How much laser tattoo removal

Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Your Guide to Eclipse Season. Step Right Up. Khadija Horton. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is imported from Instagram. View On Instagram. Tattoo fading needs fewer sessions than complete removal. Often 2 to 3 laser sessions are adequate to fade the tattoo significantly and allow the tattoo artist to have a better canvas to work on.

Having established relationships with local tattoo shops will be a great asset to your practice. Not only will you likely get patients referred to you by the tattoo shops, you'll also feel confident referring patients to artists that provide quality work for cover-ups, touch-ups, and revisions.

Side effects are to be an expected part of the tattoo removal process for most patients. In fact, some side effects are an important part of the immune response that helps eliminate ink from the skin. We encourage practitioners to not gloss over side effects during the initial consultation — explain the various side effects in full detail.

This way, when your patients commit to the tattoo removal process, they're informed and aren't shocked the next day when their skin is sensitive and they are potentially limited from their normal activities or clothing. The most common side effects are:.

If all of the proper protocols are used based on the tattoo and the patient's skin tone, all of these side effects are temporary. Redness, tenderness, and swelling typically subside within a day or two following treatment. Blisters usually appear within 24 hours of treatment; sometimes the blisters are very large and may look alarming — this is completely normal.

Scabs, bruising, and blistering may take up to a week or longer to heal. Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation occur when the body's production of melanin is skewed after a laser treatment. With hyperpigmentation, the body overproduces melanin in reaction to the laser treatment, so skin in the treated area is darker than the natural skin tone. With hypopigmentation, the melanin is depleted by the laser treatment and the skin appears bleached. Both hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation are typically temporary and resolve naturally with time.

Patients with middle to darker skin tones are at the greatest risk for pigmentation changes and should avoid sun exposure the weeks following each treatment. For patients with pigmentation issues, do not treat at the regular treatment intervals — wait until the area has returned to its normal skin tone before treating again. The main risk for permanent pigmentation changes is if the practitioner continues to treat an affected area too aggressively.

Even from the start, it is important to treat darker skin tones conservatively — using wavelengths that have less absorption by melanin and reduced fluence levels. Patients are generally more concerned of permanent side effects than temporary ones; the side effects that could be permanent are scarring or pigmentation changes.

All permanent side effects are completely avoidable if the proper protocols and aftercare are used. We encourage practices to discuss aftercare during the consultation, have aftercare posted clearly on the website, and give patients a take-home sheet of aftercare instructions.

Much of the aftercare for a tattoo removal treatment are similar to that of aftercare after having a tattoo applied, so patients should be familiar with it. How does laser tattoo removal work? Honestly, this is one of the least common asked questions on this list. Most patients are concerned about the results — not how the laser achieves them. That said, discussing the science behind laser tattoo removal should still be an important part of the patient consultation.

Many patients have the misconception that the laser "burns" the tattoo ink out of the skin. By discussing how tattoo removal works, you can help patients appreciate the role that the laser and their body has in eliminating their unwanted tattoo.

We use different wavelengths of laser light to treat different colors of ink in your tattoo. As the light energy is directed into your skin, it is selectively absorbed by the tattoo ink particles trapped in the dermis of your skin.

When the ink particles absorb this energy, they instantly shatter into tiny fragments. Once the laser has broken the ink into smaller pieces, your body's immune system works to remove the ink over the following weeks, flushing it away from the tattooed area. We see the result of this as the tattoo lightening in appearance. Each additional laser treatment breaks down more and more ink until the tattoo can no longer be seen.

We've seen that if a patient is informed, they're more likely to continue with treatment until completion, handle side effects properly, and be satisfied with their tattoo removal experience. When patients understand the basics of laser-skin interaction, they know that you are a knowledgeable practitioner with a powerful tool — but not a magician. Expectations are realistic — so patients are encouraged by the fading along the way and pleased with the end result.

The ointment will help heal your skin and reduce the risk of infection. Change the wound dressing each time you apply the ointment. Some people experience scarring. Surgical removal, also called excision tattoo removal, involves cutting off tattooed skin and stitching remaining skin back together. Surgical removal is the most invasive method of tattoo removal. Surgical removal is a very effective method for getting rid of an unwanted tattoo.

The procedure can be done in a plastic surgery office. It usually takes several weeks for the site of your tattoo removal to heal. In general, apply the prescribed or recommended ointment for several days after the procedure to help heal your skin and avoid risk of infection. Keep the site clean and out of the sun for at least two weeks.

Everyone who chooses surgical tattoo removal experiences scarring. However, you can reduce the risk of severe scarring. Dermabrasion is a less common tattoo removal option. Its efficacy varies widely from person to person. It can sometimes remove most of an existing tattoo. Blood thinners may put you at risk for bleeding, bruising, and changes in your skin color if you receive dermabrasion.

According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery , the total cost for dermabrasion can range from several hundred to thousands of dollars. Keep in mind that this figure refers to all treatments needed to completely remove the tattoo.

During a typical dermabrasion session, a clinician will chill or numb your skin with a local anesthetic to reduce any pain. The length of time the procedure takes depends on the size and color of your tattoo. Your clinician may recommend applying an antibacterial cream to the treated site as it heals to avoid infection and reduce scarring. The treated area will likely feel painful and raw for several days after the procedure. Your skin may look red or pink during this period.

Full recovery can take two to three weeks. The pinkness of the treated area usually fades in 8 to 12 weeks. If you have fairer skin with a dark or black tattoo, your results will generally be better and quicker. This is due to the fact that the lasers simply have to erase one color of the pigment.

The density of your tattoo and the amount of intricate design also matters. With modern technology and expert care, laser tattoo removal can remove just about any tattoo.

This will all be explained to you in your initial consultation. Although it is not an exact science, we have noticed that those who are in better health, to begin with, tend to have more positive results from this treatment. The reason for this is because laser treatments work with your immune system to dispose of unwanted elements of your tattoo.

That is not to say that you are out of luck if you are not in the best shape physically. You might just need a few extra treatments or longer sessions to erase your tattoo fully.

This cutting-edge treatment is much more gentle on your body than previous tattoo removal techniques. When you opt for PiQo4 laser treatment, you are getting the best technology available, and your experience and recovery time will both be drastically improved. Each treatment will take roughly 20 minutes or less, and there is virtually no recovery time after you leave the treatment room.

You can immediately go back to your normal life. Some patients do report that the treated area is slightly red and warm to the touch after treatment, but that certainly does not last for longer than an hour or two.

If you experience a slight amount of redness, simply put a cool ice pack on the area and rest. You should be feeling back to your old self within a matter of hours. If the redness persists, or you experience any additional uncomfortable symptoms, do not hesitate to reach out to our staff. We can walk you through whatever you need.

We have assisted countless patients in discovering the smooth, unblemished skin that they thought they had lost forever, and we can help you too!