Does tattoo removal hurt?
Laser tattoo removal can be uncomfortable but only for a brief moment. Most sessions are completed within a few minutes and there is no pain experienced the moment the laser stops. Will proceed at a pace that is comfortable to you and ice the treated area to help desensitize the heat.
How does a laser remove a tattoo?
When light hits an object some of that light (certain wavelengths) will be absorbed by the object, some might pass through the object and other wavelengths will be reflected. It is the wavelength of light that is reflected that determines what colour we see the object as having – ie a blue ink is ‘blue’ because it reflects light with a blue wavelength most effectively and absorbs other colours/wavelengths such as green or red. The light absorbed by the object puts energy into the object which is most often released again as heat. In Laser tattoo removal the ink particles are subjected to very very short (eg nanosecond) bursts of very very high energy light. The ‘optically dense’ ink particles absorb this light very effectively but because it is such a large amount of energy in such a short period they can’t get rid of the energy as heat fast enough and instead ‘shatter’. The fragments of ink are then small enough to be removed the bodies own white blood cells.
When getting the laser removal for tattoos, does it leave a scar and will it get rid of the tattoo completely?
The process of tattoo removal is a unique process where the individual colors are removed based on the unique colors of the different ink. If the correct settings and lasers are used there should be no scar to remove the tattoo completely.
What Tattoo Ink Colors Are Easiest to Remove?
Black and Grey are the easiest ink colors to remove. Usually, a Yag(1064nm) laser works well for these)
Green is the most difficult followed by light blue (Yag and Alexandrite lasers 1064nm and 755nm).
Red/brown/yellow/orange respond well primarily using 532nm laser.
Bottom line is you can usually clear a tattoo to a level that is barely noticeable to the naked eye, it's just a matter of how many treatments it will take to get there. That's because of the great variability in ink composition and our own individual immune systems which is actually what clears the ink.
Why has my tattoo shown little if any visible change after a few treatments?
An individual’s response varies from person to person. Dark, deep, colored, touched up and covered up tattoos may be especially difficult to remove and move more slowly. The tattoo may not appear to respond quickly even though the ink is dissipating. This is not uncommon particularly if a person has a compromised immune system.
Can I go straight back to work after a treatment session?
Yes! As long as you can keep the treated area clean and dry and out of the sun.
How Much Does Tattoo Removal Cost?
Treatment session will cost between $150 to $300 depending on how big your tattoo is. Multiple treatments with laser are needed to remove a tattoo, and no one can tell you how many sessions you will need, although an average is 5-10. Generally fewer sessions are needed for poorly done tattoos since the ink isn't as deep in the skin. Also, black tattoos are more easily removed than colored tattoos (with blue/green being the most difficult to remove).
