Laser Tattoo Removal Overview: Cost, Recovery, Before & After | AEDIT (2024)

FAQs

How long does it take to see results after laser tattoo removal? ›

Initial Laser Tattoo Results in As Little as 18 Weeks

Getting rid of a tattoo completely takes multiple sessions, but the results accumulate with each one. The sessions are spaced six to eight weeks apart, which allows your skin to process the treatment. Many people start to see their ink fade after three appointments.

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 total healing time after laser treatment is about 4 to 8 weeks. But, what you do during those weeks can increase or decrease the healing process. Healing times vary depending on the type of treatment, the strength of your immune system, and how closely you follow your aftercare plan.

Takeaways. Laser tattoo removal is the safest and most effective way to get rid of a tattoo you no longer want, because it uses lasers that slowly break up the ink inside your tattoo, without hurting the skin around it.

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.

It is important that you apply the ointment to your skin three times daily and keep your tattoo covered with a bandage for at least 3 days. By doing this, you are protecting your damaged and weak skin from infection. After those three days have passed, you MUST remove the bandage and expose your skin to the air.

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 the laser has done its work, the body will continue to carry away and digest the ink throughout the first week. Your skin will begin to heal during this stage of tattoo removal. Still, it will likely continue to look red and swollen through much of the first week, which is absolutely normal.

Rest easy — while laser tattoo removal can hurt, chances are it won't hurt as much as getting the tattoo did. Tattoo removal pain is comparable to the pain of a bad sunburn, and the laser pulses feel like a rubber band snapping against your skin. Cringe-worthy, yes, but tolerable.

Can I shower after tattoo removal? For those wondering about showering after tattoo removal... the Cleveland Clinic advises that you can jump in a warm (not hot) shower the day after your session, but you should avoid scrubbing the area or soaking it.

Where does ink go after laser tattoo removal? ›

Lasers can heat pigment-containing cells quickly through short pulses to rupture them and send the fragments into the body for drainage. Where does all that ink go? Some of the tattoo pigment gets washed away by the body's natural lymphatic system and some is released through the healing skin surface post-treatment.

Yes, lasers can remove tattoos completely. In fact, lasers are the safest, most effective tool to remove unwanted tattoos with. However, you may need to receive several sessions before the tattoo is removed completely.

Generally, amateur or homemade tattoo may be removed within 3 to 7 sessions, while professional tattoos done with harder inks can require anywhere from 8 to 20 treatments. It is possible for some tattoos to require more than 20 laser treatments.

Laser removal is often seen as the most preferable method for tattoo removal due to its effectiveness and minimal risk of scarring. Unlike surgical excision or dermabrasion, which removes the entire tattoo through cutting or scraping, laser removal specifically targets the ink without damaging the surrounding skin.

For effective tattoo removal, the laser used has to be powerful enough to break down ink pigments in the quickest amount of time possible. Many of the standard lasers used are just not powerful enough and don't break up the ink enough to achieve the desired results.

From the Second Week Onwards After Tattoo Removal

You might notice the treated skin looking darker as the pigment rises to the surface of the skin. The area around it might lighten (hypopigmentation) or darken (hyperpigmentation) too. This is completely normal and will fade with time.

Generally, amateur or homemade tattoo may be removed within 3 to 7 sessions, while professional tattoos done with harder inks can require anywhere from 8 to 20 treatments. It is possible for some tattoos to require more than 20 laser treatments.