The first tattoo was inked around 5,000 years ago. It appealed to people and getting a tattoo has become a widely followed trend since then. In current times, you can find various young with at least one tattoo on them. It seems unique and you receive plenty of compliments over the choice of design or idea. Not to mention, many celebrities have also preferred to be a part of bandwagon which boosted its popularity even more.
Moreover, tattoo designs vary from an animal face to an inspirational quote; you can opt for anything that blends well with your personality. It is worth noting that a tattoo is permanent. Once you get it, the design will stay on your body forever. That is why most people are cautious when it comes to getting a tattoo. You will be pleasantly surprised to learn that with the advancement in technology, now you can remove a tattoo. The removal procedure is safe, effective, accessible, and affordable.
Reasons to Remove a Tattoo
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Getting a tattoo may be exciting in teenage; however, it might get embracing in adulthood. Or sometimes it is your profession or culture that doesn’t accept dramatic designs on you encouraging you to get rid of a tattoo. Moreover, removing an old tattoo to get a new one is often a reason as well. Plus, there could be various reasons that push you to get it removed. Here are some of them.
Size and Location
No question a tattoo looks splendid if done correctly. You assumed it will appear unique at a certain place but it turns out to be a disaster. Also, sometimes the size of tattoo also disappoints. These factors lead you to tattoo removal without giving it a second thought.
Emotional Decision
An impulsive decision could be a reason to get a tattoo and regret it later. You think getting a tattoo will seem unique or it will inspire you. However, you have no choice left when it goes in the opposite direction.
Unexpected Outcome
You spend considerable time on the design or search hours to get inspiration to get the best tattoo. Despite that, you cannot predict how it would look in the end. And it hurts to receive an undesirable outcome after spending time and money. Circumstances like these also contribute to tattoo removal.
Wrong Cover-up Experience
A cover-up is a process where you can get previous or an unwanted tattoo covered using same or darker ink. People opt for the option because it is cheaper and hides faded or light tattoos. However, covering up often creates more mess and looks unpleasant which is why removing it completely seems a better idea.
Instant Regret
You think a bold or large tattoo would look unique on you but it didn’t. That is where getting a new tattoo becomes your regret. And you want to get rid of it immediately. This is one of the tattoo removing reasons as an unattractive design may land you in embracing situations.
Can You Remove A Tattoo Using Home Remedies?
You may find creams or balm that claims to lighten or erase a tattoo effectively. Most people invest in the products thinking they could become an inexpensive or painless alternative. However, the case is opposite as there are no home remedies available to remove a tattoo. You will only end up wasting your money over useless balms or creams.
10+ Thing to Learn About Laser Tattoo Removal
There could be any reason that encourages you to get your tattoo removed. Additionally, removing a tattoo isn’t a tough nut to crack anymore. The laser tattoo removal is considered a safe and effective technique procedure.
Despite that, various people doubt laser technique to remove the years old tattoo. They have all sorts of questions regarding the technique and results. It is due to their lack of knowledge in this context. That is why knowing about the process and how it works is necessary if you are planning to get rid of the tattoo such as:
Complete Removal of a Tattoo
It is worth noting that there are no guarantees that your tattoo will disappear completely. It may be or the treatment may not remove it completely and a ghost image is left after the procedure. Plus, you may experience scarring as well. Moreover, we suggest you decide beforehand if you can accept a faded one or want a cover-up specifically when you want to go for a new tattoo after removing the previous one.
Process Involved In Laser Treatment
The process is based on a technique which is known as selective photothermolysis. The laser targets certain wavelength on the ink particles. Also, the laser beams of the wavelength should go inside and absorb a spectrum of the tattoo pigment.
Moreover, tattoo pigments also soak laser light in turn. This step causes temperature boost. It is worth mentioning that this increased temperature does not contribute to any harm to the tissues as it transforms into a shockwave. This shockwave disintegrates pigment particles which later alleviates via natural elimination procedure of your body.
Is Laser Treatment Painful?
The procedure is painful. However, the intensity of pain depends on the power of the laser. It also varies from person to person. Various people experience it as a painful treatment whereas for other the pain was bearable.
You should take note that whether you cope with pain or not, the intensity of pain increases as laser begins working. You can get topical pain relief injections and creams to decrease the pain laser removal to some degree.
Kinds of Laser Treatment
There are distinctive wavelength laser lights used to break down various ink pigments. You should go for a treatment that offers multiple wavelengths of light to get better results. Moreover, you can opt for an alternative procedure which includes a combination of laser treatments to remove a tattoo effectively. The modern laser techniques have improved over the years. Despite that, you still need various sessions to get rid of an unwanted tattoo.
Sessions Required to Remove a Tattoo
You cannot predict how many sessions are needed in this context. The laser treatment can provide satisfactory results. However, it solely depends on the depth, color, location, and size of your tattoo. Plus, in most cases, the skin color and type also contribute to several tattoo removal sessions.
You should discuss the number of sittings with the expert at the beginning. According to a rough estimate, 6 to 10 sessions are required to remove a standard tattoo. For desirable outcome, you need to prepare yourself for at least 10+ tattoo removal appointments.
Location of a Tattoo
It is quite surprising to learn that a location of a tattoo matters for successful removal. Experts reveal that a tattoo closer to the heart is easier to remove than the ones inked-on at distance from your heart. No question the revelation is astonishing. It is possible due to blood circulation. This circulation minimizes as you go farther from the heart which ultimately leads to hard and painful laser treatment.
That is removing a tattoo from hand or ankle takes time and is painful as compared to the ones on shoulders and chest. Also, you should keep this essential information in mind when getting a tattoo so you don’t find it painful in case you want to get rid of it in future.
Waiting Time between Two Tattoo Removal Sessions
The standard waiting time between two laser removal sessions is four weeks. It varies from person to person as well as people with sensitive skin or skin issues are suggested to wait for 6 to 8 weeks. Additionally, if you encounter irritation, redness, an open wound, or swelling, your dermatologist may increase the waiting period. This waiting time between the sessions is crucial as your skin needs to remove pigments from the body and recuperation.
Which Kind of Tattoo is Easier to Remove?
You can find two kinds of tattoos, i.e. professional and amateur. It is worth noting that both types contain pros and cons when it comes to removing. Amateur tattoos are considered easy to remove because they are not saturated with ink. Some artists do not use high-quality ink in amateur tattoos.
Also, the application is uneven as well which makes it a time-consuming and painful process to remove an amateur tattoo. On the other hand, removing a professional tattoo can become a different sort of experience. A professional tattoo is made with high-quality ink and is embedded deeply in your skin. No doubt, it is also complex to remove but its even application makes treatment easy to some extent.
Adverse Effects of Laser Treatment in Different Complexion
Dark skin tone often encounters skin problems when going through the laser treatment. The side-effect is known as Hypo-pigmentation. This occurs when a laser treatment eliminates pigments from dark complexion along with ink pigments. This condition ultimately leads to hypo-pigmentation which could lead to troubling skin problems if left untreated. Plus, you should minimize the risk via taking proper precautions.
The Color of Tattoo and Successful Removal
The color of your tattoo also plays a significant in this context. You will be surprised to learn that dark pigments are easy to remove whereas light hues require plenty of sessions. Moreover, the pigments that contain titanium dioxides such as pastel and fluorescent are complex to remove with laser treatment.
Advanced Technology Can Speed Up the Treatment
You may have heard that removing a tattoo takes up to one year. Despite that, advanced treatments speed up the procedure. You can opt for two or more sittings in a single visit. You need to ask your dermatologist if they offer pico laser treatment or not. With this advanced option, you can get rid of the tattoo in a few sessions.
Your Flesh May Burn
You cannot feel how a tattoo is removed. However, you can smell it. It seems a disturbing fact associated with the tattoo removing. Your skin burns when the laser is contracted with your skin and releases a substance called a laser plume. It dissolves in the air allowing you to smell burning of the skin.
Dermatologist wears a mask and they have smoke evacuator installed in the room. Recent innovations in this context have improved this condition. And now a silicone patch is applied to the tattoo during the treatment to minimize whatever your skin is ejected.
Do Not Go For Red Ink
There are various wavelengths of light are available to absorb distinctive color. So, one laser cannot work on multiple kinds of tattoos. Moreover, dermatologists often opt for a laser that is effective for black or blue tattoos. This way, treating tattoos made with red or other colors get complex. That is why you should always discuss the color of your tattoo with the expert before going through a treatment.
After Effects of Tattoo Removal
The after-effects of the laser tattoo include redness; blisters around the tattoo, temporary darkening of a tattoo, skin inflammation, bleeding, and irritation around the tattoo area. You may experience bumps on the place of the tattoo. These symptoms heal in a couple of weeks. Despite that, you should consult with your doctor and update about your condition if the issues persist for a longer time. Also, you should never try to treat this irritation or inflammation via self-medication.
Laser Treatment Darkens Tattoo Color
Tattoo ink containing titanium dioxide get darker after a few first removal sessions. However, this condition is temporary and the darkness will fade as treatment proceeds. You should keep an eye on the color and consult with the doctor immediately if it continues to get darker.
Side Effects of Laser Treatment
Laser treatment seems an effective option to get rid of an unattractive tattoo. It includes a few side-effects one of which is scarring specifically keloids. There are other adverse effects as well such as infections and burns. You can treat the minor effects on your skin. The problem is to combat hypo-pigmentation and hyperpigmentation of the skin which people with light or dark skin complexion encounter. Both adverse effects are time-consuming and difficult to treat.
Things to Do before Going through a Laser Treatment
Before beginning with your laser treatment, you should always consult with your primary healthcare provider and the expert alike. You need to discuss each point or query with your dermatologist regarding laser treatment to avoid doubts.
Also, do not hesitate when asking for previous clients, their experience, and success rate. We suggest going through before and after images to get a clear picture of what you should expect after the laser tattoo removal treatment.
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The Cost of the Laser Treatment
The cost of the treatment depends on the size of your tattoo and the number sessions require removing it. Plus, the price is often per square inch of a tattoo on each sitting. Moreover, the rate of the treatment is sometimes based on the expertise of a dermatologist that is going to perform the tattoo removal process along with the quality of the laser machine that is used in the procedure.
Useful Tips to Follow When Going Through Tattoo Removal Laser Treatment
You can support your laser treatment via detox. It is worth noting that your body functions differently as compared to other when it comes to eliminating toxins. You should consider tattoo ink as a toxin and remove it from the body.
You cannot detox your body completely without taking precaution. That is why detoxification is necessary during a tattoo removal procedure to minimize the risks of tissue damage. You should opt for certain foods, nutritional supplements, and even behavioral practices to detox your body. This way, you can remove tattoo ink from your body successfully.
Food Options
Consuming a well-balanced diet on a daily basis during the treatment can provide essential nutrients to promote detoxification in your body. Plus, you should focus on incorporating plenty of proteins into your diet. Some of the necessary food options are:
- Onions and garlic
- Radishes, kale, cabbage, and broccoli
- Beets and Artichoke
- Apples
- Whole grains
- Flax seeds
Exercise
You should start exercising regularly once you start the tattoo removal treatment. It will increase blood circulation. This circulation brings nutrients to tissues and organs and wards off toxin from the cells. Moreover, muscle contractions during exercise manually pump the lymph through the vessels cleaning the tissues effectively. Additionally, the sweating in the result of your hour’s long workout session will help eliminate toxins via the skin.
Drink More Water
Water has potential to dilute chemical metabolites and flush them out appropriately via proper urination. You need to incorporate at least 9 to 10 glasses of water to facilitate the procedure and steer clear your body from any adverse effects.
Quit Smoking
Smoking contributes to harrowing outcomes when you are going through a laser treatment. It also constricts detox pathways. Moreover, smoking dismantles essential nutrients and tissues alike. It may hinder detoxification and healing process if don’t quit smoking during the tattoo removal process.
Supplements to Strengthen Liver
You should support liver functioning via opting for supplements specifically once the treatment begins. The liver plays a crucial role when it comes to detox. You need regular doses of nutrients as they provide antioxidant protection to your tissues. These nutrients prevent toxins from affecting your metabolism. Some of the effective nutritional supplements are:
- Multi-vitamin
- Multi-mineral
- Fiber
- B-complex
- Probiotics
- Fatty acids
Despite that, be sure to consult with your doctor to avoid adverse effects.
Dry Skin Brushing
This concept sounds absurd but brushing your skin contains stimulating effects on the lymphatic system. You need to stay vigilant in this context and avoid brushing the affected area. Also, take note of the following:
- Use only a long-handled – natural dry bristle brush.
- Brush toward your heart. Begin with feet and make your way up to legs, stomach, chest, arms, and back. You should avoid brushing face along with the areas where you encounter irritation or inflammation after laser treatment.
- Perform brushing once a day either before showering, exercise, or changing clothes.
- Keep brushing pressure minimum. It should not cause pain.
- You can continue it for 2 to 4 minutes.
Get Plenty of Sleep
Sleep allows your skin to heal fast and rejuvenates destroyed tissues.
Avoid Excess Exposure Sun
Do not overlook the fact that sun is not your skin’s friend. You should not expose your skin to the sun without covering it layers of sunscreen. The ultra-violate rays of the sun are potent enough to damage your delicate skin and cause various diseases. And you can imagine what these rays can do to a laser treated skin.
The harmful rays can impact the affected area adversely. Therefore, make sure to cover it before stepping out the daylight. Dermatologists often suggest protecting the affected area for at least two weeks to steer clear of adverse effects of the sun. Plus, not only on the tattooed part but you should always protect your face and arms from UV rays via wearing sunscreen.
Don’t Skip an Appointment
Consistency is the key to achieve the desired outcome. We advise you to follow this schedule to get rid of the unwanted tattoo in a short time span. You cannot measure how many sessions will be required to remove a tattoo. However, you can always follow a routine to get the best treatment which ultimately leads to the better result. Also, following a schedule will allow your skin to heal in the meantime.
Bottom Line
It is essential to reconsider all the options if you are planning to get a tattoo removed. Invest time in searching and go for multiple consultations with distinctive doctors or dermatologists before you hire one to begin the procedure. You should expect it a time-consuming and costly treatment. That is why the tattoo removal process should be safe and correct.