The Truth About Tattoo Removal
Are you not so proud of some regrettable ink? You’re not alone! It’s pretty common for people to get tattoos and then later remove them. When patients come to us for tattoo removal, they know that they’re in the right hands when they learn more about our tattoo removal technology and physician experience.
In the blog, our laser technician and skin doctor speak the truth about tattoo removal and what you need to consider before having your tattoo removed.
1. Find a Doctor to Perform the Treatment
If you are considering getting rid of your tattoo permanently, consult a skin doctor (dermatologist) or an aesthetic doctor about your options. DIY tattoo removal or other at-home treatments like tattoo removal creams won't effectively remove the ink, and can cause skin irritation or other reactions.
Research. Research. And Research.
You should avoid day spas, salons, or cheap deals for tattoo removal. An inexperienced technician or aesthetician using an outdated heat laser can leave you with burnt skin and scarring.
At Lazaderm, our laser tattoo removal is administered under medical supervision. You can rest assured about the success of your procedure, and expect there to be no scarring left post-treatments.
We would suggest you do thorough research by interviewing the practitioner during the consultation or reviewing patients' testimonials, and you can ask to see before and after photos of previous treatments.
2. It Will Take Time and a Series of Sessions
Tattoos don't disappear after one laser treatment. The removal process takes a long time because each time the tattoo is lasered, particles are broken down and digested by your body's immune system. The regeneration period is up to eight weeks. The next time you go, the laser will break down new particles of pigment.
The number of sessions to permanently remove a tattoo removal depends on a variety of factors:
Size of tattoo: Tattoo sizing is among the biggest factors to determine how many tattoo removal sessions you will need. A small tattoo on your hands will take fewer sessions than a half or full sleeve tattoo.
Age of Tattoo: As tattoos age, the ink sinks into the skin more and appears "faded". An older tattoo, in general, takes fewer sessions to remove than a new one.
Depth of Ink: The further the ink has been placed into the dermis (the second layer of the skin), the harder it is to remove. Professional tattoo artists tend to use more ink and penetrate a little deeper than amateurs.
Skin color: To remove a tattoo, the technician uses a laser to penetrate the dermis. Skin tone can affect the length of time it takes a laser to penetrate the dermis. Darker skin tones, on average, take more sessions to completely remove the ink or tattoo.
Ink Types: Tattoo artists use a variety of compounds to create the pigment. The quality and types of inks can affect the tattoo sessions required. Some compounds in ink such as beryllium will take longer to remove.
Tattoo Location: The closer the tattoo is to your heart, the easier and more effectively it can be removed. Areas of the body with large blood counts such as the face and neck are the easiest to work on, and this is the same for the upper, lower back, arms and legs. The lower down the body a tattoo is, the harder it is to remove the ink (Wall Street Journal).
3. All Ink Can Be Removed
Contrary to what you might think, darker inks are actually easier to remove than lighter inks.
With the advanced technology of our Quanta Evo, all hues can now be removed. The Quanta Evo technology can even get rid of yellows and greens, which were the most stubborn ink colors.
4 . What to Avoid
No Smoking: Smoking has been reported to reduce the chance of successful tattoo removal by 70% over a 10-session period. If you want to completely remove your unwanted tattoo, then smoking is a big no-no.
Sun exposure: Laser tattoo removal cannot be performed on sunburned skin. After each session, you should avoid sun exposure. The avoidance of sun damage is highly recommended before, during and after the treatments.
Best Laser Tattoo Removal in Chandler
There are different types of lasers in the market now. The traditional Q-Switch lasers typically take around 10-20 sessions to achieve good clearance. Traditional lasers heat the ink by breaking it into small pieces.
Our EVO Quanta, one of the most powerful FDA-approved lasers, shatters the ink and pigment particles that are more easily digested by your body.
The Quanta EVO can remove an unwanted tattoo quicker and with fewer side effects than most laser technologies including Pico Lasers. The EVO has three TRUE wavelengths to selectively target all treatable ink colors.
Why Lazaderm for Laser Tattoo Removal:
Best of Laser Technology
Board-Certified Doctors and Highly Trained Technicians
Low recovery time. Effective, Permanent Ink Removal.
Call us at (480)-573-7546 or book online for a free consultation with one of our providers.