Throughout life, we continue to change and grow as individuals. This often means that things we once loved are no longer a part of us, including some of our tattoos.

If you are an individual who has a tattoo that no longer reflects who you are, tattoo removal can be an excellent option. Of course, you can always opt for a cover-up, or simply keeping your once-loved tattoo, but tattoo removal as a permanent solution is growing in popularity due to recent technological advancements in the industry.

Individuals looking to remove their tattoos often come up with concerns as they conduct research, but in 2019, experiencing tattoo removal isn’t as fraught as it once was. Keep reading for removal tips and what you can expect out of your tattoo removal.

What Is Laser Removal?

Before opting to undergo this procedure, it’s important to have a clear understanding of what’s happening when you get laser tattoo removal. Unlike older removal procedures which are still being used, Better Off laser removal does not extract the ink from your skin.

What happens instead is that a high powered laser is breaking down the ink in your skin into microscopic particles. Your body’s immune system then removes the particles, which creates fading, and eventually, a complete absence of your tattoo.

Where to Get It Removed

The first step in removing a tattoo is finding a business that specializes in laser removal. Laser removal can cause burning of the skin, and is dangerous when improperly conducted by an unlicensed professional.

When considering different places that remove tattoos, look into whether you will be working with a licensed M.D. or simply just an aesthetician. Although an aesthetician can successfully remove your tattoos, it’s important you check into their experience to ensure they will do a good job. Laser tattoo removal procedure requires multiple sessions, so it’s important you choose an esteemed professional you can trust.

Timeline

Just like getting your ink may have taken multiple sessions to complete, getting it removed may take even longer. Unfortunately, this process sometimes even takes up to a year to complete, depending on your tattoo.

Each session, more ink is broken down by the laser to be digested by your body. Skin undergoing laser tattoo removal needs eight weeks to fully heal before you can visit your professional for another removal session to remove more pigment.

Removing tattoos with a laser procedure is a firm commitment, both by you and your chosen professional. Your tattoo removal timeline depends in large part to the size and color of the tattoo.

A factor which also affects your removal timeline is the age of your tattoo. You might already know tattoos fade over time, so older tattoos will be removed with a shorter timeline. And because modern ink technology is manufactured to fade less, a younger tattoo will require even more laser removal sessions.

Pain During Procedure

Laser tattoo removal is widely reported as less painful than its older removal counterparts, such as salabrasion or excision. Many report the experience as similar to being tattooed.

Granted, everyone has a different threshold for pain. Similar to how everyone experiences getting a tattoo differently, the pain experienced when removing a tattoo have inconsistent reports.

Depending on your pain tolerance, you may find this procedure similar to getting a tattoo. Many people who have experienced laser removal describe their pain experience as similar to being snapped with a rubber band.

Just like with tattoos, experiencing pain during laser tattoo removal is more painful in some areas of the body than others. Body parts with a high concentration of nerve endings such as the wrist, or body parts with bone close to the skin such as ribs and ankles, are reportedly more painful than a large muscle like the thigh.

There are, however, products to help with any pain experienced during your removal sessions. Consider using a numbing cream to help alleviate pain as part of your recovery.

Pain After Procedure

Many individuals also experience some pain after they complete each session. This is a normal part of the removal process, as your skin is being hit with pulses of lasers.

Immediately following the procedure, you’ll likely see whitened spots on the tattoo which will fade within half an hour. You may experience discomfort for up to a week as your skin works to heal and regenerate itself.

It’s not uncommon to notice blisters followed by scabbing within the first-week post-treatment. You’ll need to keep the treated area clean and bandaged as your body continues to recover your skin.

Keep your tattoo out of direct sunlight when in-between laser removal sessions, and protect the affected area from clothes brushing up against. By following the directions offered by your chosen professional, recovery from further removal treatment hastens and becomes less painful.

Benefits of Technology

Older laser removal technology could only efficiently remove dark-colored ink, such as red or black because lasers are a form of light, which reflects lighter colors. However, technological advancements in the industry make for modern laser removal equipment able to remove light-colored ink, such as yellow or teal.

Deciding to Remove Tattoos

It’s important to consult with a specialist or doctor before deciding on tattoo removal. That way they can look at your tattoo and inform you how many sessions it may take and what the overall cost will be.

For more information on tattoo removal, give us a call or keep browsing our website.