Laser Tattoo Removal
If you've got a tattoo that you would love to remove one of your options is laser tattoo removal. But is it right for you?
The first thing to consider is whether or not your tattoo is suitable for removal using a laser. It's not down to size rather the colour or colours that make up your tattoo that is important. If you've got an all black ink tattoo then you're the perfect candidate for having your tattoo removed by laser as black is the easiest colour of all to remove.
Other coloured inks that the laser can remove with varying degrees of ease include red, yellow, orange, dark green, brown, blue and purple. Lasers work by breaking down the inks in the skin and lasers always work best with darker colours.
The most difficult ones to remove are light green and blue/green mixes like turquoise or teal as well as any colours that have been mixed with white ink to lighten them. Realistically these tattoos can only be lightened with a laser rather than removed completely. So if, for example, you've got a tattoo which incorporates a combination of teal and black, the black would be completely removed but the teal coloured parts would remain as faded teal coloured smudges.
So having decided that your tattoo is suitable for removal, next thing you'll want to think about is what is laser tattoo removal is going to be like - will it hurt, how long will it take, etc.
Removing a tattoo with laser will hurt but no more than when you had the tattoo done, and the laser session will be over a lot quicker. The pain is caused by the heat generated during the laser procedure and so tends to feel like a prickling, burning sensation. Skin numbing cream will help avoid the worst of the pain.
Expect most sessions to last anywhere between 5 minutes and half an hour. Unless you've got a very small tattoo then you should expect anything from 3 to 10 sessions. Of course for a very large tattoo the numbers of sessions will be greater. You need to allow 4 to 6 weeks between each session.
Possible reactions to the laser treatment include swelling and redness that may take up to a week to subside. Some people, especially those with a coloured tattoo may also experience some blistering. This isn't anything to worry about, just keep the area clean and dry until they disappear and use any cream or antibiotics that might be prescribed. Remember to keep the treated area from exposure to intense sunlight. If the tattoo is in an area that can't be covered use a high factor sun cream on it.
Although unlikely some minor scarring may occur. If your skin is particularly sensitive and starts to scar more than just a little you should be warned not to continue with the treatment.
Removing your tattoo by laser treatment isn't quick because of all the sessions needed, and certainly it isn't cheap but it is the most effective way and has only minor side effects which it why it is now such a popular form of tattoo removal.