Simply put, your tattoo has become darker because the metals in the ink have become oxidized, leading to a temporary greying or darkening until the tattoo fades. Thankfully, this proves that your treatments are working according to plan, and it is just a matter of time until your tattoo has cleared up.
It is completely normal to get brown discoloration after tattoo removal. The pigment gets broken up by the laser and removed from the body but the heat and inflammation of the treatment make your body make pigment in the area. This pigmentation is just like a tan.
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.
Initial darkening
In the first few days following your laser treatment, you may notice that the pigmentation appears darker than before. This is caused by the treated pigment rising to the skin's surface as it breaks down, signalling the start of the healing process.
Laser tattoo removal is a process that relies on the body eliminating ink from the skin which can take some time to process. While results will become apparent within a few weeks, it is not unusual for the body to take more than a year to completely eliminate ink.
Wrong Laser Wavelength for the Ink Color
If the tattoo ink can't absorb much of the light directed from the tattoo removal device, the particles won't shatter and the tattoo won't be erased.
Generally, pigmentation from laser treatments typically starts fading within 7 to 14 days. However, it may take several weeks or even months for complete fading, particularly in darker skin tones. Proper post-treatment care and sun protection are crucial in helping to speed up the process.
Tattoo removal hyperpigmentation can be avoided by enacting the proper aftercare however if hyperpigmentation does happen it can be reversed with time, massage the area and using vitamin E oil.
There could also be a slight darkening or bronzing of your skin appearing between 3 and 10 days post-treatment. This is especially noted with lighter skin tones experiencing mild scarring. These preliminary changes signify that your skin is undergoing its transformation towards a more luminous state.
Your removal journey might be complete after three sessions. If you're looking for a full removal experience, you are well on your way through the process. After Session 3, you will probably see significant fading on your tattoo. Some elements might be on their way to being “fully” faded.
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.
In most cases, yes, you can get a new tattoo over a removed one. However, there is a waiting time to be endured. After getting a new tattoo, the skin needs time to heal and this process is necessary when undergoing laser tattoo removal too.
Unfortunately, in most cases the intensely saturated colour you see when you first get a tattoo, won't actually be the finished result. The ink will usually end up looking a tiny bit darker and less vibrant once healed. Of course, a lot of this will be down to the quality of ink used, and the technique of the artist.
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.
After getting your tattoo removed, make sure you do not visit a tanning bed or use self-tanners for at least 2 weeks. This could lead to discoloration of the treated area after your removal.
Why does your tattoo seem to be getting darker after laser removal treatment? Simply put, your tattoo has become darker because the metals in the ink have become oxidized, leading to a temporary greying or darkening until the tattoo fades.
Immediately post treatment you can expect to see some mild redness. You may also see some of your pigmentation spots (freckles) turn darker. This is normal and the pigment naturally shed off the skins surface within seven to 14 days depending on your skin cell turnover.
[7] Hyperpigmentation can be due to the accumulation of extracellular melanin from the destruction of melanocytes or increased melanin production due to post-treatment inflammation. As such, it does not typically last longer than three to four months.
Does Skin Go Back to Normal After Laser Tattoo Removal? Yes. Your skin should go back to normal following laser tattoo removal. We can remove most tattoos completely, and following aftercare instructions will help your skin heal and return to a healthy and ink-free state.
If the laser technician doesn't have experience treating a wide variety of tattoos and skin types, they may be delivering ineffective treatments or overly aggressive treatments which can cause burns that result in dyspigmentation (lightening and darkening of the skin) or scarring.
Essentially the laser breaks apart the larger ink particles into tiny fragments for your white blood cells to carry away through the lymphatic system. As the white blood cells are working to naturally remove the fragments, the tattoo can often look more vibrant due to there being more tiny particles in the dermis.
Laser tattoo removal treatment can make most tattoos much harder to see, but it might not get rid of the tattoo completely. Even if you can't see the tattoo itself anymore, you might also have a scar, or a patch that's darker or lighter than the skin around it.