Laser tattoo removal1 has gained huge popularity in recent years as one of the safest tattoo removal methods, which does not involve cutting into the skin2 and involves the use of pulses of light at a high concentration to remove the tattoo.
Though laser treatment is more expensive than home remedies, it is more safe and effective for your skin.
1. The laser tattoo removal treatment is the safest process (Laser Tattoo Removal)
In a laser tattoo removal treatment, a beam of light searches for the contrast between your skin tone3, ink, and pulses on the skin. As a result, the ink is broken down into small particles small enough for your body to absorb. Smaller or older tattoos are easy to remove because the ink breaks down easily.
2. It is more painful than the pain you felt while getting the tattoo (Laser Tattoo Removal)
By Yuriy Golub/ ShutterstockTattoo removal causes a certain amount of physical pain4 and irritation to the treated area, which may differ from person to person.
3. Set your expectations on laser tattoo removal (Laser Tattoo Removal)
You won’t get complete removal of your tattoo. It is not a guaranteed removal. Some tattoos only fade partially. Others can leave a ghost image of your tattoo or make the site of your tattoo look even worse because of some allergies5 or carelessness. It depends on various factors starting from the size of your tattoo, colors used in the tattoo, your skin color, and other such factors.
4. There is good news and bad news for you (Laser Tattoo Removal)
The bad news is that tattoos are permanent, and your chances of success depend on your skin color, the tattoo’s size, and pigments. And the good news is that you don’t need to go through unsafe home remedies.
5. It won’t be done in a single treatment (Laser Tattoo Removal)
You probably have realized this by now. You will be required to understand that the number of sessions you will be going through is not something predetermined during your initial consultation. And also, you will need intervals of a minimum of four to six weeks on average between these sessions. So you can expect the process to last six months to a year.
6. The part of your body where the tattoo is located does make a huge difference (Laser Tattoo Removal)
The fading process will be slower if your tattoo is located further down the arms or legs, as they are additionally from your heart. The circulation will be better if your tattoo is closer to your heart, thus giving better results.
Therefore, tattoos on the feet, lower legs, and hands require more treatments than tattoos on the chest and back.
7. The greater the color contrast between your skin and the ink, the easier will be the removal (Laser Tattoo Removal)
It is easier to remove black ink from a light-skinned person. But fluorescent colors like green and purple are nearly impossible to extract. Many experts suggest patients with such colors on their tattoos not go for tattoo removal. Instead, cover it up with another tattoo.
8. You need to be more careful if you have a darker skin tone because there’s a higher risk of hypo-pigmentation (Laser Tattoo Removal)
Thus most of the laser operators use lower energy settings on patients with darker skin types6.
9. Amateur tattoos are easy to remove than Professionally applied ones (Laser Tattoo Removal)
Professionally applied tattoos penetrate deeper into your skin at uniform levels making it tough to remove because the ink is usually dense. Amateur tattoos applied by untrained hands make the tattoo uneven and superficial. They use dramatically less ink, thus making it challenging to remove, but results will be easier and faster.
10. Research and gain knowledge about various types of lasers (Laser Tattoo Removal)
Multiple lasers are required to remove the pigments of your tattoo, and different laser wavelengths deal with different colors. So you might need to do a little research and make yourself aware of it.
11. White ink can turn dark when exposed to laser energy (Laser Tattoo Removal)
Some of the ink used in cosmetic tattoos, including colors containing white ink, may darken immediately after the first treatment session because it contains titanium dioxide. They will fix the tattoo after further treatments, don’t worry!
12. There are various temporary symptoms you may face post-treatment (Laser Tattoo Removal)
The temporary symptoms include blisters7, a rise of your tattoo, bleeding, swelling, redness, and darkening of your skin. But you don’t need to worry much about these symptoms as they usually subside within the first two weeks.
13. Be aware of the side effects you may face (Laser Tattoo Removal)
The most common side effect is the lightning (hypo-pigmentation) or darkening (hyperpigmentation) of your treated skin, usually taking 6 to 12 months to correct. However, there is a possibility of permanent color change.
Other side effects include scars, infections, burns, and textual changes. The treatment can cause scarring, blisters scabbing, or pain.
14. Talk to a lot of laser treatment experts before you move in for the treatment (Laser Tattoo Removal)
Laser tattoo removal is safe when a skilled and qualified technician or doctor does it. Don’t ever take the risk with your skin. When you consult the doctor or technician, ask about the potential side effects and risks based on your situation. Ask them to show you multiple photos of their clients with similar skin tones and tattoos.
15. Make yourself aware of the gel (Laser Tattoo Removal)
Your doctor/ technician will give you a local anesthetic gel before the treatment.
16. It’s going to hurt you and it’s going to cost you (Laser Tattoo Removal)
By ElenaR/ ShutterstockAs professional tattoo removal is a cosmetic procedure, it be won’t be covered by your medical insurance.
17. Preparation you need before the treatment (Laser Tattoo Removal)
- Avoid sunbathing at least a month before the treatment.
- Good diet, no smoking, low stress, and exercise.
18. You need to take care of the affected part after every treatment session to ensure that you don’t get unwanted side effects (Laser Tattoo Removal)
- You should apply an ice pack wrapped in a cloth.
- The skin around the tattooed area can become discolored and infected. So it is important to apply sunscreen to vulnerable skin.
- It would be best if you kept the tattoo area clean and dry. Avoid soaking in the first two weeks.
- You should apply antiseptic powder regularly.
- Sunscreen alone is not enough protection. It would help if you covered the area loosely with a dressing to avoid contact with the outside environment. And don’t forget to change the dressing regularly.
- You should avoid waxing, shaving, or direct contact with the sun during the initial healing period.
19. Remember to contact a doctor if you face fever or chills post-treatment session (Laser Tattoo Removal)
You must contact your doctor or seek medical treatment if you find an infection in the area or face fever after the session.
So the first thing you need to question yourself is: ‘Would you like to do a cover-up on your tattoo, or would you like to leave yourself with a ghost image or a partial tattoo?’
About the Author
Sneha Lodha is a media student who loves to write and interact with people.
- Bernstein, Eric F. “Laser tattoo removal.” Seminars in plastic surgery. Vol. 21. No. 03. © Thieme Medical Publishers, 2007. ↩︎
- Millington, Philip F., and Rosemary Wilkinson. Skin. No. 9. Cambridge University Press, 1983. ↩︎
- Goldsmith, Arthur H., Darrick Hamilton, and William Darity Jr. “Shades of discrimination: Skin tone and wages.” American Economic Review 96.2 (2006): 242-245. ↩︎
- Wager, Tor D., et al. “An fMRI-based neurologic signature of physical pain.” New England Journal of Medicine 368.15 (2013): 1388-1397. ↩︎
- Sherman, Paul W., Erica Holland, and Janet Shellman Sherman. “Allergies: their role in cancer prevention.” The Quarterly review of biology 83.4 (2008): 339-362. ↩︎
- Roberts, Wendy E. “Skin type classification systems old and new.” Dermatologic clinics 27.4 (2009): 529-533. ↩︎
- Giordano, Carl P., et al. “Fracture blisters.” Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® 307 (1994): 214-221. ↩︎
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