Laser Tattoo - The Healing Begins

Unlike my very first treatment, there were blisters forming up from the wound. After the 2nd treatment onwards, the blisters were nowhere to be seen. As per the last few sessions, the symptoms are very much the same. With constant itch as the wound starts to heal.

Above picture shows that the tattoo ink has greatly diminished as compared to the first. The blood seems to be oozing from the darker lines or rather the ink starts to break up and repel itself from the skin. How exactly does the laser break up the tattoo ink?

This is what I found according to my previous research,

Precise wavelengths of light generated by the tattoo removal laser are designed to be absorbed by the ink in your tattoo. Like absorption of any other kind of energy, this absorption will lead to a transfer of energy, leading to the ink in your tattoo heating up. This heating happens in a fraction of a second and causes the ink to shatter into tiny pieces. Before, the ink particles were too large for your body to remove. Now, though, they are fragments that are able to be flushed away by your body’s immune system.

6th Treatment Cost Of My Laser Tattoo Removal

After doing the treatment for several times, I am sort of having like a "pro" feeling now! What do I mean by that? You see, I don't really post much on this blog except for the regular process, the costings, the outcome, and some base information on laser tattoo removal etc. All this info that I have posted has become an ongoing process and its more or less similar.

The cost involved so far as of today:
1st treatment: $382
2nd treatment: $212
3rd treatment: $212
4th treatment: $212
5th treatment: $216
6th treatment: $244
Total spent on my laser treatments so far: $1478

Now assuming if I need a total of 12 treatments, $1478 will be doubled. So an estimate of $2800-$2900 plus time will be needed to remove your tattoo effectively! You may ask why $244 this time round? I got the following medication:
Numb cream
Bilaxten 20Mg (For more info, you can refer to my old post here)
And a new ointment called Muprin. Which I believe it has the same purpose for Foban Ointment.

6th Treatment Of My Laser Tattoo Removal

Yesterday was another session for my tattoo removal. I applied the numb cream at 9am. While going for my breakfast and waiting for the numbness to sets in at the same time. One thing I would like to share is that the numb cream really makes the whole laser process much more bearable.

I started the treatment around 10:45am, which means I took an hour and 45mins for the numb cream to take effect. Here's an immediate picture of the results after the procedure.

As you know during the procedure there will always be an assistant holding a cold air blower to make the process more bearable for us. Just to side track a bit from my usual laser tattoo post. I overheard the doctor saying to his assistant about going to Boy's Home or something. So I ask the doctor whats that all about?

Well, the doctor explained that he is also doing laser tattoo treatments for the boys at Boys Home. He came to know of this Boys Home assistant director and should the boys need to go for tattoo removal, they will need to be handcuffed and the boys will escorted by the guards on his left and right. That's where this doctor whom is doing this procedure for me proposed that he is willing to go to Boys home to do the treatment for the boys without accepting any charges! This doctor sure embrace his profession with respect. Salute!

Upon reaching home in the evening I took yet another photo of what it looks like:

I will continue to post regular updates soon. Feel free to bookmark this site and follow my updates.

My Progress and Results

Today marks the 7th month and 25th day of my tattoo removal since my first treatment back on 22nd December 2015. As time goes by, the progress and results are obvious. Tomorrow I will be heading for my number 6 treatment and the same old routine will follows.

Picture taken as of today

How Effective Is It? You may be asking? I strongly believe that my tattoo will be 100% removed without any trace of scarring by looking at the results today. So far, This is acceptable to me, considered that doctor says it may take 8-12 treatments to fully remove the tattoo.

Note that this is the final picture after the 5th treatment.

Foban Ointment general information

I got this ointment from my first treatment and it last me 5 sessions. Today I have used up this ointment and will be getting it again for my next treatment. I think doctor prescribe this for treating bacterial skin infections and also prevention of bacterial infection.

What is Foban Ointment used for?

Foban Ointment 2% is used as a topical treatment for bacterial skin infections, including primary skin infections like: impetigo (a contagious skin infection forming blisters or red spots), paronychia (infection of the nail fold), folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles) and erythrasma (infection in skin folds in areas like underarms, groin and between the toes); as well as secondary skin infections like infected cuts and abrasions, eczema and contact dermatitis. Foban Ointment 2% prevents the spread of susceptible bacteria, relieving symptoms of the infection.

How does Foban Ointment work?

Foban Ointment 2% contains sodium fusidate, an antibiotic that is used to treat primary and secondary skin infections, caused by susceptible bacteria, including sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and Corynebacterium minutissimum. It is not effective against Infection caused by non-susceptible organisms, in particular, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sodium fusidate in Foban Ointment 2% has bacteriostatic properties as it inhibits bacterial protein synthesis, which inhibits bacterial replication, but does not kill the bacteria. Sodium fusidate in Foban Ointment 2% is very soluble in fat and water and can therefore penetrate the skin easily to get to the site of infection, which makes it a very efficient topical antibiotic.

What does Foban Ointment contain?

Foban Ointment 2% (w/w) contains the active ingredient sodium fusidate (20mg/gm), a topical antibiotic used to treat primary and secondary skin infections. It also contains liquid paraffin and white soft paraffin.

What are the side effects of Foban Ointment?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Foban Ointment include: mild stinging and irritation for a short time at the site of application.

When should Foban Ointment not be used?

You should not use Foban Ointment 2% if you: are allergic to sodium fusidate or any ingredients in Foban Ointment... And are pregnant or are breastfeeding, without discussion with your doctor.

How should Foban Ointment be used?

You should apply your Foban Ointment 2% to infections on areas of uncovered skin 3-4 times daily by gently rubbing into the affected area. If you infection is in an area of covered skin you may be able to apply your Foban Ointment 2%, as recommended by your doctor. You should not apply Foban Ointment 2% to areas of skin near the eye and avoid getting any into the eye. You should continue to use your Foban Ointment 2% until your infection clears up or as recommended by your doctor.

How long should you use Foban Ointment?

You should continue to use your Foban Ointment 2% until your infection clears up or as recommended by your doctor.

How should Foban Ointment be stored?

You should store your Foban Ointment below 30°C in a cool dry place and protect from light and moisture. There you have it, all the questions and answers of this ointment for your reference.

5th Treatment cost

5 days after the treatment. The itch sets in as I sleeps in the night, the usual thing happens as the wound begins to heal.

@ $216/- for 5th treatment, which is the almost the same as compared to my last treatment.

I applied the numb cream but did not take the medicine for the itch as I have some left during my last treatment.

1st: $382

2nd: $212

3rd: $212

4th: $212

5th: $216

Total spent on treatment so far: $1234 ! Nice number!

This is how it looks like after the 5th treatment and in the process of healing.

Tattoo Removal 5th Treatment

Today I went early for my treatment and applied the numb cream. For the previous sessions, I did not apply any and the nurse was asking me why would you want to apply it now? I told them that I wanted the strongest laser to hit me as I want to see the results faster. But according to them, they said it was already the strongest at 8.1!

So after the treatment, I quickly took a photo as usual.

If you look closer and notice, there are white spots which indicates that the wound has not healed properly. You can refer to my very first post here. Another theory that white spots / white bubbles are normal. This is gas that has formulated under the skin after the laser treatment and will fade over time. Doctor advised that the next treatment should be 6 weeks later for it to be totally healed.

Upon reaching home, I took out the bandage and immediately too some pictures again:

Red and sore after treatment

I do have some balance medication and after applying the wound, here's what it looks like:

Oily and shiny look after the applied medication

Will hear from me soon for the updates on the cost involved.

A summary on how I manage so far

There are many reasons why each and every individual wants to remove their tattoo and it could be due to:

1. Wedding
2. Relationship
3. Employment
4. Military
5. Maturity
6. Change in aesthetics
7. Misspellings
8. Or even incorrect translations! For myself, I would say reason number 5. What's yours? Feel free to share with me.

After the 4th treatment on 3rd May 2016, I would like to share the progress on how the results differs as it goes. I will do a checker pic and you can see the difference and actual results.

As of 29 May 2016 which I took yesterday

A close up, which you can see significant progress as compared to my previous.

4th Treatment cost

This is the immediate picture which I took yesterday after the 4th treatment and you will notice the similarity from my previous postings.

With medication applied

Upon reaching home in the evening, I took another photo and this is what it looks like:

Blistered and battered

I first did this tattoo removal on the 22nd of Dec 2015 and today marks the 4th treatment and almost 5 months into it, the total cost spent till date is:

1st: $382
2nd: $212
3rd: $212
4th: $212
Total spent on treatment so far: $1018

Receipt attached

Tattoo Removal 4th Treatment

My appointment is 9:30am today and due to the fact that I keyed in my appointment timing wrongly, I arrived at 8:30am. Since I was so early, I went for my cup of tea. Later the staff contacted me and I went up to the clinic for my treatment. I secretly took a picture of that machine today!

MedLite© C6 Laser System

Safety and efficiency are key to how the MedLite© C6 Laser System operates. How does the MedLite© C6 Laser System work?

• The laser forces energy into the target ink molecules at an extremely high rate, until the ink molecules vibrate and shatter.
• The surrounding skin will not be harmed or damaged.

MedLite, the original Q-Switched laser from ConBio, has long been known as the industry’s gold standard laser for multi-colored tattoo removal. MedLite C6 is also highly effective on a wide range of additional indications on all patient skin types.

While waiting for the treatment to start, I decided to time myself how long does each procedure takes. Here's the total timing taken:

4 mins and almost 21 secs of pure pleasure while the lasers hit my skin!

For the 1st treatment, I had applied numbing cream and it still hurts like hell. Moving forward, I have endured 2nd, 3rd, and this 4th treatment without any numbing cream! I think I am a sucker for pain! I will post the after treatment photo in my next post.