How Laser Tattoo Removal Works
How laser tattoo removal works is a mystery to some. However, its not magic, its science! Laser tattoo removal is an exciting procedure for both patients and practitioners alike, but few people understand the science behind the procedure. This section of our website is an introduction to the physics of laser tattoo removal and explains why laser tattoo removal is the most effective option for unwanted ink.
How Does The Body React To Lasers
Laser tattoo removal is not like moving the magic wand and the ink will vanish. It requires more several sessions to remove the ink completely and the subsequent sessions are spaced eight weeks apart. The duration of the treatment is dependent on a variety of factors ranging from the age of the tattoo and its location to its size and colour.
With every appointment, the colour of the tattoo starts becoming lighter and ultimately fades away. The pain is equal to the discomfort felt during the inking and can be subdued by the application of a Some people may experience inflammation and redness of the area.
Thus you must apply an ice pack on it immediately after the session. The practitioner will then apply an antiseptic ointment and cover the treated area with a bandage. The post-treatment guidelines should be carried out diligently to avoid any complications or infections.
The area should be cleaned with mild soap and water and pat dried gently. It should be kept covered with a bandage for three days which should be changed at frequent intervals. Do not expose the skin directly to sun and apply or more while going out.
Who Shouldnt Get Laser Tattoo Removal
If youre thinking about tattoo removal, you have to weigh the risks and benefits. Theres a chance it wont remove all the ink or that itll leave discoloration and scarring. This is especially important for people of color as well as for those with vitiligo or a history of keloids.
Other reasons tattoo removal might not be for you include:
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If you have certain types of light sensitivity
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If you take medications that increase your sensitivity to sunlight
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If you have a seizure disorder triggered by light
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If youve taken the medication isotretinoin in the last 6 months
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If you have an infection or open wound in the area to be treated
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If you have a systemic illness like lupus
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If you have suspicious moles or skin growths in the treatment area
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If youve had gold therapy
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If youre pregnant or nursing
If you have one of these risk factors, talk to your healthcare provider about tattoo laser removal. They can help you evaluate your risks and options.
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Why Are Henna Tattoos Not Permanent
Henna Tattoo stains the outermost layer of the skin called the superficial layer or epidermis. This layer consists of cell that are constantly shedding away and thus a Henna Tattoo will always be temporary. This layer consists of cells that are not shedding and thus a Regular Tattoo is permanent.
How Much Does Laser Tattoo Removal Cost
Tattoo removal can cost anywhere from $25 to thousands per session, with the average being nearly $450 per session. What youll spend depends on the:
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Size and color of your tattoo
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Type of laser used
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How many treatments you need
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Which provider you choose
It will be more expensive to remove tattoos that are larger or have multiple colors. Older model lasers might be cheaper, but could require more treatment sessions. Its a good idea to ask your provider to explain the different laser options available for your particular tattoo.
Tattoo removal is considered an elective procedure and isnt typically covered by insurance. In most cases, you also cant use a health savings account or flexible spending account to pay for laser tattoo removal.
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First Laser Session For Another Section Of The Barbed Wire
I am pretty amazed at how much lighter the barbed wire is after only a few weeks of one laser session. I definitely wont need many treatments here.
I have also decided to laser off the entire branch right next to the barbed wire. Without the barbed wire there, itll be a little easier for me to take off a bunch of branches and flowers.
I continue to lighten the entire tree at home, but I have to stop on the areas Im going to get the laser on. I still work on the parts I can work on when I can. If I can at least lighten it as much as possible before the laser, Ill hopefully need less treatments on the tree.
Results after first laser session.
Factors That Determine How Quickly A Tattoo Can Be Removed
General Health
A strong immune system is your greatest ally when it comes to quick tattoo removal. Laser treatment uses heat to break down ink particles in your tattoo. These particles must still be cleared by your body. The more active your immune system, the more quickly these broken-down ink particles are carried away.
Ink color:
Typically green, blue, and black inks are easier to remove, while red, orange, yellow, and white inks are progressively more challenging. New devices, such as the PiQo4 laser, have improved the efficacy and efficiency in treating these tattoo colors. A recent study demonstrated that 1-2 treatment sessions led to at least 75% clearance of blue and green pigments with the PiQo4 device, with more than two-thirds of tattoos approaching 100% clearance. Another 2012 study also showed 75% clearance in black pigment as early as 2-4 treatment sessions.
Tattoo Age:
Older tattoos are prone to pigment fading and may be more easily removed compared to newer tattoos.
Tattoo Size:
One variable that is undisputed is that larger tattoos require more treatments than smaller tattoos. A 2010 study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association noted that tattoos over 12 inches in diameter were least successfully removed after 10 treatments.
Professional vs Amateur Tattoo
Smoking:
Skin Color:
Tattoo Location
Amount of Ink:
Scarring or tissue damage:
Layered Tattoos :
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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 clients 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.
Treatments Which Should Be Avoided
Dermabrasion is a surgical procedure that utilises a grinding tool to scrape of the layers of skin which contain ink. It is quite painful and leads to an open wound which takes time to heal. It does not remove the ink completely. Chemical Peels work similarly and remove the upper layer of the skin.
Since the ink is present in the deeper layers, it is not effective. Surgical excision is an invasive treatment that removes the skin containing the ink and leaves behind a scar. It can be only used for small tattoos. Thus it makes more sense to opt for laser tattoo removal in Melbourne, which is safe and successful.
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How Many Treatments Do You Need
The number of treatments you need depends on the size and intricacy of the tattoo and the pigments used, as well as your skin type. Traditional laser treatments required as many as fifteen sessions. With the Enlighten laser, you can see a noticeable improvement in as little as three sessions.
Dr. Fromowitz will discuss the condition of your tattoo and how many treatments you will likely need during your consultation.
Newer Treatments And Future
Today, there are already promising studies and ongoing usage of the next generation of QS lasers, using pulses in the range of picoseconds, which are reported to create even better results in clearing a tattoo. This is attributed to the shortening of the pulse, matching the thermal relaxation time of the tattoo ink better and generating more effective photo-acoustic waves . However, these new machines are currently very costly, and it is too early to tell if they are worthwhile for their improved capacity for clearing tattoo ink. Hence, more studies are needed.
Newer techniques are combinations of already-known modalities, such as pretreating the skin with a fractional CO2 laser or an Erbium:YAG laser and then directly treating the tattoo with a QS laser . Another combination is the fractional QS laser with a QS laser with a full beam . Furthermore, in order to lessen the degree of scattering and to increase the penetration of light, it is possible to use diascopy during the QS laser session. In our experience, this seems to lead to a better effect of clearing deeper pigment. There are also reports on transdermal application of glycerol for the same effect .
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Why Are Tattoos Permanent
The tattoo process deposits ink in the dermis, which is the inner layer of skin. Depositing ink particles in this layer ensures that they wont be absorbed into the subcutaneous tissue below or leached out of the skin as the epidermis regenerates naturally.
When ink is deposited into the dermis, the bodys immune system reacts to it the same way it reacts to any other foreign bodywhite blood cells attempt to absorb and eliminate the foreign body.
Over time, the white blood cells eat away at the smaller ink particles, but most are still too large for the white blood cells to grab onto and remove from the skin. Because the ink particles are too large for the white blood cells to absorb, the skin cells heal around the particles and the ink becomes permanent.
Learn More About Laser Tattoo Removal With Astanza Technology
Laser tattoo removal is one of the most sought-after aesthetic treatments and creates millions in revenue each year. Astanza strives to provide helpful resources and insights to clients, students, and potential buyers to feel confident moving forward with an aesthetic laser system. Adding tattoo removal services to your existing business can be complicated, so we’ve developed tools to simplify your process.
you’ll receive a weekly email covering different topics relevant to adding laser tattoo removal to your business. These topics include researching your state’s laser laws, how to get certified in laser tattoo removal, understanding your revenue/potential competitors, discovering your financing options, and more. This starter kit features content from Astanza’s field experts, biomedical engineers, marketing team, and business development managers, hand-selected to simplify your laser-buying journey.
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What About Home Treatments
Tattoo removal creams and chemical peels are the most widely available and least expensive option. Theres a reason why: Theres no solid evidence that they work.
At best, they might slightly lighten a tattoo, according to anecdotal reports. At worst, they can result in a serious chemical burn .
Due to the high risk of skin irritation and allergic reaction, experts dont recommend using DIY tattoo removal creams to get rid of your tattoo.
Discomfort Management Throughout Tattoo Removal Therapy
Pal, make certain to follow your cosmetic surgeon’s aftercare directions for best results and also prevent laborious activities that place tension on the area immediately adhering to surgical procedure.
Make sure to follow your doctor’s aftercare directions for finest results! Patients must prevent selecting at the website, and also avoid difficult tasks that put tension on the location right away complying with surgical treatment.
How To Remove Excess Tattoo Ink From Skin
When the body’s manufacturing of melanin is manipulated after a laser hypopigmentation, therapy and hyperpigmentation both take place. With hyperpigmentation, the skin in treated area comes to be darker than all-natural complexion while with hypopigmentiation, it appears blonde from reduced quantities of pigment. Both are short-lived however fix normally gradually so don’t stress! How To Remove Excess Tattoo Ink From Skin
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Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare
When you got your tattoo, your artist gave you a specific set of instructions to ensure that your tattoo healed properly and looked great. Laser tattoo removal has a similar reliance on great aftercare to ensure proper healing and optimal results.
After your session, be sure to keep the site clean, moisturized, and covered with a sterile dressing.
How Natural Tattoo Removal Methods Mimic Chemical Ones
DIY tattoo removal creams mimic chemical creams, just with natural ingredients. The theory of how they are meant to aid in tattoo removal is the same.
- TCA is a common ingredient in many tattoo removal creams. This is a chemical peel used to remove dead skin cells to reveal the new skin underneath. This can be compared to salt in a natural tattoo removal cream.
- Hydroquinone is another one, and this is a skin bleaching agent used to lighten areas of the skin. In this case, its similar to the lemon juice in a natural tattoo removal cream.
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Letting The Body Do Its Work
Tattoo removal is not an instant fix its usually a several-month commitment for patients. Most tattoos require between 5 and 10 treatments to achieve complete removal, and the treatments must be spaced at least 6 weeks apart. Patients often ask why tattoo removal requires so many treatments and why they have to wait between treatments. As a practitioner, its important to know the answers to these questions to provide an informative patient consultation.
Laser tattoo removal requires multiple treatments because not all of the tattoo ink can be shattered in one treatment session. When a tattoo is applied, the ink is injected at different depths within the dermis. As the laser light is applied to the skin, the shallowest layers of ink in the dermis absorb the energy and shatter, but the deeper layers may not have been affected. Only once the body flushes away the top layers of ink can the deeper layers being treated. In effect, every successive tattoo removal treatment affects deeper and deeper layers of ink until none remains.
Exceptional Pulsed Light Method
Thewide range of light utilized in this technique helps in eliminating theepidermis by separating the shading colors like on account of the laser. Withtime, the region recuperates offering a way to another layer of skin throughskin recovery.
Thebest part about this technique is that it is profoundly compelling ineliminating tattoos and less agonizing, not at all like on account of lasertreatment. Notwithstanding, it doesnt function admirably on individuals withbrown complexion tone and is likewise more costly than laser expulsionstrategy.
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Intense Pulsed Light Therapy:
The intense pulsed light therapy method, commonly known as IPL, is usually made use of at tattoo spas. It is a skin enhancer that make use of the light with a high intensity, working in the similar manner and following the principles of a laser light. The process involves a gel that would be applied directly onto the skin area with tattoos. Your skin area that needs to be cured will be exposed to throbs of light coming from a tool called wand. In fact, the IPL method is supposed to be more successful and less painful than the conventional laser therapy. Nevertheless, experts do not really spoke highly the method I just mentioned. Due to the fast and great power and high effectiveness it brings about that can help you remove your tattoos successfully and rapidly, the price of each light pulse might be hard for you to afford as it is usually out of reach in many cases. However, this is still one of the most common tips on how to remove tattoos at home fast without getting any type of drug, pill, medication or accepting a harmful and costly surgery.
The Tattoo Removal Process
Laser tattoo removal can significantly diminish the appearance of your tattoo, and may be able to remove it completely. Lasers use heat and light at specific wavelengths to break up the ink in your tattoo. These ink particles are then removed by your bodys own immune system.
The tattoo removal process requires several visits to a specialist. During your first consultation with a professional, youll be given a general timeline thats based on the location, age, and color of your tattoo. Its possible your body will respond more quickly, or more slowly, to treatment than expected.
On average, tattoo removal requires 8-10 laser treatment sessions, spaced 6-8 weeks apart. The total time required to remove a tattoo can depend on several factors.
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How To Remove Henna Tattoo Ink
A natural dye derived from the leaves of the henna plant , henna ink seeps into the top layer of skin when applied, resulting in a semipermanent stain. Whether applied freehand or via a stencil, henna tattoos usually last 14 days. While the temporary nature of henna tattoo ink is attractive to some, if you are not happy with the look or location of your henna tattoo, you may be wondering how to remove the ink sooner than the two-week time frame.
Rub the henna tattoo with a loofah during your daily shower. The use of a loofah is a slow removal process, and rubbing it over your skin removes all traces of the henna tattoo ink.
Fill a cup with 1 part water to 1 part salt. Saturate a gauze pad with the saltwater. Lay the gauze pad over the henna tattoo, and allow it to sit for approximately 20 minutes. Rinse the affected area with water, then pat dry. Soaking the henna tattoo two to three times a day will expedite removal.
Saturate a cotton ball with hydrogen peroxide. Vigorously rub the cotton ball over your skin. Continue rubbing until the henna ink disappears. The removal process can take several minutes, but the continued rubbing will eventually remove the henna tattoo ink.
Mix 1 part dish soap, 1 part lemon juice and 1 part baking soda in a small bowl. Apply the mixture to the henna tattoo using a clean washcloth. Scrub the henna tattoo with the washcloth until all traces of the ink are gone.