What is a laser tattoo removal?
A laser tattoo removal is considered to be the most effective and safe method to remove unwanted tattoos. It is important to know that laser tattoo removal is not a one-time procedure and it usually requires few treatments to make your tattoo practically invisible. The laser works by the principle of penetration into the skin where it breaks apart the tattoo ink. With repetitive treatments, the tattoo ink is broken to the extent where it becomes hardly visible to invisible.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of treatments varies from patient to patient and it depends on the color of the tattoo, placement, and size. Certain colors are hard or impossible to remove, such as white, yellow, pink, light green and blue. While black and red colors are the easiest to remove. It is important to consider that laser treatments have to be at least 6 weeks apart.
How to prepare for a laser tattoo removal?
It is important to avoid tanning and sun exposure at least 4 weeks prior to treatment. Patients are advised not to irritate the placement area to avoid side effects and attain better results.
What is important to consider before committing yourself to a laser tattoo removal?
Before committing yourself to a laser tattoo removal it is important to consult an expert since some tattoos can be hard or impossible to remove. Some patients experience scarring while most of the procedures are not followed up by scarring. Common side effects include skin irritation followed by itchy and burning sensation. Least common risks are infections and hyperpigmentation. With some patients, treatments triggered allergic reactions.
What can you expect from the procedure?
A laser tattoo removal is associated with mild to moderate pain, therefore patients are provided with topical anesthetics or injectable local anesthesia. One treatment can last from 10 to 30 minutes. The length of one treatment depends on the size and color of the tattoo. Patients are required to wear goggles during the procedure. Different wavelengths are used to treat different ink color.
What is the treatment after the procedure?
Scabbing of the treated area may occur after the treatment and it may take up to several weeks to heal. Scab should be kept intact and covered to attain faster healing. The procedure can not be continued until the scab is healed. It is advised to avoid sun exposure and only rinses the area during showers, avoiding soaking in a bath, pool or similar.
