Laser Tattoo Removal
Tattoo removal has come a long way since the days of carving or acid burning. Thankfully, tattooing has also come a long way since when it was used to brandish criminals or prisoners and those gruesome removal methods were used to leave the past behind. However, while we may no longer get hunted by the police for a symbol etched into our skin, we may still be haunted by our lesser judgment or choices we made in the past, such as the notorious name of the now-ex or the motive that seemed like a really great idea after a bar tour on Kos in, say, 1999.
Erasing the past or making space
Or maybe you gave up some prime skin real estate too early and now you need it for a few project. Whether or not you merely want to erase the past or cover it up with something newer and brighter, tattoo laser removal is your best bet for a good result. Often, the laser removal process will not manage to get rid of a tattoo completely. However, enough treatments will brighten it sufficiently so that you are left only with a pale outline, setting you up for some amazing cover-up work.
How laser removal works
Most tattoos are removed by what is called a Q-switch laser. It is a non-invasive laser that creates a high-intensity pulsed beam light which lasts only for a billionth of a second. Try to imagine that in actual time if you can. These lasers are capable of shattering the ink pigments that sit underneath the uppermost layer of the skin through the heat they generate. The fragments are then cleared up by your own immune functions and flushed out of the system.
The number of treatments you will need to “completely’ (see above) get rid of your tattoo varies. Some ink, generally the brighter colours, is more stubborn than others. Most people generally need somewhere between six and eighth sessions.
However, larger tattoos may need ten or more. This is done over a planned course of treatment with a minimum of six weeks between sessions to allow the skin time to heal. The average tattoo will take you about eight months to get rid of. Of course, if your tattoo is already older and a little faded, you will see faster results.
Will having a tattoo removed hurt?
So, what about the pain? Yes, it is painful. However, it is not worse than having a tattoo done in the first place. People describe it as uncomfortable but entirely bearable. And it might be hurting you more wearing something you no longer feel proud of our identify with on your skin. You can also have part of a tattoo removed selectively, so that your artist can later help you fill in the space with something more suited to who you are today.
Is laser tattoo removal something you are considering? Call or write to have a consultation and see what it would mean for your specific needs.
