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Laser Tattoo Removal. Does it work?

Want To Get Rid Of Unwanted Tattoos?

Laser tattoo removal is a medical procedure that aims at permanently removing unwanted tattoos. Laser tattoo removal utilizes skincare technology that facilitates permanent discoloration to fade the tattoo.

Utilizing this technology allows victims to have tattoos of different colors, shapes, and sizes removed. Compared to some creams that claim to remove tattoos, laser tattoo removal is one of the most reliable options and can promise some good results.

Be Clear With Your Expectations

Before going ahead with a tattoo removal procedure, you should know that laser tattoo removal is not fully guaranteed. You need to find a plastic surgeon who will help you come up with realistic goals and treatment expectations. In some cases, the tattoo can only clear partially and leave a faded appearance.

Depending on your skin type and other factors, you can even form marks that may look like a scar. Therefore, you should contact the best cosmetic surgeon to minimize the risks of having adverse side effects.

Closeup of a woman before and after laser treatment. Different tattoos will fade at different rates.

How Does Tattoo Laser Treatment Work?

Laser tattoo removal is now becoming a common procedure and the ideal solution to individuals who want to remove their tattoos permanently.

Before considering the treatment you should get a better understanding of how the treatment works, and the benefits and risks involved.

Laser treatments could typically take two to four sessions to achieve quality results. In some situations, tailored treatment plans may be required to eliminate the tattoo.

A cosmetic surgeon determines the number of laser treatments required based on the tattoo’s size, pigmentation, and position.

What is the technology involved?

The treatment uses light pulses from a laser to break any kind of pigmentation under your skin. If the color pigmentation disintegrates, the tattoo begins to fade and a repeat of the procedure ensures that the tattoo is no longer visible.

Doctors use different lasers for different pigment colors and different skin types.

Dark colors such as black and brown respond better to treatments, while lighter colors may take a little longer to completely discard the pigment.

Which Tattoos Respond Best To Laser Removal?

Most tattoos can be removed using the laser treatment option. An older tattoo has settled over a long time period which might make the process easier.

Over the past decade, the inks that have been used are much stronger, making the removal process somewhat more difficult. Regardless of when the tattoo was done, some colors are easier to remove than others.

Shades of red and yellow are more difficult to remove and may require more treatment sessions than tattoos with dark colors. A multi-colored tattoo requires multiple treatment sessions because different ink colors respond to different laser wavelengths.

Another problem to consider is the position of the tattoo on the body. Areas with more body fat, such as arms, buttocks, legs, or chest, will give better results compared to areas with less body fat, such as ankles or fingers.

Discomfort of tattoo removal will often depend on the location of the tattoo and your pain threshold.

Find A Good Laser Tattoo Removal Clinic.

Be careful when choosing a clinic to perform the laser tattoo removal procedure. You should never compromise when it comes to quality. If the procedure is performed by incompetent practitioners with little or no experience, you may be at risk of contracting serious skin infections and diseases.

We recommend that you seek multiple examinations from qualified professionals. In that way, you will have the chance to work with a team that has adequate experience and skills to perform the tattoo removal procedure.

It is also important to pay attention to the level of cleanliness and hygiene in the clinic.

Make sure that the clinic you select maintains a high level of cleanliness and that the devices are in perfect condition.

Another factor you need to consider is the clinic’s legitimacy, registration, and licensing. Also, make sure that they have the necessary permits to work as a clinic that offers services such as laser tattoo removal.

It is recommended that you obtain a recommendation from the local medical association regarding the quality of the services provided by the various clinics in your area of jurisdiction.

The Risks & Costs Involved

The total cost of removing tattoos through laser treatment can be very high. If your budget is tight, this option may not be within your reach.

The total cost may range between $ 300 and $ 600 per session. All tattoos require multiple treatment sessions to achieve quality results. Therefore, you may have to look for financing options that can help you get the cosmetic procedure done.

The first downside of this procedure is pain. Some people may suffer more than others, but it depends on some factors.

Some claim the removal procedure is more painful than the actual tattoo application procedure. Others report that it hurts less. However, the cosmetic surgeon who performs the removal procedure can minimize the pain by administering a topical anesthetic before the treatment.

When you have a laser treatment to remove a tattoo, it will take several sessions for it to fade and hopefully disappear.

You must be prepared to endure a certain level of pain during the procedure and the healing process.

Lastly, you must be aware of the possibility of scarring after the procedure.

You need to practice proper aftercare to minimize scarring, but there is no guarantee that it won’t happen.

The next risk associated with this method is hyper-pigmentation or hypo-pigmentation, which might happen in the treatment area and tends to become lighter or darker after it has healed completely.

Tattoo Removal – How Much Will It Cost

You might have gotten yourself tattooed when you were younger. But now, you may have a tattoo you no longer want and would like it removed. While there are many methods for tattoo removal, you may want to know how much removing your tattoo will cost.

Many factors affect the cost of having your tattoo removed. It will greatly depend on the type of tattoo that you have and the removal method you choose. There is a great tattoo removal price range.

A there are varying methods used for tattoo removal, it is difficult to tell how much it will cost to have your tattoo removed. You will need to consult with a tattoo removal practitioner to be able to find out. A tattoo removal procedure could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on many factors.

Factors Affecting The Cost Of Tattoo Removal

The Tattoo Removal Facility

Today, you will find many facilities offering tattoo removal procedures as tattoo removal is becoming very common.

You can have your tattoo removed by a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist. This could cost you in the price range from $150 to $1000 per treatment to remove a tattoo.

You can also have your tattoo removed at a medical spa specializing in tattoo removals. Medical spas have medical practitioners that perform tattoo removal. Costs may vary from around $100 to $700 per treatment. This is a popular option because the spa environment is more relaxing than the other alternatives.

Another specialized facility you can have your tattoo removed is a private tattoo removal clinic. These clinics offer laser tattoo removal. The price range per treatment offered by these clinics is from $50 to $500 per treatment.

An alternative to removing the tattoo is to cover-up the tattoo. Although, strictly speaking, this method does not remove the tattoo, it is an option if the reason for wanting to remove the tattoo is because of the nature of the tattoo and not the tattoo itself. For this option, tattoo parlors do cover-up tattoos. Before covering up a tattoo, they try to fade or lighten the ink of the old tattoo.

The Tattoo Size

The size of your tattoo will determine how long the removal process will take, so this will also influence the cost of the procedure.

The cost of removing a tattoo is calculated by its square inch coverage. Most removal clinics range from $50 to $70 per square inch of the tattoo. If the tattoo is small to medium-sized, it would usually cost from $80 to $500 per session.

The Tattoo Color

If laser removal is used, then each ink color is removed by a different wavelength. Colored tattoos are removed using different types of laser technology. Your tattoo removal clinic will inform you on which laser wavelength to use on your tattoo.

Treatment in the same area may be necessary based on the different colors in that area.

The Kind of Ink Used

There are different kinds of ink used for tattoos. Tattoos can be metal-based, plastic-based, organic-based, and more. Some types of ink are easier to remove than others. Whatever type of ink was used in your tattoo will determine how difficult it is to remove and thus will affect the cost.

The Ink Thickness/Density

Ink is saturated in a tattoo. Some artists use more ink than others. These tattoos will naturally have a higher ink density.

A tattoo with high ink density will be more difficult to remove and so the procedure will be more expensive than less dense tattoos.

The Age of the Tattoo

If your tattoo is fairly new, it will be much harder to remove than a tattoo which is done many years ago. The appearance determines the age of the tattoo. So, if you are going to have a newer tattoo removed, then it would cost you more than having to remove a very old one.

The Technical Experience

The price charged by a tattoo removal expert will depend on the level of training and experience that he has. Make sure to find out the level of experience your removal technician has. You might think of using the services of someone with less experience for financial reasons.

The Removal Method

Although laser removal is the most popular method for removing tattoos at present, there are several methods for removing a tattoo.

Laser removal is the most common. The price range for laser tattoo removal goes from $200 to $1000. The laser removal method is safe and effective. When it comes to side effects and overall quality, lasers are the best option.

Surgical excision is a procedure where the skin underneath a tattoo is removed. The remaining skin is then stitched back together. A surgical scar is left. Surgical incision costs from $1000 to $10,000.

Dermabrasion is a method where the skin is sanded away. It leaves a scar or a pale area. It is also known to be a painful procedure. This procedure costs from $150 to $350.

Chemical removal uses chemicals that are applied to the skin so that the tattoo can be rubbed off. This is quite risky since chemicals used for the procedure can harm a patient. And sometimes, that tattoo is not even removed. Removal by chemicals can cost you from $80 to $150.

Take-home treatments. You can use creams and lotions to make your tattoo less visible. These treatments can help your tattoo fade but it will not remove them completely.

Your Skin Type

It is easier to distinguish tattoo ink on lighter skin. If you have a dark skin tone, it will require more sessions to remove your tattoo so that side effects like hypopigmentation are avoided.

To prevent any skin reaction to laser technology, skin sensitivity and color need to be considered. Certain types of skin are highly sensitive to laser.

Tattoo removal lasers can be compared to the sun’s UV rays and so sensitive skin should not be exposed to it. When this is the case, skin experts can provide other methods of tattoo removal.

How Much To Remove A Tattoo

Medical insurance providers do not consider laser tattoo removal as something that can be covered by health insurance. The reason for this is that laser tattoo removal is a cosmetic procedure. What this means is that you are getting your tattoo removed because of personal preference. And medical insurance only covers expenses that are related to one’s health.

Read our article on options for removing tattoos for free

Best Ways To Remove A Tattoo Without Busting The Bank

As the number of people having tattoos increases, the number of people having tattoo regrets also does. People with tattoo regrets are beginning to look for ways of how to remove their tattoo.

Tattoo Regret

There are times when we like something so much at some point, that we etch it on our skin forever. The keepsake may be a great love, a symbol that identifies us, words, phrases, characters – anything goes. However, although we do it because we want to express ourselves, many have tattoos solely for aesthetic or fashion purposes.

It Is Hard To Remove Tattoos

Before getting a tattoo, consider it carefully because, among its many characteristics, it is one of irreversibility. To remove a tattoo, you will have to invest in treatments; most of them surgical, which are expensive and usually very unpleasant and aggressive against the skin.

However, in recent years, new effective natural cosmetic treatments have appeared which eliminate or reduce the visibility of the tattoos. To help you decide a suitable treatment, we will discuss the best Ways To Remove A Tattoo.

8 ways to remove a tattoo.

1. Tattoo removal cream.

With the recent advances in cosmetics, there are a variety of creams explicitly created for tattoo removal. This method is excellent if you have a low tolerance to pain, since it does not hurt or leave scars. If you’re looking for an option that allows your skin to look good aesthetically and is also affordable, this may be the best technique.

A disadvantage of using this method is the amount of time it takes to work and to see results. The can take many months or even a year, and even then, there is no guarantee the tattoo will be completely removed.

You should apply the tattoo removal cream by massaging the tattooed skin in a circular motion. You can choose from a variety of different products. Still, you should select a product which contains trichloroacetic acid. This is very beneficial for removing tattoos and other types of skin imperfections.

Often, you will need to use a variety of tattoo removal creams. These creams are interspersed over time, depending on the stage you are at with the tattoo removal. Using multiple tattoo removal creams is more expensive.

When using tattoo creams, you should follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. If you don’t, you risk suffering from severe burns, blisters, or even large scars.

See our article on tattoo removal cream

2. Salabrasion.

This technique consists of rubbing salt with water on the skin to heat it and remove the upper layers of the skin. These layers are the ones that contain the ink of the tattoo.

The process must always be performed by a professional since if you do it yourself, you run the risk of suffering burns and irreversible scars and skin damage.

This technique can cause pain or stinging since the professional will have to massage the tattoo area little by little. However, this is a very effective technique, since the salt penetrates the layers where the ink is found and makes it disappear. However, if your skin is very sensitive or the tattoo is very large, this option may not be the best for you.

3. Dermabrasion

In this method, a qualified professional will spray a numbing solution on your skin and then sand it down to reveal the blotchy layers of skin underneath the tattoo, which will also cause the tattoo ink to release from the skin slowly.

A local anesthetic will be applied to avoid pain, but it is still normal for the area to bleed a little and feel painful, even with the anesthetic.

As an advantage, the cost is lower than other highly sought after professional treatments, such as the laser option.

After the treatment, for ten days, you will not be able to expose the treated skin to sunlight, and you will have to apply a specific gel on the affected area to calm the pain. Keep in mind that if you are prone to scarring or hypopigmentation, this technique is not for you.

4. Aloe vera.

This plant seems to be the skin friend par excellence. It can heal burns in a matter of days, reduce scars, and moisturize the skin. And yes, it’s also an ideal method of removing your tattoos.

You should remove the skin from the plant and spread the gel inside on the surface of your tattoo. You have to do this three times a day until it disappears.

Aloe vera is the only natural and homemade method that can work to remove a tattoo, but as with creams, the process is usually slow. If the tattoo is very large, it may be even harder to remove. Another disadvantage of this method is the uncertainty of time since it can take from one month to more than a year to work.

This is one of the homemade tattoo removal methods.

5. Surgery.

This method, as well as most of the ones mentioned above, must be performed by qualified professionals. In this case, a tattooist is not enough. The person who performs the surgery must have valid medical training, since this is one of the riskiest methods, not only for your skin but also for your health.

The surgery process is quite simple. Under local anesthesia, the qualified professional will remove the skin containing the tattoo. The surgeon will then stretch the ends, to form new skin. This method is not the best, and sometimes not recommended for larger tattoos. In many cases, small areas of the tattooed skin are removed over many sessions. This avoids problems of infections, but will result in many small scars. Aesthetically, it may not be as nice.

It is important to emphasize that this method may result in wounds that do not close and scars. Even with minor scars, The skin will be very sensitive and must not be exposed to sunlight either.

6. Tattoo Removal With Laser Technology

This method is one of the most effective. However, it is an expensive process that requires several sessions and must be carried out by a professional.

The laser treatment uses light pulses on the skin at a very high, concentrated temperature to break down the pigments under the skin. The tattoo becomes less visible, and the ink under the skin is broken down and expelled by the body, thanks to blood circulation.

The ink pigments absorb different wavelengths of light. Thus, for the laser to break down the ink, it must be set to the correct wavelength. Tattoos with different pigments will need to use more than one wavelength to break down each type of ink particle.

One of the main advantages of this method is that, although it is painful, it does not hurt as much as other more invasive methods that scrape the skin directly. On the other hand, if you decide to remove your tattoos with this method, you will avoid possible scars, bleeding, and infections.

7. Intense Pulsed Light Treatment.

Finally, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) helps to stimulate collagen production, providing a significant improvement in our skin. It is a treatment that is used on the upper layers of the skin to burn the tattoo.

In general, it is a less painful technique than the laser one, and it is a more economical process since it requires fewer sessions to work. The skin will need several months to heal completely; generally, you will have to wait twelve months to see the final results.

As with the laser, this technique does not usually leave visible scars.

8. Cover up.

This technique consists, as its name indicates, in covering your previous tattoo with a new one. This method works great when the tattoo you want to cover is small or without intense or unusual colors.

Tattoo cover-ups can be done in two ways, using the elements of the tattoo already on the skin as a base for the new design or covering it completely. If you cover the tattoo using the first method, the design will be partially determined by the old tattoo. It will be the base from which the tattooist starts by taking advantage of the old lines without totally covering it.

Conclusion

There are many methods you can use to remove a tattoo which you no longer want on your skin. It is advisable to research which method may be most appropriate for you.

To do this, take into account your skin type. If you have any disease that may prevent you from using any specific method, this is also important. Your tolerance to pain is (since each way of removing tattoos generates a different pain) an issue. The other things that matter are the size of your tattoo, as well as the inks used for it. Its colors can profoundly affect the result you get if you try to remove it. Tattoos done by non-professional tattooists with inferior quality inks or dubious precedence will be more complex to remove than those done with all the regulations in place.

We hope we have helped you make the best decision.

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