Generally we recommend 2-4 treatments to fade for a cover up and 6-12 treatments for a complete removal. All treatments are spaced approximately 6 to 8 weeks apart to allow enough time for the skin to heal and eliminate as much of the ink as possible through the body's lymphatic system.
In reality, most tattoos only require between three to five laser treatments to be faded sufficiently to allow a successful cover-up. Of course, that is an average – some tattoos only need two treatments, others need more.
It's best to allow your body 6 weeks to 6 months before opting for a cover up. This is because your body's immune system will still be working hard to remove the ink particles from your skin, so it's best to allow your body time for the immune system to return to normal.
If you only want to fade a tattoo ready for a new tattoo cover-up, you may need just 2-3 sessions over say 2-3 months, depending on what you want to cover it with. A new light-coloured tattoo will need more of the old tattoo removing than if you plan a new dark tattoo to cover the old one.
Laser tattoo removal isn't always necessary before a cover up but without it - your options are very limited if its even possible to cover your tattoo. Your skilled tattoo artist will be able to tell you just what is possible with your tattoo for a cover up.
A coverup is an ideal solution if you still like having tattoos and don't have any employment restrictions for showing them. It allows you to salvage an old tattoo, and darker colors are used to ensure the old ink is properly covered.
If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight. Every day from then on, you will wash the tattoo in the morning and at night, and apply lotion 3 times a day or so, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight.
Laser tattoo removal not fading can be caused by several factors. Some of which are the type of laser used, laser wavelength and ink colour, the laser technicians experience, recovery time between each session, and your immune system. Tattoo removal using laser treatment is not magic.
So, how many laser hair removal sessions are necessary to get rid of your unwanted hair for good? The answer depends on your individual needs, but most people can finish their initial treatment within 4-6 treatments.
You should apply the ointment to your skin three times a day, and cover your tattoo with a bandage for at least three days. By using cream and covering your tattoo, you are protecting the damaged and weakened skin from possible infection. After the three days, remove the bandage and expose the skin to air.
Avoid picking at any flaking, peeling, blisters or scabs that form. Do not pop any blisters, as doing so can cause an infection. Know what's normal. After a laser tattoo removal session, you may experience some redness, swelling and blistering as your skin heals.
Occasionally, it is possible to see a tattoo, even after laser treatments. This may indicate that you require more treatments. Some patients who intend to get another tattoo over top only want to see some fading of their tattoo. Laser tattoo removal can also achieve this.
Complete removal, depending upon the size and color of the tattoo, usually requires more than one treatment, Treatments are usually scheduled six weeks apart. The results from each tattoo removal session are not visible for about six weeks. Therefore, six weeks is usually the recommended time between sessions.
Generally, amateur or homemade tattoo may be removed within 3 to 7 sessions, while professional tattoos done with harder inks can require anywhere from 8 to 20 treatments. It is possible for some tattoos to require more than 20 laser treatments.
Although it is not possible to predict the number of sessions required for complete removal, most patients generally need 6 – 8 sessions. Larger tattoos may take 10 treatments or more. To make sure the skin heals properly in between each session, our administrative staff schedules appointments 6 – 8 weeks apart.
This is because as long as there is ink under your skin some frosting will appear. Once all or most of the ink has been treated, no more frosting will be visible.
Green is the hardest color to remove followed by light blue. Neon colors are also incredibly difficult to remove, and typically require multiple treatments with the Ruby laser. As a general rule, the greater the contrast between the color of the tattoo pigment and your skin, the better the result.
It's actually common to see the tattoo appear brighter after the first session due to the ink particles being disturbed. Rest assured, that your body will be removing the tattoo and you'll typically start to see the fading process around 3-5 sessions.
The majority of tattoo removals will result in a complete removal, however not all tattoos are made equal, and there are a variety of factors that can affect the tattoo removal process. The success of the removal is dependent on the size, depth, position, and colour of the tattoo itself, as well as your skin type.
If you consciously drink plenty of water during the weeks and months of laser tattoo removal, your body will do a better, speedier job flushing away the ink. Along with a nicely hydrated body, it is important that the other liquid inside us all – blood – is moving well.
There are certain areas of your body where a tattoo will fade faster. Areas of the body tattoos fade most include the hands, feet, elbows, armpit and inside of the arms. The reason is simple: friction. For example, tattoos on your feet fade quicker as socks and shoes are constantly rubbing these areas.
What NOT to do? DON'T re-bandage your tattoo, rub, scratch or pick at your new tattoo. DON'T apply alcohol, Neosporin, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly (they can trap dirt and germs and cause infection). DON'T apply a heavy coat of lotion (remember the skin must breathe in order to heal).
Black tattoos are some of the most difficult to cover up. This is because black ink is very dense and has a large particle size. As a result, black tattoos tend to hold their pigment better than other colors. That said, it is possible to cover up a black tattoo with another tattoo.