How Long Does It Take To Get A Tattoo Removed

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

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That tattoo you've had for years might begin to get old and not as exciting or meaningful as it was when you got it. If you are in this situation, you are not alone. Many Americans choose to have tattoos removed each year. According to industry statistics, about 11% percent of tattoos are eventually removed by their owners.

Reasons for removing tattoos vary from plain getting bored with a tattoo to feeling negatively about one's body. Other common reasons include removing a tattoo for getting a job and experiencing embarrassment over the tattoo, which prompts the change.

As you will see below, laser tattoo removal uses sophisticated laser technology to make the process effective.

Laser Tattoo Removal Technology and Process

Laser tattoo removal is an improvement on earlier methods of tattoo removal such as salabrasion and subcutaneous injection. In salabrasion, a salt-based solution is used to remove ink from the dermis and epidermis. There is immense amounts of pain involved in salabrasion. Subcutaneous injections using some type of cleansing liquid such as glycolic acid are sometimes used as well.

In laser tattoo removal, much of the pain is eliminated. The tattoo technician will use a laser of a light frequency that matches the ink in your tattoo. When the light hits the ink particles, the ink absorbs the light energy and disintegrates. The body's lymphatic system carries away the residue, leaving the skin clean.

Preparing for Laser Tattoo Removal

Typically, multiple sessions will be required to fully remove a tattoo using laser techniques. The exact number of sessions may be anywhere from four to ten, depending on the type of ink used in the tattoo.

Given the complexity of the removal, you should only get the service performed by proven experts. If possible, talk to past patients to see how well the provider removed their tattoos.

Ahead of your first session, avoid tanning, creams, lotions and other skin cosmetics. These may interfere with the skin during tattoo removal. On the actual day, make sure you are well-hydrated. If you have pain tolerance problems, let the tattoo removal specialist know so they can make special provisions for you.

Numbing Helps Deal with Tattoo Removal Pain

Some degree of pain is involved. While the laser itself doesn't hurt too much, the discomfort will feel like the skin is being hit with taut rubber bands. For some, the pain might be a challenge.

To alleviate the pain, your tattoo removal specialist should apply numbing creams on your skin or take other pain reduction measures. If you are going to take a painkiller medicine before the session, do so in strict consultation with the specialist.

Certain pain medicines may lead to the skin showing signs of bruising after the laser treatment. This could interfere with the skin's healing and tattoo removal process.

Potential Problems to Be Aware of

While laser tattoo removal is safer than alternative methods of tattoo removal, it carries some risks. The first is that it must be conducted by skilled professionals who are well-trained in the process. Bad practitioners can cause damage and permanent scarring to the skin.

Secondly, some tattoos will not go away completely. Traces of ink may remain, or, more likely, the skin will look a bit different from surrounding skin. For example, the skin where the tattoo was may be darker, or lighter, than neighboring areas.

In some cases, the site of a tattoo removal may get an infection, necessitating consultation with a medical professional.

How Much the Process Costs

Because there is a wide range of practitioners offering the service, costs for laser tattoo removal vary wildly. You may find a variety of practitioners charging anywhere from $100 to $1000 for each session of tattoo-removal.

Take into consideration that multiple sessions will likely be required. You also need to consider whether your insurance company will help you pay. In some cases, insurance companies don't cover the procedure unless it becomes a medical necessity.

When deciding which practitioner to go with, however, you should consider more than costs alone. A more experienced tattoo removal specialist may charge more but the cheapest options might put your health at risk. If possible, consult with a dermatologist near you who can recommend a safe option.