To boost your immune system, eat well, stay hydrated, and avoid smoking. Signs of an infected laser tattoo removal site are prolonged redness, swelling, intense itchiness, and pus. Unexplained fevers are another sign of infection. Anyone with these symptoms after the procedure should seek medical treatment immediately.
Laser tattoo removal can leave behind skin that is lighter than the skin around it. Other risks include possible scarring, infection, pinpoint bleeding, redness, or soreness, none of which should last for long.
Your skin also needs time to heal. If you receive laser treatments, the procedure can sometimes cause swelling and blistering and can temporarily alter the color of your skin. Sometimes, superficial scarring may develop or your skin may be permanently discolored.
Avoid physical activities that cause perspiration like exercising, as well as prolonged standing or walking (especially important if your tattoo is located below the knee!) Avoid direct heat, including steam rooms, saunas and hot water. Avoid wearing tight, restrictive clothing over the treated area(s).
Tattoo appearance alters significantly after laser removal. Redness and swelling are common immediate reactions. The frosted appearance fades with time as healing occurs. Results vary based on skin type and tattoo characteristics.
Many people start to see their ink fade after three appointments. Given six to eight weeks between each session, you can expect the results to start showing a few months after the process starts.
Laser treatments may darken or lighten skin pigment over and around the tattoo. Sun exposure can also cause blistering and increase the time it takes to heal. Be sure to apply sunscreen before and after laser tattoo removal to minimize changes in your skin pigment.
The laser shatters the tattoo ink particles, and as the body's immune system works to flush out these fragmented pigments, it can result in nausea, dizziness, or other flu-like symptoms. Managing pain through prescribed painkillers or over-the-counter medications can help alleviate some of these symptoms.
Candidates with certain skin types, realistic expectations, and a desire for positive change tend to respond best to the procedure. On the other hand, individuals with specific medical conditions, active skin infections, or unrealistic expectations may not be ideal candidates.
Because the ink is processed by your body's natural filtration system (kidneys and liver) intense removal sessions or back-to-back sessions without much downtime between can put undue stress on your bodily system, causing them to work overtime, and potentially leading to other health issues down the road.
After lasers break up the ink, your body's immune system disperses it into your bloodstream, where it travels to your kidneys. Ink is then released through your urine and sweat. It doesn't change the color of your pee, but you shouldn't have too many tattoos removed at the same time either.
There are plenty of possible reasons why a laser treatment can't get rid of the tattoo on the skin, but it's mostly because of the type of laser used and its wavelength. Other reasons might be the inexperienced laser technician and the age of the tattoo.
Risks. Scarring is likely after most types of tattoo removal. Infection or skin discoloration is possible as well.
Risks of laser tattoo removal
There should be at least 6-8 weeks between treatments. Risks include. Pronounced swelling and redness may be present for 48 hours following treatment. Hypopigmentation –the possibility of paler, white spots on the skin.
“Just as prolonged exposure to sunlight can cause paints to degrade, so can laser removal of tattoos cause pigment molecules to break apart into smaller, potentially toxic compounds. “We have identified chemicals that are known to damage DNA, affect fertility and even cause cancer.”
Key Takeaways. The average number of sessions needed to remove a black tattoo is 6-10, but it can be more depending on various factors.
How Soon Can You Tattoo Over Laser Removal? Once the tattoo removal process is completed, it's best to wait at least 6 weeks before getting a new tattoo on the treated area. Many artists will suggest waiting 6 months before receiving the cover up.
Pain and Discomfort: Laser tattoo removal can be painful, often described as feeling like a rubber band snapping against the skin. Possible Side Effects: Potential side effects include redness, swelling, blistering, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and scarring.
“Ghosting” can sometimes occur after tattoo removal, where your skin retains a pale white shadow of the original image – as such, speaking to a practitioner beforehand is important, as this can be more noticeable on darker skin tones.
Stay Hydrated. The best tip people always give for healthy and glowing skin is to drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. This tip also works for tattoo removal aftercare. Laser tattoo removal fragments the ink, which is then filtered out by your body's lymphatic system; this also triggers the immune system.
The desired endpoint of QS laser treatment (Nd:YAG, alexandrite, and ruby) is immediate tissue whitening, although this may not occur if the tattoo has faded significantly. Such whitening can last approximately 20 minutes, and is a result of rapid heating of the chromophore leading to gas formation.
After your laser tattoo removal procedure, you might expect some redness, swelling, mild blistering, itching, and raised areas. This is to be expected. At first, the skin will be very sensitive and tender. These reactions to treatment should fade within two weeks.