It was found out that around 25% of the U.S. citizens have tattoos. But another interesting fact here is that almost a half of them would like to make laser tattoo removal.
Let’s find out what the process is like, what are tattoo removal prices and what side-effects you might have after the procedure.
The good news here is that currently tattoo removal techniques allow erase your tattoo with minimal side effects. The process looks as following: a specialist uses laser to remove your tattoo by destroying the pigment colors of the current tattoo with a higher intensity light beam.
Who Can Do Laser Tattoo Removal
You should realize that each tattoo is individual. That’s why individual techniques should be applied for each specific case. A long time ago, when the method just appeared the tattoos could be as well eliminated, but very often the result was an ugly scar on the place of tattoo. Today the situation is much better and you can safely delete tattoo without any scars.
If you are the one who’s already treated tattoos with one of the “old” methods, you may still qualify for tattoo laser removal. Whether your tattoo has not been completely removed by home remedies or other treatments, it may still respond well to laser in case the previous treatment didn’t cause a significant scarring.
How to Find a Good Specialist to Do Laser Tattoo Removal
Make sure to find a reputable doctor or well-known skin surgery center to be guaranteed safe tattoo removal, as well as proper care and treatment. It might be great if you can contact your family doctor asking him to recommend you a good dermatologist or cosmetic surgery center that specializes in tattoos removals.
What is the Process Like? Is It Painful?
The number of treatments depends on the color and size of your tattoo. Often it takes from 2 to 4 visits to make your tattoo completely removed but sometimes you may need to do up to 10 sessions. Start with a call to schedule a consultation. Then after you come you may discuss all the questions with the specialist who’ll investigate your specific case and tell you all the details about the process. There are many factors that are used to set an individual laser treatment for every patient. Among the key moments your doctor is going to pay attention to are: age, type of tattoo (whether it’s amateur or professional), size, depth to what the tattoo pigment extends, color of your skin, and others.
The process of tattoo removal using the newest lasers looks as following:
• The specialist puts on special protective eye shields
• Your skin reaction to the laser is tested in order to see what your personal effective energy for treatment is.
• The process itself consists of placing a hand piece against the skin surface and switching on the laser light. Most of the patients tell that the laser pulse feels like a snapping of the rubber or grease splatter band against their skin.
• The size of tattoo plays a great role for the amount of laser pulses you might get. The smaller a tattoo is- the less pulses is required and vice versa. Bigger tattoos need more pulses to be eliminated. Each treatment session will make your tattoo become lighter.
• Immediately after a laser treatment is finished doctor will put an ice pack to calm the treated area. He’ll also ask you to apply an antibiotic ointment or cream at home. You’ll also have to put on a special patch or bandage to protect that place of skin and use a sun block when you’re out in the sun.
Though most of the patients don’t need anesthesia, some skin zones may be very sensitive and your physician may decide to use an anesthesia injection or cream at the tattoo area.
Possible Side Effects
Actually there are minimal side effects you may get after a laser tattoo removal. But below you can see some moments you should be aware of before making the final decision:
• There is always a risk of infection on the place with tattoo. It’s also possible that you won’t get complete pigment removal and there is still a small chance that you’ll have a permanent scar after the treatment.
• You may get a so-called hypo-pigmentation. It is when the zone with treated skin is lighter than other skin. Or you may get the opposite effect when the treated skin looks darker than surrounding skin.
• Cosmetic tattoos like eyeliner, lip liner and eyebrows may darken following treatment with tattoo removal lasers. Later the treatment of these darkened tattoos may result in fading.
Is it Safe to Do a Laser Tattoo Removal?
– Thanks to the new technologies, today laser tattoo removal is much safer than it has been recently. The risk of getting a scar is minimal. Moreover, laser treatment is supposed to be safer than other methods such as dermabrasion, excision, and salabrasion. Laser allows to selectively affecting pigment involved in the tattoo.
– While certain colors can be eliminated easier, the others not. So, for example black and blue tattoo pigments respond better to laser, whereas the response of other colors is still under investigation.
– Note: here you can find just general information about laser tattoo removal. We strongly recommend you to consult an experienced physician who’ll be able to provide instructions for your specific case.
How Much Is Tattoo Removal?
Finally you might be interested in tattoo laser removal cost. Generally one treatment session may cost you from $75 to $300 in average. The cost of tattoo removal depends on the tattoo size and your location. Laser removal may require multiple treatment sessions and no one can tell you precisely how many of them are needed for your specific case. But in average there are 5-10 sessions. If your tattoo is poorly done, it may be eliminated faster as the ink isn’t deep in skin. Also, you should know that black tattoos can be removed easier than colored tattoos (green pigment for example is very difficult to remove)
Does Your Insurance Cover Laser Tattoo Removal?
As it is your personal wish to remove a tattoo, most insurance carriers will refuse covering the process, as it is considered a cosmetic procedure. But if you have medically necessary situation, you may use your insurance. Doctor or surgery center may ask you to pay in full on the first day you make your 1st procedure. So, if you’re planning tattoo removal, discuss all the costs in advance and be ready to obtain all charges in writing before the treatment.
Laser Tattoo Removal before and after pictures!
