flush out of the skin during removal than low-quality ink. This can also affect tattoo removal prices.
Additionally, the strength of your individual immune system influences how quickly your tattoo fades once you begin laser tattoo removal, and thus, your tattoo removal price. A stronger immune system typically eliminates the ink from the skin faster after treatments, which could influence the total charge for your treatments.
Factors Contributing To The Success Of Laser Tattoo Removal
There are a number of factors that determine how many treatments will be needed and the level of success one might experience. Age of tattoo, ink density, color and even where the tattoo is located on the body, and whether the tattoo was professional, or not, all play an important role in how many treatments will be needed for complete removal. However, a rarely recognized factor of tattoo removal is the role of the client’s immune response. The normal process of tattoo removal is fragmentation followed by phagocytosis which is then drained away via the lymphatics. Consequently, it is the inflammation resulting from the actual laser treatment and the natural stimulation of the hosts immune response that ultimately results in removal of tattoo ink thus variations in results are enormous.
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Final Results After One Or Two Years
The timeline of this treatment varies greatly from person to person, but most patients need between six and twelve sessions to completely remove a tattoo. Given the time in between each appointment, this means that you can see your final results within one or two years. That said, some people can be done after only four sessions while others will require as many as fifteen.
While the process does not provide immediate final results, most patients enjoy seeing the gradual progression. With each session, you will experience cumulative improvements. By sticking with this treatment, you can watch your tattoo fade into oblivion for good.
Laser Surgery Vs Surgical Removal
Once youve decided to remove your tattoo, youll want to seek medical advice. That means sitting down with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who specialises in tattoo removal. And while some tattoo parlours might offer removal, we dont recommend taking this route. Its always best to leave dramatic procedures in the hands of a medical professional.
During your consultation, the doctor will examine your tattoo and suggest either laser removal or surgical removal. Heres what you can expect from either procedure:
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The Speed Of Removal Depends On The Patient And Their Tattoo
The Kirby-Desai scale is a popular and well-regarded tool for analyzing the number of treatments a tattoo will need for removal. The scale accounts for the following factors that affect the rate of removal:
- Fitzpatrick skin type
- Pre-existing scarring
The Kirby-Desai scale was published in 2009, and technology has improved since then to remove tattoos, but it continues to be an excellent tool for assessing where a patient stands on the bell curve. There are also other factors, such as patient health, that affect the speed of removal. If a patient is young, physically fit, and has a strong immune system, they will tend to see results faster than an older, obese patient with health problems. Encouraging patients to exercise, drink ample water, and massage thetreated area are good aftercare tips to share with patients looking to get the best results.
Technology plays an important factor in the rate of removal. The Astanza Trinity is the most powerful multi wavelength laser system on the market no other system can match its high peak power across three wavelengths. Interested in learning about laser wavelengths for achieving results? Check out our blog post: Why Wavelengths Matter for Removing Tattoos.
Can Tattoos Be Removed Completely
In short, yes, a tattoo can be removed completely. Each patients tattoo removal experience is different, as many variables can come into play during this process. How long it will take to completely remove your tattoo depends on the following factors skin type, laser technology used, technicians process and experience, tattoo location, depth of ink, type of ink, the tattoos age, any scarring and damage caused by original tattoo process, aftercare compliance, and your immune system.
Your Skin Type
Believe it or not, skin tone can play a massive role in the length of time it takes to remove a tattoo completely. Tattoos remove faster and easier on someone with a lighter complexion. When using laser removal on darker skin tones, a higher wavelength laser is required in order to appropriately penetrate the dermis without causing any damage to the epidermis. If you were to use a low wavelength during laser treatment to have a tattoo removed on someone with darker skin, the patient will very likely experience hyper-pigmentation and scarring after removal. It is reasons like this that it is extremely important to first make sure youve chosen an experienced and professional technician when getting a tattoo removed.
Laser Technology
Is your Technician Qualified?
Tattoo Location
Depth of Ink
Type of Ink
The Tattoos Age
Did your Original Tattoo Heal Properly?
Aftercare Compliance
Immune System
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What To Do If You Have Problems
If you have problems with healing, rashes or skin pigmentation changes, contact the clinic where you were treated.
Speak to the person who treated you if you have any complications that need medical attention. If this is not possible, speak to a GP or go to your local A& E department.
Page last reviewed: 18 September 2019 Next review due: 18 September 2022
Will It Come Off On Its On
Most temporary tattoos will last a week or so before cracking and rubbing off bit by bit.
But if youre in a pinch and need to remove it sooner, skip the soap and water. Youll have better luck with a homemade scrub or an over-the-counter exfoliant.
You can also use an oil- or chemical-based remover to tackle a particularly stubborn piece. These can help dissolve the entire image or clean up any lingering bits and pieces.
Remember: The way you scrub the area is a major factor in how much of the tattoo peels off. Make sure you use gentle, circular motions. Continue gently scrubbing until the tattoo is completely gone.
Keep reading to learn how to make an exfoliating scrub, how to hack the products you already have at home, and, if needed, what to pick up from the drugstore.
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Factors That Contribute To Tattoo Removal Success
There are several factors to keep in mind when determining how quickly or effectively your tattoo should be able to be removed. Although these factors can be hurdles in many cases, they are not usually barriers, especially for todays technology.
Tattoo Colors
Multicolored tattoos can be more difficult to remove since every color sits in different parts of your dermis. As a result, technicians need to be much more precise in eradicating the ink from your skin. Fortunately, our technicians have the tools and ability to home in on where the coloration is and remove the pigment effectively. Tattoos that are just one color are far easier to remove, and black tattoos tend to be the easiest in general.
Tattoo Size
When you get that full sleeve tattoo, your bodys circulation is affected and less prevalent near the top of your skin. For this reason, larger tattoos are often more difficult to fully remove, although it can certainly be done. Expect to have more sessions if you want to remove a larger tattoo, especially one that is a full sleeve or composed of many parts.
Tattoo Age
Tattoos tend to fade with age because our bodies break down the ink naturally, so older tattoos are easier to remove than newer ones. This is just a general rule, and every persons skin is different, but usually, the more faded the ink, the easier the process.
All Natural Tattoo Removal Methods
Other options for removing tattoos at home include applying lemon juice, honey or a mixture of aloe vera, paederia tomentosa, and vitamin E. These are much more natural remedies, but focus on gradually lightening of the whole area of skin and take a long time to show results. These are considered much safer options, but its unlikely you will be pleased with the results.
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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.
Their Job Doesnt Approve
As we get older, many of us change job paths. Sometimes, our job might not approve of our old ink, especially if its in a very conspicuous location. If the tattoo is hurting your job prospects, it might be time to think about getting it removed. Fortunately, with todays technology, its easier than ever to eradicate ink that you dont want.
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Improper Aftercare Or Incorrect Protocols Pose A Risk
While it is uncommon to cause scarring from the laser tattoo removal sessions themselves, it is still possible. For example, if you use excessive fluence when treating a tattoo and cause unwanted side effects , scarring may occur.
Another risk for scarring, even if the treatment is performed properly, happens when patients fail to follow aftercare instructions. Blisters and scabs are common side effects that are important in the tattoo removal healing process. However, picking scabs or not caring properly for blisters can allow scarring to happen. When discussing aftercare with your patients, make sure to emphasize their role in the outcome of their tattoo removal.
There are also some patients that may have a history of keloids and may be predisposed to scarring, which is why it’s important to take a detailed medical history of each patient.
How To Remove A Tattoo You Regret
Removal of a tattoo isnt all that different than getting a tattoo in the first place. That is to say, theres more than one way to do it and no matter which method you land on, itll probably leave a mark. Speaking of different methods, did you know that some people remove their tattoos at home, or at least try to? Before you go all DIY on tattoo removal, please consult with a doctor and consider your options.
Ultimately, the removal of a tattoo takes three different forms: laser surgery, surgical removal, and home remedies. If you have the money to spare and a tattoo you regret, allow us to save you some time by recommending laser removal, which is easily the best method amongst the three. That said, dont just Google laser tattoo removal and book an appointment with the nearest specialist, as laser surgery can vary in terms of quality and outcomemore on that later.
On the flip side of the spectrum are home remedies, which are more popular now than ever before. However, before you employ tattoo removal in your home or apartment, youll definitely want to read up on what works and what doesnt . After all, the last thing you want when removing something you regret is to create something else youll regret. Indeed, who wouldve guessed that removing tattoos at home would be dangerous and largely ineffective? Go figure.
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Can Lasers Remove Tattoos Completely
Youve probably heard laser tattoo removal is the perfect way to get rid of the ink you now regret. However, using lasers to remove unwanted ink sounds like science fiction. Can you actually remove tattoo ink with lasers? If so, how effective is it in reality? Can tattoos be removed completely? Today, our experts at Metro Dermatology in Elmhurst, NY are answering all of your questions related to laser therapy for tattoo removal.