Getting a tattoo may have seemed like a great idea at the time. But now that you’re older and wiser, you realise that it may have been the wrong decision. Or perhaps it’s causing you unnecessary stress or health problems like allergic reactions and infections.
The good news is that, regardless of your reasoning, your once “permanent” tattoo can be removed with laser treatment.
But if you’re conflicted about tattoo removal because you don’t know much about it, don’t worry – we’re going to help you out. We want to help you make the right decision for your body.
We’re going to break down exactly how tattoo removal works, it’s effectiveness, how long it takes, and ultimately help you decide if it’s the best option for you.
Q-switched lasers are the most effective method for tattoo removal. The laser emits high-intensity pulses that target deeper layers of skin, passing through the top layer of skin without causing any damage. The light beam then reaches the tattoo ink, causing it to shatter and fragment into smaller pieces. Compared to a complete tattoo, these fragments are more easily broken down by the body’s immune system.
Black tattoos are the easiest to remove. Other colours require different combinations of lasers and wavelengths to be successfully removed, though it’s much more difficult to remove coloured tattoos.
Even though you may have only had to sit for an hour to get your tattoo, the removal process isn’t quite that simple. Laser tattoo removal requires multiple treatments, and the number of which will depend on the following:
Small, shallow tattoos can be removed in as little as 2 treatments spread over 8 weeks. For larger, professional tattoos, you’ll need to undergo upwards of 10 treatments, each of which is spread 4-6 weeks apart.
Because it’s such a long process that varies from case to case, the price can range from a few hundred dollars for small black tattoos to thousands of dollars for large, coloured pieces.
It is possible to completely remove a tattoo under the right conditions. But more often than not, you should be prepared for your ink to appear significantly faded rather than completely gone. It’s also likely that your skin will scar without ongoing cosmetic intervention.
This is one of the most common questions about laser tattoo removal – is tattoo removal painful? Laser tattoo removal causes a similar amount of pain to the original tattoo.
Most patients compare the burning sensation to a bad sunburn and the pulses to a rubber band being snapped against your skin. And though this is the experience of most, your pain will vary based on the location, colour, and size of your tattoo.
On the plus side, the laser treatment is quick (depending on the size of course), meaning you won’t have to endure the pain for more than a few minutes. In fact, small tattoos take less than ten minutes.
We also offer a topical anaesthetic cream that can be applied 1 hour before treatment to reduce the amount of pain you feel. And in some cases, we may also use cooling devices and/or prescription pain medications.
Can a tattoo be completely removed?
In some cases, yes, a tattoo can be completely removed. The effectiveness of the laser removal depends on the size, location, colour, and depth of the ink.
The “easiest” tattoos to remove are black ink pieces located on areas of thin skin such as the wrist, ankle, or face. Coloured tattoos, especially those on thick-skinned areas like the thigh, arm, and back will be difficult to completely remove. Typically, they’ll appear significantly faded after treatment is complete.
How long does tattoo removal take? And how long do the results last?
Tattoos often take several months to remove with upwards of 5-10 treatments being the norm. The number of treatments will vary from person to person based on the size, colour, and depth of the tattoo ink. Each treatment must be spaced at least 6-8 weeks apart.
If we’re able to fully remove your tattoo, you won’t have to worry about it coming back – it’s gone forever. Similarly, tattoos that fade significantly after treatment will not regain their vibrance after treatment ends. Laser removal is an effective, permanent strategy if you’re ready to say goodbye to your ink.
