If you’re unhappy with your tattoo, it can be distressing to live with – especially if you’re always desperately trying to cover it up.
Laser tattoo removal is a simple and safe procedure that produces fantastic results. It doesn’t cause any lasting damage to the skin and will help you feel more comfortable with your body again.
Below, you’ll find our complete guide to tattoo removal to help you decide if tattoo laser removal is the right choice for you.
How does laser tattoo removal work?
Laser tattoo removal is a brilliant way to safely remove tattoos. It’s an effective treatment for removing unwanted tattoos and it causes minimal discomfort with no lasting damage to the skin.
The advanced technology works by shooting a very short pulse from a high-powered laser light through the skin. This light hits the tattoo ink and breaks it up into smaller particles. The body then disposes of these small particles in its immune system and over time the entire tattoo fades from your skin.
Treatment depends on the size of your tattoo and what colours are used. Generally speaking, coloured ink takes longer to remove than black ink. The average session can be anywhere between 10-30 minutes.
Are there any risks involved with laser tattoo removal?
Like with all surgeries and procedures, there are always risks. The risks involved with laser tattoo removal include:
- Infection
- Scarring
- Permanent skin discoloration
- Possible need for further surgery
All the risks involved with your treatment will be discussed with you prior to getting the procedure done. If you have any questions or concerns be sure to address them all with your plastic surgeon.
Your therapist should give you a copy of all the risks in writing so you can read over them at home before making your final decision.
Does tattoo removal hurt?
Unfortunately yes – no pain, no gain as they say.
There is slight discomfort during the procedure, but it really won’t feel any worse than when you were getting your tattoo done originally.
You’ll probably experience more discomfort and pain if your tattoo is in an area that’s close to the bone. For example, your ankle, collarbone, or shoulder blade.
The pain or discomfort usually decreases the more the tattoo fades away from your skin.
What is the healing process for laser tattoo removal?
Some patients experience a lightening or darkening of the skin around the treated area. In most cases though, the skin returns to normal after six months or so.
There’s often redness in the area following treatment, but this usually goes away quite quickly, in a couple of days or so.
Your doctor will advise you on any follow-up treatment that is needed, so be sure to ask them any questions if you’re unsure about what you should do after your tattoo removal.
What’s tattoo removal aftercare like?
Aftercare is an important part of any cosmetic treatment and can even be more important than the treatment itself.
Your doctor will talk you through everything you need to do to make sure you heal properly and have a fast, stress-free recovery.
If you have any questions or concerns about your individual aftercare be sure to get in contact with your doctor, so they can advise you on what to do.
How many laser treatments will I need before my tattoo is gone?
The number of treatments all depends on:
- The type of tattoo
- The size of the tattoo
- How deep the tattoo is
- Whether the tattoo is one colour or multicoloured
- How well your skin responds to the treatment
Single colour, Indian ink tattooed by an amateur responds the best to laser treatment. It could take as few as two sessions for the tattoo to fade, but it usually requires between six or ten treatments for it to be completely gone.
Multi-coloured tattoos done by professional tattoo artists are generally more difficult to remove because of the various colours they contain. Red, (please remove) black and other darker colours fade easily but brighter colours like white, yellow and orange tend to take longer.
Black Indian ink and red areas(please remove) in a tattoo might disappear easily and only take up to six to ten treatments. Other colours, however, might need more sessions to fade completely.
Professional tattoos could need treating up to 20 times because of how deep the tattoo is in the skin.
Are you thinking of getting your tattoo removed?
Here at Auralia, we provide expert care and can help you remove your tattoo with our professional tattoo removal laser surgery.
Book in for a consultation today or call us on 01 612 0551.
