While there are pros AND cons of tattoo removal, for the most part, it's a positive experience for all. Whether you regret getting your tattoo or you're ready for a change, there's good news. Laser tattoo removal is an effective method for erasing unwanted ink!
Can a tattoo be 100% removed? It is difficult to give a one-size-fits-all answer to this often asked question, but broadly speaking, yes a tattoo can be 100% removed so long as your immune system is working effectively and you follow our sun-safe aftercare guidelines.
Although it might take a few sessions depending on your tattoo age, size, and coloration, most tattoo removal treatments can take away most, if not all, of your desired ink.
Does Laser Tattoo Removal Leave Scarring? It is very uncommon for a patient to scar from laser tattoo removal treatment when the proper laser protocols and patient aftercare are followed. If the skin already has irregularities such as scarring expect that to remain after laser tattoo removal.
Scarring is probably the biggest concern for those getting their tattoos removed with a laser. The more aggressive the treatments, the more likely it is to get a scar. Certain areas on the body are more likely to scar such as the wrists and ankles.
Amateur tattoo artists tend to use a lighter hand, making the laser removal process much easier. Ink pigments are all made up of different ingredients, this largely effects the tattoo removal process. Black ink is the easiest to remove completely, followed by green and blue which can be a little more difficult.
While results will become apparent within a few weeks, it is not unusual for the body to take more than a year to completely eliminate ink. For more information on how to remove tattoos and improve your skin, schedule an appointment at Dermatology Associates of Plymouth Meeting to develop a customized plan.
Some companies charge $10–25 per inch for removal. Someone removing a 36-square-inch tattoo might pay $400 for a session, whereas someone with a 4-square-inch tattoo might pay $175. Usually, the more inches you pay for, the less you pay per inch. Other companies charge by size category.
Redness, swelling, slight blistering, a little itching, and raised areas are extremely common and should be expected after treatment. The skin will feel tender and sensitive at first. It should take a maximum of two weeks for all of these responses to treatment to subside.
We need to address a misconception: tattoo removal creams don't actually remove tattoos. Instead, the tattoo removal creams can fade and re-color the skin around the tattoo to make the artwork less visible. If you want genuine removal, you'll need to shell out for (and suffer through) laser or surgical tattoo removal.
One of the most common home tattoo removal methods we see talked about is salabrasion or rubbing the skin away with salt. It's an old method, and it does technically work, provided you rub enough skin off to reach the layer where the ink is held. You could also achieve the same effect with coarse sand or sandpaper.
Older tattoos generally fade more easily with laser treatments than newer ones. For instance, a black tattoo that is ten years old may take one or two treatments less than a one year old black tattoo. Why? Because the body has already absorbed some of the tattoo's pigment throughout the years, making it easier to fade.
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.
Every individual is different, and therefore every tattoo is different. Understanding how laser tattoo removal works will help to understand why it's not as easy to predict. On average a person will need between 6-12 treatments laser tattoo removal treatments. However, some people need less, some may need more.
Does tattoo removal hurt? Laser tattoo removal typically does involve some level of pain. That said, many say that it hurts less than they expected. It's a common belief that tattoo removal is excruciating, yet most patients say that the sensation of removal is comparable to having a tattoo applied.
Some may suggest that it is harder to remove and a risk of complications. But, as a clinic that weekly treats over 300 clients of all skin types, laser tattoo removal for darker skin tones works equally well as lighter skin tones on Black ink.
Black and Grey tattoo inks are the easiest to remove.
Most clinics will have a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with a1064 nm wavelength. This is especially effective on black and grey ink colors.
Some people may have regretted the decision to get a tattoo, while others may simply want to get rid of a tattoo that is no longer meaningful to them. In some cases, people may want to remove a tattoo because it prevents them from getting a job or because it is causing them embarrassment.
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.
Most removal businesses will charge different rates depending on the tattoo's size. Very small tattoos at a bargain price location may run as little as $50 per treatment. A full sleeve or back tattoo may cost $1000 per session or more. There's a lot of variation there, and most tattoos fall somewhere in the middle.