5 things you should know about Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare: It’s easier than you think!

Laser tattoo removal is a popular and effective way to get rid of unwanted tattoos. However, as with any medical procedure, it’s important to take proper care of your skin afterward to ensure the best possible results and minimize any potential complications. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some tips for laser tattoo removal aftercare.

Laser tattoo removal aftercare and water/sun exposure

It’s important to keep the treated area clean and dry. You should avoid swimming, bathing, or soaking the area for at least 24 hours after treatment. We always recommend to our clients not to shower for 24 hours. 1. you will expose the treated area to hot water which can cause adverse reactions like blistering and 2, you can also cause infections to take place due to the skin’s sensitive condition. It’s also important to avoid applying any lotions, creams, or ointments to the area, as these can trap bacteria and cause infection.

Sunlight

Avoid exposing the treated area to sunlight or tanning beds for at least two weeks after treatment. Sun exposure can cause the treated area to become darker or discolored, which can negatively impact the final results of your tattoo removal.

Exercise / Lifting

It’s also important to keep the treated area protected from friction or pressure. This means avoiding tight clothing or jewelry that could rub against the area, and avoiding activities that could put pressure on the area until the treated area is healed, such as heavy lifting. Exercise is a good thing for laser tattoo removal as it gets your blood flowing better and can help the body to remove those particles of ink in your skin.

On the other hand, overstressing the treated area can negatively impact your treatment due to the sensitivity of the skin and putting too much pressure on it. The most important thing to remember is to give your treated area 7 days before returning to a normal workout routine.

Sports

While most sports are fine when working on laser tattoo removal there are some that you may need to take a break from. Water sports are not recommended for the first 7 to 10 days after treatment. This goes back to what we talked about with soaking the treated area. While taking a shower after 24 hours is ok, daily activities like swimming will cause you to keep the treated area in the water for a prolonged period of time and that can lead to infection.

Other sports such as golf or basketball are ok but we don’t recommend them for the first 5 days after treatment and we always want to make sure and cover up our treated areas when doing anything outside.

Redness and Swelling

You may experience some redness, swelling, or mild discomfort in the treated area, which is normal. To alleviate these symptoms, you can apply a cold compress to the area or take over-the-counter pain medication such as Advil. One of the best laser tattoo removal aftercare solutions we have found is using cold Aloe on the treated area. Grab some Aloe from your local store and toss it in the refrigerator, it’s amazing how much it can relieve redness and swelling in the first 24/48 hours. We also recommend a little Cortisone cream for any excessive itching in the area as long as no blistering has occurred.

It’s also important to follow any additional instructions provided by your laser tattoo removal technician or physician. We have laser tattoo removal aftercare paperwork that we send home with each of our clients up completion of their first treatment and it will give you all the guidelines you need in order to have the best aftercare experience possible.

In conclusion, proper aftercare is essential for achieving the best results from laser tattoo removal. By keeping the treated area clean, dry, and protected from sun and friction, you can help ensure that your tattoo removal is as successful as possible. If you have any concerns or questions, be sure to reach out to Black Sage or your physician for guidance.

January 4, 2023January 7, 2023

PFD patch and tattoo removal, the dawn of a new day

What is a PFD Patch?

Created by DESCRIBE, a PFD Patch is a square of silicone infused with perfluorodecalin (PFD) – a completely inert, harmless liquid that allows your Laser Removal Technician to treat your tattoo up to 4 times with the laser in a single treatment session. Not only does the Patch allow up to 4X as many laser passes per visit compared to conventional treatment, it also helps the laser reach ink particles deep within the skin, which may be particularly beneficial for older tattoos.

PFD has been used for over 10 years to help prevent what we call “frosting”. Frosting is a skin reaction in which your skin turns white during laser treatment. When this happens, we can’t continue treatment because it won’t remove any more ink. Your skin would be too sensitive to continue after frosting, anyway.

Frosting is what makes us have to wait 4 weeks between laser treatments. The way PFD patches came into play was that they would apply the PFD solution after a treatment then wait about 30 min and do a treatment again- essentially working on a single client for a few hours. While this is great for removing the tattoo faster, I can say none of my clients would want to do laser treatments for multiple hours. I mean who would really?

Does the PFD Patch have side effects?

Well to start we can do up to 4 treatment in 1 session. Imagine you can get 4months worth of laser removal results in a single day!? That sounds amazing to me and I know all of my clients would differ on that as an option as soon as I tell them. Secondly its been called “Most Innovative Laser Tattoo Removal Product of 2016” by Patient’s Guide so thats definitely something! Third, most clients are reporting less pain during the treatments with the PFD patch vs. with out it. That right there is the nail in the coffin. I would say the biggest thing aside from cost that my clients talk about with me is the pain side of laser tattoo removal. Now I do offer some numbing creams and what not that can help with the pain of removal but they themselves can also have side effects to the treatments such as slowing the process down in the long run. So again, up to 4 treatments, in 1 session, higher laser levels safer allowing us to remove more ink and reported less pain. Sounds like a no brainer to me.

Does the PFD patch have side effects?

Side effects from the PFD patch are the same as normal laser treatment as as we know all laser removal has possible side effects and we do our best to avoid them at every turn, that being said if we are able to do laser removal in half the time it normally takes with less pain and no additional side effects then count me in!

Aren’t you worried about losing money with the PFD patch?

The cost of the Patch, as well as the cost per session for laser tattoo removal, can vary by each laser removal technician you talk to and the region that you are in. It’s also important to remember that we are able to do up to 4 passes per treatment vs. only 1 at at a time so that will offset the cost of using the patch.

Lets face it, if we can get a better result in half the amount of time its worth it in my opinion. I’ve always maintained the business practice that I would rather get you results as fast and safely as I can so you will recommend me to all your fiends and family that may need help in the laser world. I truly take pride in helping people in my life and the more clients I can help remove an unwanted tattoo or get into a beautiful new coverup the happier I am.

Why should I use the patch?

We can do up to 4 passes in a single treatment vs. only 1. That means up to 4 months of treatments in a single session! (so awesome!)
The PFD patch actually absorbs laser energy that can cause more damage to the skin without it therefor making treatments safer.
Patients have reported less pain, redness and swelling after treatments with the patch. Less injury can mean you are able to do more treatments sooner than you would normally.

November 7, 2022February 7, 2023

Lasers Don’t Remove Tattoos 100%, but the Human Body is an Incredible thing!

Tattoo removal services, full tattoo removal, tatoo removal for coverup, fading a tattoo for coverup

Why lasers don’t remove tattoos 100%

The real answer to the question of why lasers don’t fully remove tattoos is that we simply don’t need to try to laser it 100% away. The less we can attack the skin with a laser, the better. Laser tattoo removal always has a risk of scarring or pigmentation changes, but if we can avoid that, we always will!

How a laser removes ink

Tattoo removal lasers break the ink in your tattoo down into tiny particles. This allows your body to remove and flush these particles. Over time and with repeated laser sessions, your tattoo will away”

Tattoo removal isn’t a short process, and if you want removal with no scars, blistering, or pigment loss then you have to have a bit of patience. You’re not going to hear a laser technician tell you “lasers don’t remove tattoos 100%”, ever. Why would we want to be negative to you about the process? My approach to this business is to educate as well as be honest. I do my best to educate my clients about the process as much as I can, simply because you should always know what you are getting into and exactly how it works.

Is there a faster way to get tattoo removal?

Yes – with a major catch. There are “faster” ways to make it happen out there, but I can tell you from my experience those only lead to scars. Now ask yourself this “do I want a scar of this tattoo left on my body when the process is finished?” 9 out of 10x the answer is no. So why rush things? This is definitely a time when taking the long road helps immensely.

Full tattoo removal typically takes 12/13 sessions and we strive at all times to make sure you only go home with red swollen skin that will heal up in 24/48 hours. The idea is to keep the laser breaking up the ink to the best of its ability without hurting your skin in the process. Throughout your laser process, you’ll see the tattoo breaking up slowly, typically you don’t see a huge difference right away, it’s around treatment 3 or 4 that you really start to see the results happening. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule but all of this information is simply the averages of what we see in the industry.

When will the tattoo be 100% gone?

Upon your last session, it is very common for you to be left with a light grey version of your tattoo, I like to call this a “shadow”. The remaining ink particles left over will eventually be eaten up by your body over the course of a year or so. Again patience is key. Below is a great example of what your body will do in 1 year’s time.

lasers don't remove tattoos — Original Tattoo

How the body is doing its job.

First, we have the original Tattoo, a Dark black outline with grey wash shading and a little red and yellow in the face. This type of tattoo is one you will generally deal with the line work the most, as the shading isn’t done very heavily and should give us great results quickly.

Next, we have the tattoo after 6 treatments and you can see a significant difference which is what we always strive for at the 1/2 point to full removal.

This client was going to do a coverup eventually so at this point we went as far as we needed to in order for them to be able to get a brand-new tattoo. The key to coverups is to get the old ink light enough that the tattooer won’t have to compromise the new design as well as having this tattoo show up underneath the new one after the new ink settled in their skin. You can learn more about the coverup process in my article here.

Now, this is my favorite part, this is that same tattoo 1 year later having never treated it beyond her initial 6 treatments. This shows you what the body is doing on its own and again how patience is key here.

Not only Is fading of the tattoo significantly better but their skin looks amazing as well. no scars, no loss of pigment, etc.

Since lasers don’t remove tattoos 100% we have to rely on the body and the body never really stops working until it simply has no ink left to take care of.

In Conclusion

Lasers don’t remove tattoos 100% but your body is also a factor in the removal process. The body is an amazing thing! It’s also great to know that there are options out there that leave us with beautiful skin and great results at the same time. I know searching for laser tattoo removal and looking at images on Google can be a super scary thing so I really hope this post will give people hope and more worthwhile information.

Thanks for reading.

October 22, 2022November 15, 2022

Exactly how much does tattoo removal hurt?

does tattoo removal hurt? What tattoo removal feels like, is laser tattoo removal dangerous

Not loving your tattoo and thinking about whether you can take the pain of getting it removed? Lots of people wonder how much tattoo removal hurts

Why does tattoo removal hurt?

Think about if you’ve ever burnt yourself on a pan hot from the oven, or hot water. The same concept applies to laser tattoo removal- the heat and intensity of the laser is what enables it to break up the ink in your skin into tiny particles. These particles are then flushed out through your immune system. Session after session, more particles are blasted until you’re left with a beautiful blank canvas…or a lightened tattoo prime for a cover up with the artist of your choice.

What does tattoo removal feel like?

While getting a tattoo lasered off does come with some minor discomfort, most people say that it’s less than they expected. The pain that comes with laser tattoo removal is similar to the snap of a rubber band as the laser pulses against your skin to break up the ink. Some people liken it to scratching a bad sunburn, or the feeling of a drop of hot oil splashing your skin. Everyone has a different idea of what it feels like.

Does laser tattoo removal hurt more than getting a tattoo?

Since laser is the only way to fully remove a tattoo, the discomfort that comes along with it is well worth it. If you can take the pain of getting a tattoo, you definitely can tolerate getting it removed. Everyone has different feelings about their pain tolerance and how much they can handle.

Other methods of tattoo removal like creams, saline treatments or even dermabrasion aren’t effective in removing tattoos. While these may be relatively pain free options, they are not considered to be an actual way to remove a tattoo for good, and they can cause permanent damage to your skin.

does tattoo removal hurt? — Does tattoo removal hurt? It’s spicy- but you can handle it

How long does tattoo removal pain last?

You may experience discomfort for a few hours after your session, similar to the sensation of a sunburn. Since we use an awesome cooling system while we treat your skin with the laser, it helps a lot with any feelings of heat in the area not only during the procedure but after as well. Some of my clients like to go home and apply an ice pack to the area to cool it down…but most of my clients go on with their day as normal, forgetting about any discomfort shortly after. You may have mild swelling and discomfort the next day, which will fade quickly over the next few days to a week.

Tattoo removal pain factors

The best thing about the discomfort associated with tattoo removal is that it’s QUICK. Where you may be sitting for a tattoo for several hours, with laser tattoo removal, you’re done within a few minutes and sometimes as little as 30 seconds. This makes it much easier to handle compared to the process of getting a tattoo.

The size of your tattoo, the saturation of the ink, how thick the lines of the tattoo are and its placement have a lot to do with how painful the process will be for you. Your personal pain tolerance will also play a part. Many clients report that the process gets easier as it goes on, because they know what to expect and seeing results is motivational for them. Just like getting a tattoo, the process of laser tattoo removal is something of a rite of passage- and one many can easily take.

Easing the pain of tattoo removal

Make sure to show up to your appointment having eaten beforehand and being well hydrated. For larger pieces, I do offer a complimentary numbing cream formulated exclusively for my laser clients. This would be applied an hour before your appointment. Squeezing tennis balls or stress balls can be helpful to some of my clients as well. The use of a cooling device during the procedure helps keep the skin cool and you comfortable.

Is laser tattoo removal for me?

At the end of the day, if you’re motivated to remove a tattoo or lighten it for a cover up…you’ll be able to handle it. Curious how much tattoo removal costs or have questions? Hit me up on social or book a free no pressure consult here.

Cheers!
Jim