Tattoos are a permanent fixture on your skin unless you utilize laser removal. Keeping this in mind, it can be difficult to understand how the process of laser removal can remove something that is so seemingly permanent. Knowing how something like laser tattoo removal can help demystify the process and can help you determine if it is going to be right for you. Knowing more about laser tattoo removal is what we want to help you with at Skin Clinic Tattoo Removal in NY.
How Does Laser Treatment Remove Tattoos?
Tattoos are images or words that have been drawn on the skin with the use of a tattoo gun or needle. The tattoo machine pushes ink down below the surface of the skin, into the dermal layer of the skin. The average tattoo needle goes about 1.5 to 2 mm into the skin and deposits the ink there to make the picture.
When this happens, the ink will not be sloughed off like pictures drawn with a pen on the epidermal layer of the skin. Since the ink is much further into the skin, it remains in place despite dead skin cells wearing off each day. As the tattoo ages, the ink will be pushed further and further down into the dermal layer of the skin and will start to appear faded and less vibrant than it was when it was first placed.
Laser tattoo removal works to target the pigment that was placed by the tattoo needle to help remove the tattoo fully. The laser works with high intensity light beams being shot into the skin or passed through the skin. This laser is safe and when operated by a professional removal specialist, it can be very effective.
Since different colors absorb different wavelengths of light, the lasers are going to be customized to the color of the pigment that is being removed. As your removal specialist works to remove your tattoo, the laser will be adjusted to fit the color that is currently being removed. The laser will work to break up the pigment that was placed where it will be absorbed by the body.
Tattoo pigments are body safe so the breaking up of the pigment is not going to cause you any pain or any issue. Black is a color that absorbs all laser light frequencies, making it one of the easiest colors to get rid of in removal. Your removalist will talk to you more about the process so that you can feel safe and assured and so that you will know what to expect and how the overall process is going to go.
The Removal Process
The first step of the removal process is your consultation. This is going to be the step in which you find out if your tattoo is one that can be fully and safely removed, and also to get an idea about how many treatments it is going to take to remove the tattoo. After you determine if you want to go on with the treatment, you will then schedule your sessions and get started.
The technician will give you a pair of protective eyewear to make sure that the lasers do not damage your eyes. They will also do a spot test to see how the laser affects your skin and how you react to it. They can administer light pain management or topical creams to help make the pain less and to make the entire process more manageable.
For very large tattoos or those that have a huge amount of color, you may have to have more than one session to ensure that the pigment is fully broken up. Your technician can help you determine how many treatments you are going to need and explain to you the full process.
What to Know Before Heading to a Laser Tattoo Removal Clinic?
The first thing you need to know before coming to a laser tattoo removal or before even having a consultation is that some tattoos may not be able to be fully removed. They may be mostly removed and they may be significantly less visible, but some tattoos are simply not able to be fully removed. Also, your skin makes a difference in the way that the removal works. At Skin Clinic Tattoo Removal in NY, we can help you determine how your skin is going to react and we can help create a treatment program around it.
You also need to know that you should not expect this to be painless or for it to be fast. This is a process that does take a few visits and there is some pain associated with it. Most people are able to undergo their treatment without any pain medication or without any sedation, but if it is too painful, you may want to consider some sort of paint management.
When you do get laser tattoo removal, there are some things that you need to keep in mind for the first appointment and for any appointment after that. At Skin Clinic Tattoo Removal in NY, we want you to be prepared for what lies ahead. On the day of your scheduled appointment you should make sure you wear clothing that you are comfortable in.
Loose clothing that does not pull or press on the area is best. You want to wear something that is going to allow the area to breathe and that is not going to put too much pressure on that area after your treatment is complete. The next thing to keep in mind is that you want to make sure the area is clean. If you have hair in the area you will want to shave it to speed up the process and to make it easier for your technician to do a great job.
You should not go swimming, in a hot tub, or in the bath if you can avoid it for a few days after you have had your treatment to help allow it time to heal. Non-stick bandages are a good idea as is a light ointment like Aquaphor. You should limit smoking before your procedure or quit entirely if you can as smoking can decrease oxygen flow and make healing take longer.
Your technician will work with you to help you learn all the things that you need to be aware of prior to your visit. At Skin Clinic Tattoo Removal in NY, we work with you to help you prepare mentally and physically for the process so that you can prepare for success.
Aftercare Tips
The first thing you want to remember with laser tattoo removal is that the area is going to be very sore. You want light and loose clothing over the area to help it heal and to reduce pressure on it as it does heal. You also want to have non-stick bandages at home if you are going to cover the area. Non-stick bandages are going to help ensure the area does not get damaged.
A light ointment like Aquaphor is a good idea as it can keep the area hydrated without being too thick or too heavy. It can help create a barrier to keep out dirt and bacteria. With any area that has been laser treated, you want to avoid soaking it for at least 3 days and you want to avoid putting things like perfumed lotions on the skin as well as perfumed soaps.
Limiting cigarette smoking before and after the procedure can also help with healing as smoking can reduce blood flow to the skin which can increase healing time. You should avoid being out in the sun, if you do have to go into the sun, you should apply a gentle sunscreen to the area with at least an SPF of 30 or higher. This is going to protect the area. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that it does take time for the area to heal and you do need to give it time.
FAQ
How much does removal cost?
A- At Skin Clinic Tattoo Removal in NY we do not like to quote basic prices. The price of removal does depend on a few factors. The size of the tattoo, the colors, the location, and the number of treatments needed all factor in.
How long does removal take?
This is, again, something that is specific to the tattoo and to the person having it removed. Some are easier to remove than others, while some take multiple sessions. Removal can take as little as a couple of sessions, or as many as ten. Your removal specialist will be able to tell you how your skin reacts and help you understand how long it might take.
Does removal hurt?
The simple answer to this is, yes. It does hurt. It does not hurt as much as the initial tattoo many have said, but it is not a fully painless experience. You will be able to get topical pain medication in some cases to help ease the pain, but it is not totally unbearable.
Will there be a scar?
removal is geared mainly toward getting rid of the pigment. If there was scarring caused by the initial tattoo, there is no way to fully remove that. Your laser removal specialist will work to make sure they remove as much of the tattoo as possible, but there may still be some residual scarring left behind.
