Tattoos fade over time because the body’s immune system sees the ink as foreign and tries to get rid of it. Laser tattoo removal speeds up the body’s natural way of getting rid of tattoos by breaking the ink into smaller pieces that are easier to flush away.
But how does it work? Today, Cheeky Medspa is here to help and discuss what tattoo reduction (or removal) is and understand how it can clear the unwanted inks on your skin!
What is Laser Tattoo Reduction?
Laser tattoo reduction is a process that uses high-powered lasers that can go deep into the skin and destroy the ink particles inside the cells that give the tattoo its color. Depending on the color of the ink in the tattoo, different types of lasers can be used to get rid of it.
Again, the process for getting rid of a tattoo will depend on the tattoo and the person getting rid of it. Most people will need short sessions about one to two months apart to get rid of their tattoos.
But you need to know the exact sessions in advance. Most of the time, 5–10 sessions are needed, but sometimes up to 20 may be required. The differences depend on many things, such as the tattoo’s size, color, location, and age.
In the past few years, as technology has improved, laser tattoo removal has become more effective and less likely to have harmful side effects.
How Things Work
Lasers get rid of tattoos by breaking up the colors of the ink with an intense light beam. All laser wavelengths are absorbed by the black tattoo ink, which makes it the easiest color to treat.
Based on the color of the pigment, only specific lasers can treat other colors. But first, you should make an appointment with a trained professional who can look at your tattoo and tell you how to go about it.
How many treatments you need will depend on how old, significant, and many colors your tattoo is. The removal method will also depend on the color of your skin and how deep the tattoo ink goes.
Our Tattoo Reduction at Cheeky Medspa
Cheeky Medspa’s Q-switched laser uses a laser wavelength to go deep into the skin and break up the tattoo ink without hurting the skin or leaving a scar on the tissues around it.
Using a laser wavelength can use a lot of power to break up the ink, but because it only does this for a short time, it doesn’t burn or scar the skin. Because this laser has a lot of power, it can break up the ink in just a few minutes.
Benefits of Going Through Laser Tattoo Reduction
Laser tattoo removal is a permanent method that completely removes the tattoo. A person should get rid of a tattoo for many different reasons. These could include regret or being unhappy with how the tattoo looks on their body.
Others may want to get rid of a tattoo to improve their chances of getting a job because tattoos have a bad reputation and are seen as unprofessional in the workplace. Besides, Laser tattoo removal uses an FDA-approved laser to get rid of tattoos quickly, safely, and effectively.
It’s beneficial to lessen the look of tattoo ink without harming the skin around it. The procedure causes minor damage and almost no side effects compared to traditional methods. One of the safest ways to get rid of a tattoo is also through a laser.
The risk of infection is low, and there aren’t many reports of harmful side effects after treatment. Patients must put sunscreen on the area for a few days after treatment to protect their skin from UV rays. Some patients say their skin is red and sore, but these symptoms disappear quickly.
Risks of Laser Tattoo Reduction
Getting rid of a tattoo can ultimately be challenging, especially for people with dark skin or who want to get rid of a tattoo with color. After laser treatment, some people may also notice changes in the texture or color of their skin.
Most people who get a laser tattoo removed must undergo a series of laser treatments to get rid of the tattoo completely. This makes the person get more laser light, which raises the risk of complications. Also, a long series of treatments can get very expensive.
The procedure can also be uncomfortable, and the person may feel pain in the area that is being treated. Also, a local anesthetic may be injected before the treatment.
In addition, the laser light could hurt the eyes and make it hard to see. For this reason, you should wear goggles to protect your eyes. When a laser is used to get rid of a tattoo, the skin can sometimes get infected, especially if an area of the tattoo is not treated correctly.
Patients should protect the area of skin that has been treated. This will lower the chance that bacteria will get into the skin and cause an infection. Because of this, it is essential to have good care after the treatment.
Risk minimization
After getting a tattoo removed with a laser, you must take care of yourself so that problems don’t happen. In the days after the procedure, it’s best to keep the skin clean by washing it regularly in the right way.
Putting on an ointment made of petrolatum can also help the skin heal. After each session, you should use a clean bandage to cover the area for about a week.
Skin Results After
Some patients don’t want to get rid of their tattoos because they don’t know how the removal process will affect how their skin looks. Older laser technology could change how the skin looked, especially on people with darker skin.
This is because the laser is made to go after pigment to reach the tattoo ink and destroy it. But sometimes, the melanin in the skin was the target, which caused discoloration or even mild burns.
What each patient goes through depends on their situation and the type of tattoo they have. In sporadic cases, a tattoo made by an amateur could leave some marks on the skin that laser treatment can’t get rid of.
Our doctor can look at the tattoo you want to get rid of and tell you what your skin might look like after treatment. Most of the time, the laser removal process won’t change how your skin looks overall.
Contact the experts at Cheeky Medspa to set up an initial consultation and learn more about this permanent, life-changing treatment. We can’t wait to serve you! You can also explore our other services like Dermaplanning, Coolsculpting, Dysport, and many more!
