I Want To Get My Tattoo Removed Now Why Will I Need More Than 1 Laser Treatment Session
When you get a tattoo, the tattoo artist layers the ink. A laser cannot safely break down all the layers in 1 treatment session.
Time between treatments is also necessary for your health. Your skin needs time to heal. After laser tattoo removal, you may see some redness, swelling, and a little blistering.
Your body also needs time to flush out the ink. Yes, your body rather than the laser eliminates the ink. When the lasers light hits the ink, the light shatters the ink into tiny particles. Your body must flush out these tiny particles.
After each treatment, your tattoo should lighten.
How Long Does It Take For A Tattoo Removal To Heal
The total healing time after laser treatment is about 4 to 8 weeks. But, what you do during those weeks can increase or decrease the healing process.
Healing times vary depending on the type of treatment, the strength of your immune system, and how closely you follow your aftercare plan.
Your post treatment efforts are as important a part of the process as the laser itself.
Just by staying hydrated and keeping your immune system healthy, for example, you can speed up the process by several weeks.
And by protecting your wound, youll avoid opening the scab, which helps it heal without interruption.
Ready to get started?
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Can Any Type Of Tattoo Be Removed
With our advanced Spectra lasers, the experts at MEDermis Laser Clinic can remove nearly any color of tattoo ink you have in typically just three to seven sessions lasting between 15 to 30 minutes each. As youâll see in our large selection of before and after tattoo removal photos, every person has a unique tattoo, varying in size, coloring, and location, that was completely removed with the help of our skilled technicians. All of these photos were taken in our office directly after each client’s first and last consultation with us. None of these photos have been retouched or edited.
How many sessions youâll require depends on the qualities of your tattoo, including:
- Artist training
Check out our extensive catalog of photos taken before and after laser tattoo removal to see the difference. All of these pictures were taken at a MEDermis Laser Clinic facility. None have been altered. Each client has given approval for us to use these pictures as promotion and advertising.
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How Lasers Remove Tattoos
About 21 percent of American adults currently have tattoos. And polls have shown that about 14 percent of these people regret getting them.
One solution is laser tattoo removal, which was invented during the 1980s and has become increasingly popular over time nearly 100,000 removal treatments are now performed annually.
Lasers can break up the large ink droplets by intensely heating them for very short periods of time . This causes one side of the droplet to expand. Because the other side doesn’t expand equally, the droplet breaks apart, and the smaller pieces can then get carried away by your white blood cells over time.
The process still isn’t perfect it can leave scarring and typically takes multiple sessions but it’s still a pretty amazing marvel of modern science. Think about it: centuries ago, we figured out how to inject permanent inks into our skin solely for decorative reasons. Now, we’ve figured out how to use lasers to destroy them when those designs don’t turn out exactly as planned.
Be warned, though: getting a big tattoo removed can take a long time. And people who’ve done it confirm that, as you might imagine, having a hot laser blasted at your skin hurts like hell.
Do Not Pick Scabs Or Pop Blisters
Blistering and scabbing are natural side effects of the healing process. Its tempting to pop and pick at your skin. Avoid this at all cost.
Opening the wound not only increases the risk of infection but also prolongs the healing process.
And as long as you have scabs or blisters on your skin, avoid shaving that area. Using a razor can cause you to open the wound accidentally.
For the best results, allow scabs to fall off and blisters to drain on their own.
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What Do Tattoos Look Like After Laser Removal
Multiple people, who want to get rid of unwanted body tattoos, ask what do tattoos look like after removal. The truth is that laser removal isnt immediate it implies the gradual tattoo lightening process. Every new laser treatment will break the ink into smaller particles, allowing the human lymphatic system to eliminate it.
The advisable laser treatment schedule is every three months apart from each procedure to let the body heal until the next laser removal session. Also, it is worth mentioning that complete tattoo removal can take up to a year or two, but it is worth finally getting rid of the annoying tattoo. Be ready to spend significant amounts of dollars on your laser treatments $460 per session on average.
An individual is likely to notice so-called frosting immediately after the laser removal session. It is a temporary skin reaction to the laser heat bursts that involves a steam accumulation beneath the skin. Frosting tends to fade around one hour following a procedure, and it typically proves the immediate laser action for tattoo removal. People might also experience blistering and crusting, even though these effects depend on a persons skin type and tattoo pigments. The tattoo itself will fade around 2-3 weeks post laser treatment.
What Your Skin Will Be Like Right After Tattoo Removal
Your skin will be very tender the first few days after laser tattoo removal, so expect the doctor to place a sterile gauze bandage over the affected area to avoid irritation.
The doctor would likewise apply a thin layer of antibiotic or healing ointment.
After three days of keeping the skin bandaged, you need to leave it uncovered to allow the affected area to breathe. Keep the treated area clean by gently washing it with mild soap and water. Always keep it dry.
Remember not to apply makeup or creams on or near the affected area for two days following the procedure.
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Other Laser Tattoo Removal Faq
How long does it take for a tattoo to fade after laser tattoo removal?
Laser tattoo removal is a slow and meticulous process that cannot be rushed, as it needs to follow the natural healing cycles of your skin. The exact timeline for your laser tattoo removal will depend on a number of factors, including:
- The color of your skin: You may experience hyperpigmentation if you have a darker skin tone
- The colors of your tattoo: The greater the contrast between your tattoo color and skin color, the easier it is to remove, which explains how black tattoos are generally easy to work with. And colors such as purple, yellow, and green can cause a lot of difficulty to remove
- The location of your tattoo: The closer your tattoo is to your heart, the more blood circulation there will be around the area, meaning the body will have an easier time flushing out the ink. Tattoos on the ankles, while great for beauty photos, are known for taking the longest to remove
What should I do after laser tattoo removal?
What you should do after your laser tattoo removal mostly depends on what stage of the tattoo removal you are on.
If you just went through your first laser tattoo removal and youre wondering how you still have your tattoo, remember that youve barely begun the tattoo removal process. It can take anywhere from 3-10 sessions spaced 4-8 weeks apart for proper skin rejuvenation and healing, depending on the size and color of your tattoo.
What Are The Laser Tattoo Removal Healing Stages
After a session of laser tattoo removal, healing is the next step. Your skin has to go through several stages of recovery before it can handle another treatment. Once the treatments are all complete, the skin will need a rest for a while.
MOST RECENT. September 1, 2015. Answer: The Process of Laser Tattoo Removal. Usually there is redness and crusting of the skin which results in a scabs that last for about 10-14 days. The laser beam is applied as short bursts of energy.
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What Are Some Of The Qualifications That One Needs To Have To Become A Laser Tattoo Removal Technician
Well, you may be interested to know that it would take you only 2 weeks to become a laser tattoo removal expert.
When you enroll in most of the colleges that offer this training, it will only take you a short time to be qualified and certified. Many of the tattoo removal service providers are adequately trained. You will be happy to note that majority of them offer the best laser tattoo removal services in your country.
The advantages of using trained laser tattoo removal a technician is that you will assure your clients of safety and the best quality services.
Deanna PaiNov 24, 2021
Have you reached the regret phase of a years-old tattooor just want to fade your tattoo enough to cover it up? Whatevers led you to laser tattoo removal, theres good news: technology has come a long way. With this guide inspired by the most common questions the RealSelf community has about laser tattoo removal, you can understand the process accordingly. Here, 10 tips and things to know from New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Michele Green, to help you prepare.
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What Advancements Have There Been In Laser Tattoo Removal
The science of laser tattoo removal has advanced beyond differing wavelengths to target multiple colors, Dr. Anolik says. Already, dermatologists are starting to use picosecond lasers to deliver laser energy within a shorter pulse duration typical Q-switched lasers deliver energy within a nanosecond, but the picosecond option can create finer pigment particles.
The integration of fractional resurfacing lasers on occasion can release pigment from the skin surface. And the addition of acoustic wave therapies can act as a complement to laser therapy with sound waves helping lead to intense tattoo pigment vibration and greater breakdown and release of the pigment during a laser tattoo removal session, Dr. Anolik says.
Dermatologists are now using the topical solution perfluorodecalin in certain situations, which helps wash away some of the water vapor gas that develops immediately after laser treatment. Once this gas is reduced by the topically placed PFD, Dr. Anolik says, we can retreat at the same visit, possibly eliminating more pigment at one visit.
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What Is The Most Effective Tattoo Removal Method
Todays top-of-the-line lasersnamely, PicoWayhave the ability to use every wavelength necessary to target every color of ink. While some lasers used widely in the past, like PicoSure, can only break down certain colors of ink, todays more advanced lasers can handle breaking down a much broader spectrum of colors. Thats why laser removal with PicoWay is far more effective than other tattoo removal methods.
How effective is tattoo removal with other methods? You may have heard about tattoo removal creams or other home remedies like lemon juice. Although these techniques may sound harmless at first glance, they can actually expose your skin to significant damage. Exposing your skin to sunlight after doing a lemon juice treatment can even cause burns!
And tattoo removal creams actually peel away the skin using a powerful acid, which can cause lasting scarring. Furthermore, these treatments dont actually eliminate the ink from the dermis, the deeper layer of skin where it is located. Its not just a matter of wasting time and money on such methodsits a matter of causing permanent damage.
Types Of Lasers: The Ink Colors They Treat & Their Side Effects
Today, laser tattoo removal specialists use three different types of Q-switched lasers, and each are more useful than the other in removing certain ink colors. Because heat is produced by these lasers and the skins layers are penetrated at various depths, there are some side effects to consider. And despite the picosecond laser revolutionizing the art of tattoo removal when it was introduced in 2013, it too comes with side effects and breaks up some ink pigments better than others.
Q-switched Ruby laser:The light wavelength of 694nm makes this useful for removing blue, black and green pigments.
- Side effects: scarring, change in the skins texture, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation
Q-switched Nd:YAG laser: This laser can operate alone at a wavelength of 1064nm , or with a frequency-doubling crystal to shorten the wavelength to 532nm .
- Side effects: According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, hyperpigmentation and textural changes are potential side effects, but they are infrequent, and the incidence of hypopigmentation is a lot lower than with the ruby laser.
Q-switched Alexandrite laser: This laser operates at a wavelength of 755nm, which resides between those of the ruby and neodymium: YAG lasers. It is excellent for the removal of green, blue and black tattoos.
- Side effects: textural changes and transient hypopigmentation
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Proper Aftercare Instructions For Laser Tattoo Removal
If you have made the decision to get rid of an unwanted tattoo using laser treatments, you are likely interested in healing as quickly as possible and doing anything you can do to speed up the process of getting rid of that unwanted ink. It is normal to experience some side effects and a little bit of discomfort.
Laser treatments are designed to use heat to break apart tattoo pigment. This allows the body to naturally remove the particles in the weeks that follow the treatment session. The laser is going to come in direct contact with your skin, which means that you could experience some itching, frosting, swelling, minor burns, and blistering. The first thing that you will notice is that your skin is likely to turn white right after the treatment, which will only last a couple of minutes. Then you will notice blisters and scabs forming about 12 hours later. It usually takes about a week or two for these to heal. Your skin will likely be pale or pink as the scabs separate from the skin. Complete healing usually takes about six to eight weeks.
Here are some suggestions that you should follow after a tattoo removal session.
Factors To Consider In Tattoo Removal Include:
- 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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Getting Your Tattoo Removed With Removery
Removerys specialization in laser tattoo removal has given us a level of expertise matched by none. Through intensive focus, Carmen and our team have modeled how tattoo removal should be done. And our commitment to using cutting-edge laser tattoo removal technologies has never wavered. We look forward to many more years of shaping the future of this field! Watch the remaining Laser Tattoo Removal 101 series on YouTube and read the 101: part 1 blog to learn more.
Considering removing an unwanted tattoo? One of our experienced technicians will be thrilled to answer all your questions. Book a free consultation with us to start the conversation!
Connect with us to start your removal journey
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