ReThink the Ink: Effective Laser Tattoo Removal

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Consultation

First of all, I need to do a detailed consultation to ensure you are ready to rethink your ink with laser skin treatment. I will discuss any medications you may be on, including whether you are taking blood thinners, and how long you have had the tattoo. We will also talk about whether you want it partially or fully removed. This is a great time for you to ask me any questions you have about the laser procedure treatment as well.

At the end of the consultation, you will have a clear understanding of what will happen, and I will know if it is safe to proceed with your laser tattoo removal treatment.

Pre-Treatment

You may wish to apply some numbing cream on the area first; I recommend EMLA numbing cream, which contains 5% Lidocaine, the recognized correct percentage in this formula.

If the area where the tattoo is located has hair, it's best to shave it 6-12 hours in advance of the treatment. Please be careful not to break the skin while doing this.

Laser Treatment

I will clean the tattoo and set up my Q-Switched Nd YAG Laser machine to the correct settings for the best removal results. It’s very important that you don’t look at the laser at any stage, no matter how tempting it may be; I will provide safety glasses for you to wear.

Once we are both ready, I will start the treatment using the laser machine on your tattoo. I will take breaks during the process to check on you and see if you are comfortable for me to continue. Your welfare is always my priority.

There will be some discomfort during the treatment, but most of my customers say it’s not as bad as they expected; at worst, it feels like hot wax on your skin. The laser machine penetrates the epidermis layer of skin into the dermis layer where the ink resides. It breaks up the ink but does not remove it completely.

After finishing, you might notice some frosting on the top of your skin. One in ten clients may experience a small amount of surface bleeding after the treatment; if this happens, I will clean and dress the tattoo with a small bandage.

Post-Treatment

I like to stay with you for thirty minutes after the treatment to ensure you are okay and to discuss what will happen next and what you can expect. 

Please do not plan any vigorous exercise for the rest of the day. Over the next four weeks, your lymphatic system will work to remove ink from the area of the tattoo. If your tattoo is on an extremity like fingers or toes, this process takes longer than on areas like the shoulder or thigh.

Most tattoos require 3-6 treatments to remove; dark colors like black or dark greens typically remove more quickly than lighter colors like yellow. Rest assured, I will be able to remove all of your tattoo regardless.

If you are considering getting a new tattoo in the same location, it’s essential to allow time for your collagen to regenerate. I also suggest regularly showing your removal progress to your tattoo artist, as they might advise, "Yep, it’s removed enough for me to work on now," which can save you money by not needing further treatments with me.