Numbing creams are not very effective due to the fact they will only numb the top layer of your skin and do not concentrate deep enough. The pain you experience from a tattoo removal laser is happening when the ink is shattering below the skin, and numbing creams aren't able to go this deep.
Most people go through their laser tattoo removal session with the targeted area numbed to lessen the pain. Most laser technicians have topical numbing cream they can apply in the office before your appointment. However, most topical numbing creams take at least 30-45 minutes to reach an optimal numbing effect.
Numbing cream is a vasoconstrictor (the narrowing of blood vessels by small muscles in their walls) and depletes blood cells to the area. This comprises the skin and makes it an alien texture which is hard to ensure the safety and the outcome for the client.”
At LaserYou we do not recommend the use of numbing creams as they swell the skin which is thought to slow down laser penetration and therefore treatment results. If the skin is numbed it also prevents the client from giving accurate feedback and can affect the visible endpoint.
If you have a low pain tolerance, numbing cream will help to relieve the discomfort a lot. When I apply numbing cream before my session I make sure to spread a thick layer over the tattoo and rub it in when I'm applying it.
Some tattoo artists say that numbing creams can alter the texture of a client's skin, making it “spongy” after the cream is applied. Others report that it makes the skin not stretch evenly, become mushy, or form raised hive-like bumps.
And if you're wondering if they can tell whether you used it or not, they can. Many creams have odors and they'll be able to feel the texture difference on your skin. But don't just ask if they'll use it – ask detailed questions to put your mind at ease.
If you prefer a completely pain free removal process, you can try natural or chemical tattoo removal creams - but be aware that they might not work very effectively. If you want to remove a tattoo completely, your best bet is laser removal or surgery.
While laser tattoo removal may sound intimidating, the only other options are dermabrasion, which involves slowly scraping off layers of your skin one at a time, or surgery to remove the inked section of skin. Compared to these options, laser tattoo removal is actually the easiest, least painful way to go.
If it starts to wear off in the midst of a long appointment, it's likely going to hurt more than normal because your body wasn't as prepared for the pain. Some clients may even experience reactions to their numbing solutions, especially in those with sensitive skin.
Here are the most and least painful spots to get inked. Tattoo pain will vary depending on your age, sex, and pain threshold. The most painful spots to get a tattoo are your ribs, spine, fingers, and shins. The least painful spots to get a tattoo are your forearms, stomach, and outer thighs.
Do Numbing Creams Affect Your Tattoo? Numbing creams do not generally affect your tattoo's visual outcome, but this depends on the quality of the product you use. Some low-quality numbing creams can create a slippery effect on your skin, affecting your tattooer's work.
Tattoo removal pain also depends on which body part is being treated. Some areas, such as hands and feet, have more touch receptors and nerve endings. The more receptors in the area, the more sensitive that part of the skin will be to the laser. The armpits, for example, are among the most sensitive parts of your body.
Discomfort can be minimized by the use of ice, sedatives, pain medications, or injections of local anesthetic. Each laser targets a different family of colors. To completely remove a family of colors, two to four sessions may be required.
Laser Tattoo Removal Could Be the Right Choice for You
Proven to be safe and effective over years of use, laser treatments harness the power of concentrated light to shatter apart those unwanted ink particles, breaking them down into small enough sizes that the body can then flush them away naturally.
Getting the Tattoo
Most people consider the pain of getting a tattoo to be far worse than anything they've experienced during their laser tattoo removal treatments. The outline of a tattoo is especially painful, and can be hard to endure for most of those who've gotten ink.
Black and Grey tattoo inks are the easiest to remove.
Most clinics will have a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with a1064 nm wavelength. This is especially effective on black and grey ink colors.
Generally, amateur or homemade tattoo may be removed within 3 to 7 sessions, while professional tattoos done with harder inks can require anywhere from 8 to 20 treatments. It is possible for some tattoos to require more than 20 laser treatments.
Specifically, lighter colors like white, yellow, light blue, and pink are the most difficult to remove, as are green, red, and neon colors. White ink (and light colors that were made by combining darker ink with white ink) sometimes turns darker before it begins to fade.
The average tattoo can be removed in between five and eight laser sessions. Dark, old tattoos may only require three or four removal sessions. New, dense, fluorescent tattoos may take 10 or more treatment sessions before full removal is realized.
On average, it takes approximately two years between 10-12 sessions to see complete removal results. The time between treatments will vary based on skin type, ink density, location of the tattoo, and your overall health will play a factor in your removal results.
Yes, it's okay to use numbing cream for your next tattoo - it won't affect your new ink. Just make sure to consult with your artist & dermatologist and apply at least 60-90 minutes before your session. It won't affect the color, design, or the healing process of your tattoo.
How long does tattoo numbing cream last? Tattoo numbing cream lasts 4-6 hours if applied properly. For half & full sleeves or large chest & back tattoos that require longer sessions, you'll have to take a short break during the session and reapply the cream as needed.