Never Judge A Patient For Their Tattoos
We always suggest starting out the patient consultation with the question, “Which tattoo are you looking to treat today?” This question allows the patient to tell their story about their tattoo and discuss their intentions for coming to you.
Patients that want their tattoo artwork revised fit into two categories:
Selective removal patients are looking to erase a part out of a larger tattoo piece. This is a common request for patients with name tattoos. For example, they like the overall design of their tattoo but dislike that it features an ex-boyfriend’s name. Patients also request selective removal if their tattoo artist botched the artwork in an area or the tattoo extended further than they wished they just want certain parts of the tattoo “cleaned up.” When performing treatments for selective removal, you likely will need precision to only treat the areas of the tattoo that are desired to be removed usually firing the laser at lower repetition rates will help when treating these specific areas.
Generally, selective removal patients want complete removal of the specific areas they want erased, but sometimes they want it faded in preparation for a cover-up tattoo.
Expect A Few Side Effects
If your skin is being blasted up with lasers, it’s normal to experience some short-term side effects that may raise alarm bells if you’re not expecting them. Some of the most common side effects are things like redness, swelling, and tendernessbut a few people experience blistering, scabs, and hyperpigmentation depending on your skin’s sensitivity. They should go away in a few days, but it’s best to keep an eye on them in case.
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From The Second Week Onwards After Tattoo Removal
You can expect all your symptoms to become milder and milder with time.
You might notice the treated skin looking darker as the pigment rises to the surface of the skin. The area around it might lighten or darken too. This is completely normal and will fade with time.
Continue the aftercare as instructed.
Even if you feel fully recovered and ready for your next laser removal session, dont do so prematurely.
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Laser Tattoo Removal Science
As a science, laser tattoo removal works like magic. It targets pigment colors in the skins dermis, the layer of skin between the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues. Tattoo pigments absorb light beams and then fragment. Your body absorbs the pigment fragments and eliminates them.
The most common type of laser for tattoo removal, the Q-switch produces light pulses of extremely high peak power. Several types of Q-switch lasers exist. Each one targets a different color spectrum at different wavelengths. The Q-switch lasers precise, intense beam fragments tattoo pigment instantly, sparing the surrounding tissue from needless damage.
Understanding Laser Tattoo Removal
Before we discuss the aftereffects of laser tattoo removal, it is important to first understand how laser tattoo removal works. Every individuals laser tattoo removal process is unique and the length of treatment and number of sessions will depend on the depth of pigment, tattoo color and size of the tattoo. To produce the best results, it is important to allow the skin time to heal between treatments and to allow the bodys immune system to reabsorb and dispose of the tattoo inks. Most practitioners recommend about six to eight weeks between laser sessions, depending on skin tone.
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It Might Be Worth Getting A Cover
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.
Most Frequently Asked Questions From Laser Tattoo Removal Patients
The initial tattoo removal consultation is an important moment for every patient and every practice.
It’s an opportunity to showcase your knowledge of the procedure, establish rapport with your patient, and gain their trust so they decide to proceed with treatments.
You’ll want to answer their questions thoroughly and express your expertise in laser tattoo removal.
We’ve gathered the most common patient questions about laser tattoo removal for your reference. Anyone that interacts with a patient from the receptionist to the practitioner should feel confident discussing these topics.
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What To Do Before Your First Tattoo Removal Session
You should first research the most experienced and professional tattoo removal studio in your area. Its recommended to set up a consultation with a removal studio to get an understanding of tattoo removal expectations. At a consultation, you will learn more about the tattoo removal process, expectations on the cost and timeline of removal, and how the laser actually removes the tattoo. Were often asked, is tattoo removal painful? and were proud to say that modern-day equipment has made the tattoo removal progress faster and tolerable.
On average, a single removal session takes less than 5 minutes which is a shorter time to experience discomfort than receiving the tattoo. On average, a tattoo can be completely removed in 10-12 sessions. However, it will depend on the individual tattoo. Factors such as ink density, placement, ink color, and the age of the tattoo will determine how many sessions a person needs for complete removal.
Before your long-awaited tattoo removal first session, its recommended to treat the session like getting a tattoo. Its important to drink plenty of water, get a good nights rest, eat a full meal, clean the tattoo, and wear loose-fitting clothes to not irritate the treated area.
Can You Help Me Revise This Tattoo
Every tattoo removal practitioner will encounter patients that don’t want their tattoos removed completely, but rather revised. Yes, you can provide support to patients looking for tattoo revision.
Anyone that is a candidate for tattoo removal liked tattoos enough to get inked at one point in their lives. As a practitioner, you’ll want to be sensitive to this and not assume which tattoo a patient wants removed or whether they want complete removal at all.
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How Painful Is Laser Tattoo Removal
Many clients compare the sensation to the experience of having the original tattoo applied. The feeling is also described as similar to the ping of an elastic band on the skin.
Treatments using PicoSure and RevLite Q-Switched lasers are typically much gentler on the skin than older laser technologies. We use a Zimmer Cryo 6 cooling system to minimise any discomfort during each session. You may also be offered a topical anaesthetic to numb the area before the treatment begins.
After laser treatment, the area will feel like you have a sunburn and should be cared for by following your laser tattoo removal aftercare instructions.
You can use over the counter painkillers to help manage any discomfort, but we recommend you avoid taking any products containing aspirin as it can increase the risk of bruising.
Set Your Expectations Right
Make sure to ask your laser treatment expert all the questions that you might have before the procedure.
Here are the main things that you should bear in mind:
- The result is not guaranteed
Yes, the tattoo might get removed completely. But sometimes the treatment cant get rid of the pigment entirely, leaving behind a ghost image.
- It will be more challenging to remove a tattoo from areas with poorer circulation
Tattoos located on the feet and hands might require more time to fade, while the areas of the body with good blood circulation will respond to the treatment a bit better.
- Its harder to remove certain colours
In recent years, laser tattoo technology has improved a lot. There are new lasers that operate at different wavelengths and treat various colours.
However, orange, pink, and light greens and blues remain the most difficult ones to remove.
- There will be scars if your tattoo already features scarring
The tattoo artist might have left some scars on your body when applying the tattoo. So, those can become more vivid, once the laser removes the pigment.
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Follow Your Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare Instructions
Sticking to the laser tattoo removal aftercare instructions provided by your clinician is vital for healing your skin and achieving your desired treatment outcomes. Your skin will heal quicker after each session, and youll be able to remove the tattoo faster.
Its important not to rush into another session before your skin is ready. Having another session before your skin has fully healed wont speed up the removal process, but it could make your skin look worse at the end of the treatment.
It takes time to remove a tattoo, but were here to guide you on your journey to clear, ink-free skin. Schedule a free consultation today.
Laser Tattoo Removal After 1 Session
Your initial tattoo removal session will most likely consist of reviewing your removal process plan with your Removery specialist. Theyll then detail what you can expect from the experience, including pain and removal aftercare information. Once you feel comfortable and ask any questions you still have, theyll begin the removal process.
After the first session, most people can expect some significant fading, especially outlines. Its also important to note that differences in your tattoo will affect how the fading appears. You might see substantial fading in one portion of your tattoo and less in others. This variation is normal. Removery specialists understand tattoo makeup and chemistry to ensure the eventual fading of all kinds of ink.
After this first session, many clients feel a sense of relief, especially if they have a tattoo that brings up difficult memories or traumatic experiences. For others, its a sense of excitement. If the tattoo looks this faded after the first removal session, they can only imagine how it will look after completing the entire removal plan.
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Tips For Tattoo Removal Aftercare
- Dont exercise for at least 24 hours
- Keep the treated area clean with a mild soap
- Dont swim for at least 48 hours while the tattoo is still an open womb
- Use vitamin E oil to keep the treated area hydrated
- Keep it covered from the sun to prevent any hypo or hyperpigmentation
Following these steps will help in between tattoo removal sessions. Learn more tips and tricks in our tattoo removal aftercare guide.
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.
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Keep The Treated Area Hydrated
Keeping the treated area hydrated is also important for optimal healing and recovery. Similar to the healing process when getting a tattoo, after your laser tattoo removal session, your skin will be raw and then start to scab over and flake or peel. You will most likely be instructed to apply a healing ointment like Aquaphor for the first one to three days after your session and then continue to keep it hydrated with fragrance-free lotion until all scabbing is gone.
Why Is My Tattoo Darker After Laser Removal
You might have recently decided that you were tired of a tattoo on your body, and you decided to have it removed. Thankfully, laser tattoo removal is a growing industry, with more advanced lasers being developed to increase treatment effectiveness every year. However, your tattoo seems to be darker after your first few treatments and you want to know why.
Why does your tattoo seem to be getting darker after laser removal treatment? Simply put, your tattoo has become darker because the metals in the ink have become oxidized, leading to a temporary greying or darkening until the tattoo fades. Thankfully, this proves that your treatments are working according to plan, and it is just a matter of time until your tattoo has cleared up.
To properly understand how this happens, its first important to review the laser tattoo removal process, and how exactly laser tattoo removal works.
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Answer: I Use The Picosure Laser In My Practice
Thank you for the question. I use the Picosure laser in my practice. Picosure has a short pulse duration that exceeds photo thermal action and results in an intense photomechanical impact. This adds up to faster results and fewer treatments when compared to other tattoo removal methods. It works best on darker inks such as black and blue. The number of sessions required to remove a tattoo can range from 6-10 sessions. The amount of sessions depends on the size, color and placement of the tattoo. The further the tattoo is from the heart the more time it will take to remove. I hope this information helps!
Factors To Consider In Tattoo Removal Include:
- Tattoo location
- The chemical makeup of ink
Want more info about the science behind Removerys laser tattoo removal process? Learn more here!
Some providers promise quick tattoo removal in as little as one treatment. There are also at-home tattoo removal kits that assure you quick results at a cheap price. But if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Effective removal takes time.
Removerys tattoo removal specialists believe in being honest with you from the beginning. Well let you know during your initial consultation the estimated number of sessions youll need to have your tattoo removed. Well also discuss your tattoo removal goals.
For example, if you plan to fade your current piece to cover it up with new artwork, the Removery specialist might suggest fewer sessions. On the other hand, if youre hoping for complete removal, they might determine that you need many sessions spread out over a few years.
As you can see by these examples, the time it will take to achieve your tattoo removal goals varies. But all legit tattoo removal processes have one thing in common: you wont see a miraculously complete removal after one session.
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What Occurs When The Ink Breaks Down
Stay clear of picking at the site of your surgical treatment as well as prevent difficult activities that put tension on it. If you do, there may be a danger for infection or various other difficulties to occur. Make certain not to participate in any kind of task where you could harm stitches as this could cause substantial pain later on later on if they are left revealed when recovery takes place. Laser Tattoo Removal First Session
When you obtain a tattoo, the ink is infused under your epidermis. The all-too-familiar pain of getting inked fades with time, but what concerning when it involves eliminating tattoos? Some individuals are miserable with their body art and desire them opted for good or simply since they don’t such as how faded it’s come to be after years as an eternal suggestion of something that may not also hold true anymore! When using lasers to remove tattoos there can in some cases be some side impacts such as changes in skin coloring. Typically these disappear up within 6 months without any kind of lasting result however, if this does happen then generally just one area will certainly experience soreness which may last 1 day at the majority of – so long live our poor choices Laser Tattoo Removal First Session
Laser Tattoo Removal First Session
What Is The Most Effective Laser For Tattoos
Tattoo Removal Before And After One Session
It was not until the late 1980s that Q-switched lasers ended up being commercially useful with among the first American published short articles explaining laser tattoo removal coming from Massachusetts General Health Center in 1990. Among these early lasers came from Derma-lase Minimal, Glasgow and also once this innovation occurred it promptly acquired appeal
A number of colors of laser light are used for tattoo removal, from noticeable light to near-infrared radiation. Various lasers are much better for various tattoo shades. Subsequently, multi-color tattoo removal generally calls for using 2 or even more laser wavelengths. Tattoo removal lasers are generally recognized by the lasing tool made use of to create the wavelength ).
Pulsewidth or pulse period is a critical laser specification. All Q-switched lasers have suitable pulse durations for tattoo removal. Tattoo Removal Before And After One Session
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What Makes The Best Laser Tattoo Removal Makers
Surveys of tattoo removal people were done in 1996 and also 2006 and gave more understanding. Of those surveyed, the individuals who regretted their tattoos typically obtained their tattoos in their late teenagers or very early twenties , as well as were equally dispersed by sex. Among those seeking removals, even more than half reported that they ” experienced embarrassment”. A brand-new work, issues with garments, as well as a significant life occasion were likewise frequently mentioned as motivations. Tattoos that were as soon as a icon of addition in a team, such as a gang, can make it tough to end up being utilized. Tattoos that indicate a substantial partnership such as a partner, sweetheart or partner , can come to be problematic if the partnership ends. Angelina Jolie, Eva Longoria, Marc Anthony as well as Denise Richards are a few of the celebrities that have had this kind of tattoo got rid of. Laser Tattoo Removal First Session
Laser Tattoo Removal First Session
We urge clinics to go over aftercare throughout the assessment, have aftercare published plainly on their web site, and also give patients a take-home sheet of instructions. Due to the fact that they are currently acquainted with it, much of the treatment for tattoo removal is similar to that required following getting tattoos used this makes it very easy for clients. Laser Tattoo Removal First Session