On the day of your appointment, wear comfortable clothing that won't rub against the tattoo. If the tattoo is on your waistline, wear looser fitting pants (or sweatpants) and don't wear a belt. The area will be sensitive for the following couple of days, and you don't want to cause irritation.
One of the most common methods for managing discomfort during tattoo removal is the use of topical numbing creams. Applied around 30 to 45 minutes before the session, these creams desensitise the skin, reducing the intensity of the pain felt during the laser treatment.
Listen to the risks during the consult and make sure you'll be ok with it if/when it does occur. These can include: incomplete removal, ghosting, hypo/hyperpigmentation, allergic reactions (mostly red ink), ink oxidisation, scarring, and in rare cases, infection.
Use Polysporin Ointment, Bacitracin (generic is acceptable), or Vaseline®. Apply enough ointment so that the treated area stays moist all day under the bandage. 5. Apply a non-stick bandage such as Telfa pads, Band-Aids, or Saran Wrap for large areas.
On the day of your appointment, wear comfortable clothing that won't rub against the tattoo. If the tattoo is on your waistline, wear looser fitting pants (or sweatpants) and don't wear a belt. The area will be sensitive for the following couple of days, and you don't want to cause irritation.
Stay away from carbonated drinks, alcohol or smoking while healing. An excessive amount of any of these will slow down your body, delaying the healing and fading process. Avoid scratching or itching the treated area until it is 100% healed. Don't scratch or pop the blisters!
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.
Avoid lotion, perfume, and other cosmetics, particularly on the area to be treated. The area to be treated during a laser tattoo removal session should be clean, shaven and unadorned. There's no need to moisturize your skin prior to treatment, as that has no impact on how the skin will accept the laser.
Numbing creams are easy to apply. Spread a light layer over the area to be treated – a little goes a long way! Apply tattoo numbing cream one hour before a laser appointment for the best results.
However, there are many factors that play into the overall outcome of each client's tattoo. Typically, you will start to see tattoo fading around sessions 3-5 which is optimal for people who are seeking removal for a cover up, but it will likely take 10-12 sessions to see complete removal results.
While the number of sessions required to remove a tattoo varies based on many factors, most pieces take about 10-12 visits before you see full removal. These treatments must be six to eight weeks apart to give your skin time to heal. The good news is that the tattoo removal process is cumulative.
However, we are not believers in tipping as a habit. If you feel that your service was excellent and you choose to show gratitude towards your artist or piercer, then tips are welcome. If you choose not to tip, that is also ok. We feel like that's the way "gratuity" is suppose to be.
Risks. Scarring is likely after most types of tattoo removal. Infection or skin discoloration is possible as well.
Does insurance cover tattoo removal? No. Since tattoo removal is considered cosmetic surgery, you can't get insurance coverage or use FSA or HSA funds to pay for the procedure.
Areas with thinner skin or more nerve endings, like the ribs, hands, feet, wrists and face, are more sensitive and may hurt more. Areas having thicker skin like the upper arm or back, tend to hurt less. Larger tattoos take longer to remove which may cause more pain.
Tattoo removal sessions can last anywhere from five to thirty minutes, depending on the size of the tattoo. If you are visiting us to remove multiple tattoos, your sessions are longer than when removing only one. However, they are still often much shorter than the time to get the tattoo.
Ice Packs. Ice packs can be used to numb the area before treatment. To numb the area before the treatment, compress the ice pack to the tattooed area for 5-10 minutes. During and after the treatment, it is advisable to use the skin cooling system, which your tattoo removal technician will most likely use.
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.
Do not pick at the scab or allow the skin to become scraped, as this may result in infection and scarring. Shaving should be avoided in the treated area until it is completely healed. Feel free to shower 2 hours after the tattoo removal, but take care to avoid high-pressure water hitting the treated area.
After the first session, most people can expect some significant fading, especially outlines. It's also important to note that differences in your tattoo will affect how the fading appears. You might see substantial fading in one portion of your tattoo and less in others. This variation is normal.