Tattoo removal factors that you should know about
Many people with old or disliked tattoos wonder about the tattoo removal process. Typically clients come to me with a basic understanding of how the process works, but it can be important to understand the major factors that go into the tattoo removal process and how they might affect your outcome, whether you’re interested in removing a tattoo completely, or simply lightening it up enough to get a tattoo cover up. There are many factors that go into it, but the 3 pillars of laser tattoo removal are: age, saturation and patience.
One of the biggest factors that influences tattoo removal is the age of the tattoo to be removed. This can make a significant different in the success of tattoo removal. Said another way, it’s much easier to remove an old faded out tattoo than it is to remove something that’s less than a couple years old. Tattoos that are over 10 years old are far more likely to be removed 100% in 10-12 sessions. Obviously, factors like your overall health and how heavily the tattoo was done in the first place also influence how long it will take for your process.
Saturation is the next factor for tattoo removal. By saturation, I mean how heavy is the original line work and shading? Are there really deep, dark lines? Is the overall tattoo still very dark, even after 10-20 years? When we mention a tattoo artist being “heavy handed” this is essentially the same thing as saturation.
The tattoo pictured is a great example of a prime candidate for removal. This client is a healthy, non smoking individual, with a ~20 year old grey wash type tattoo that is not completely saturated. Luckily, patience didn’t even come into play with this tattoo, as we only had to complete 2 sessions to see a 90% reduction in the appearance of the tattoo.
If the client left this tattoo just like this, her body would actually metabolize the rest of the ink that’s left over the next year or so and it would go away completely with no scarring or marks of any kind! Awesome!
The last pillar of tattoo removal is patience, and it’s something I talk to my clients about quite a bit. There’s a lot of misleading info out there about, well, everything- but especially the tattoo removal process. Social media can make things seem much faster, easier, and unrealistic. There’s a lot to learn when you’re researching this process, so it’s understandable that people aren’t sure about how fast it happens or what the process is really like. Trust me, we all wish it only took 1-2 sessions to complete the tattoo removal process!
The average full tattoo removal will typically be around 10-12 sessions, and this is where the patience comes in. This is a process to renew your body’s canvas. To ensure the integrity of your skin, we work in sessions that are 4-6 weeks apart. This allows your skin to fully heal, and your body to move out the laser blasted ink. If you can adopt the mindset that being patient with the process is part of your tattoo removal or tattoo cover up journey, it will be much easier and more enjoyable!
Choosing to undergo any elective procedure for your appearance can be a stressful experience. Find someone that you believe is there for your best interests and not just trying to sell you a package deal. Make sure you can speak directly to the person who will be performing the laser tattoo removal service for you. Ask questions until you feel comfortable you understand the process. Lastly, make sure you do your research. Ask what kind of laser they’re using, what certifications they have, their perspective on blistering, and how many sessions they anticipate needing to meet your goals.
Don’t forget to check out our FAQ for some commonly asked laser tattoo removal questions, and if you want to speak to a human, fill out this form and let’s chat about your goals!
Cheers,
Jim