Tattoo removal can give you a chance to start over. You will no longer be bound by designs and styles that you got a long time ago. Trends and times change. If your tattoo is starting to age, removing it can give you a clean slate to start with.
While there are pros AND cons of tattoo removal, for the most part, it's a positive experience for all. Whether you regret getting your tattoo or you're ready for a change, there's good news. Laser tattoo removal is an effective method for erasing unwanted ink!
Can a tattoo be 100% removed? It is difficult to give a one-size-fits-all answer to this often asked question, but broadly speaking, yes a tattoo can be 100% removed so long as your immune system is working effectively and you follow our sun-safe aftercare guidelines.
Tattoos used to be considered permanent, but thanks to advances in laser technology, today's lasers can get rid of tattoos more safely and effectively, including removing tattoo ink with fewer treatments and treating ink colors that were once difficult to remove.
Scarring is probably the biggest concern for those getting their tattoos removed with a laser. The more aggressive the treatments, the more likely it is to get a scar. Certain areas on the body are more likely to scar such as the wrists and ankles.
Does Laser Tattoo Removal Leave Scarring? It is very uncommon for a patient to scar from laser tattoo removal treatment when the proper laser protocols and patient aftercare are followed. If the skin already has irregularities such as scarring expect that to remain after laser tattoo removal.
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.
Every individual is different, and therefore every tattoo is different. Understanding how laser tattoo removal works will help to understand why it's not as easy to predict. On average a person will need between 6-12 treatments laser tattoo removal treatments. However, some people need less, some may need more.
Black ink is the easiest to remove completely, followed by green and blue which can be a little more difficult. Pigments such as purple, yellow and white are the most difficult to remove completely. In order to successfully remove a bright, multi-coloured tattoo, different laser wavelengths are required.
One of the most common home tattoo removal methods we see talked about is salabrasion or rubbing the skin away with salt. It's an old method, and it does technically work, provided you rub enough skin off to reach the layer where the ink is held. You could also achieve the same effect with coarse sand or sandpaper.
Some companies charge $10–25 per inch for removal. Someone removing a 36-square-inch tattoo might pay $400 for a session, whereas someone with a 4-square-inch tattoo might pay $175. Usually, the more inches you pay for, the less you pay per inch. Other companies charge by size category.
Older tattoos are easier to remove because they've already been exposed to the sun and absorbed by the body for some time. New tattoos can still be erased using the same laser removal techniques but they take more sessions.
Occasionally, it is possible to see a tattoo, even after laser treatments. This may indicate that you require more treatments. Some patients who intend to get another tattoo over top only want to see some fading of their tattoo. Laser tattoo removal can also achieve this.
Does tattoo removal hurt? Laser tattoo removal typically does involve some level of pain. That said, many say that it hurts less than they expected. It's a common belief that tattoo removal is excruciating, yet most patients say that the sensation of removal is comparable to having a tattoo applied.
Just like any other procedure, results will vary depending on you. Everyone is different and will have various outcomes on their tattoo removal based on the factors listed, but in general, we have seen that most tattoos can be removed around 10-12 sessions spaced every 6-8 weeks apart.
Erase Your Ink With Laser Tattoo Removal
After one or two years, most people are clear of their unwanted ink for good. That's all the time it takes to achieve a lifetime of freedom from your old tattoo.
Tattoo removal creams can lessen the visibility of ink by essentially bleaching and/or stripping the epidermis, your skin's outermost layer. Typically, tat removal creams do this using the active ingredients hydroquinone and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), or something similar.
“I don't want my kids getting tattoos,” Wahlberg revealed during a January 2012 interview on the Today show, explaining that he slowly removed all “six or seven” of his designs.
It is possible for a tattoo to appear darker after laser treatment. One reason for this is that once ink has been broken up by the laser, the immune system is free to move the smaller particles around in the skin. The immune system can flush the ink away internally or push it out externally.
Laser tattoo removal not fading can be caused by several factors. Some of which are the type of laser used, laser wavelength and ink colour, the laser technicians experience, recovery time between each session, and your immune system. Tattoo removal using laser treatment is not magic.
Laser tattoo removal has an average success rate of 71%, with 95% of patients saying the process was worth it.
One of the most common reasons people want a tattoo removed is that they regret the design they chose. This can be for several reasons, such as selecting a design that is too small or picking something that doesn't reflect their personality anymore.
If proper protocols for treatments and post-care are followed, all of these side effects are temporary. Redness, tenderness and swelling typically subside within a day or two post-treatment. Blisters usually appear within 24 hours of treatment. Scabs, bruising, and blistering may take up to a week or longer to heal.