8 Realistic Considerations For Laser Tattoo Removal

Parents who wear tattoos are common. Although others have a negative perception about this, we have to accept the fact that their tattoos have nothing to do with how they raise their kids.

But despite that, there are still people who are judgemental and would think that the tattoos are a manifestation of bad parenting. Many parents prove that this kind of thinking is wrong. However, there are some who prefer to have their tattoos removed. They do this not just for their own sake but for the children as well.

Removal of tattoos is a costly and often quite long-winded effort. But for those who are serious about getting their tattoos removed, here is a realistic guide to how it is achieved.



1. Laser tattoo removal is painful – but exactly how painful depends on many factors.

This one is a pretty extreme exaggeration. Like a lot of sensations, laser tattoo removal pain is highly subjective. The level of pain is usually compared to relatively minor irritations, like having a rubber band snapped against your skin. Some people don’t even consider it painful – but some people do experience more significant discomfort, like catching a droplet of oil from a hot frying pan.

Besides your personal pain threshold, the location of the tattoo you’re having removed matters. The good news is, topical anesthesia is a viable option for tattoo removal. Injections or creams can be used to numb the affected skin. What about the machine responsible for all of this?


2. The laser tattoo removal machine is an impressive piece of technology.

Today, tattoo removal is handled by a machine employing Q-switched lasers. It uses tiny, intermittent bursts of single-color light to send energy into the skin along precise wavelengths. This energy is absorbed by particles of tattoo ink rather than the flesh around them. 

The ink is broken up into smaller bits that can then be flushed out naturally by the body’s immune system. Over the course of repeated treatments, eventually all of the ink in the targeted area gets flushed away and the tattoo fades completely. In summary, laser tattoo removal works by zapping light beams straight into the ink embedded in your skin.


3. The ink from those tattoos of yours is mostly headed into the toilet.

Once you get into laser tattoo removal treatment, as described above, you’ll have little particles of ink lose in your body. These tiny bits of pigment will enter your bloodstream and, like other unwanted particles, get filtered out by your kidneys. 

Some of them may leave your body in the form of sweat, but most of them will be passed in your urine. (No, tattoo removal doesn’t make your output the same color as the ink!) The added strain tattoo removal places on your kidneys are one reason you can’t get lots of tattoos treated at once.



4. Each tattoo typically requires 6 to 10 removal sessions, each of which needs 4 weeks of recovery time.

Many factors affect the total amount of treatment required to remove a tattoo, including its size, its ink density, and the patient’s skin quality. Generally speaking, satisfactory removal will require six to 10 treatment sessions. Patients need to take four weeks in between sessions so that the skin has time to heal and the body has time to purge the ink particles. 

When conditions are right, dermatologists can accelerate the process somewhat by combining up to three treatment sessions into one. One piece of good news is that each tattoo removal session is remarkably brief. 10 minutes is generally the maximum amount of time required, and for especially small tattoos, treatment may be as quick as 30 seconds.


5. The cost of laser tattoo removal can sting even more than the treatment itself.

Paying for laser tattoo removal is, for many patients, the most painful part of the entire process. Treatment costs vary wildly based on region, provider, and specific tattoos. Most dermatologists charge by the session, in part to conceal the total cost of a course of treatment. Normal costs can go well over $1,000 per tattoo. The good news is that there may be financial assistance available to help you defray the cost of tattoo removal in certain situations. Discuss charitable options and financial resources with your dermatologist when you consider laser tattoo removal.


6. Tattoos look horrifying in the immediate aftermath of a laser session.

According to Dore Aesthetics laser tattoo removal can cause a host of short-term side effects that can look and feel nasty. Blisters, redness, swelling, pus, pinpoint bleeding, temporary darkening and or raising. These issues are all common and no cause for concern – unless they persist for more than two weeks. If your side effects aren’t going away, contact your dermatologist as soon as possible.




7. Taking care of your skin after laser tattoo removal.

The professionals who actually handle your tattoo removal will probably supply you with an ice pack as soon as the treatment is over. Further basic care steps include applying an antibiotic cream and bandaging the treated area. In order to keep your skin healthy, you should apply antibacterial cream and strong sunscreen to the affected skin. Resist the temptation to pick at it!


8. Potential laser tattoo removal problems.

As technology advances and laser tattoo removal providers grow more experienced, the number of unwanted side effects are declining all the time. That doesn’t mean the procedure is or ever will be totally risk-free, though. Potential problems you might face during or after laser tattoo removal treatment include:

* Persistent minor side effects (see above).
* Infections may be more likely during treatment.
* Complete tattoo removal might not be possible – you may still have a “ghost” tattoo.
* Treatment may cause permanent scarring
* Treatment may leave the treated skin paler or darker than surrounding areas (dermatologists call these hypo- and hyper-pigmentation, respectively).

We hope that this post will help you for your interest in having a laser tattoo removal.