Sun Exposure and Laser Tattoo Removal

Learn how sun can affect your removal process

If you’re thinking about your sun exposure and laser tattoo removal, you’re on the right track. Getting a tattoo removed is a highly personal choice, similar to coloring your hair, getting braces, working out, or getting a new piercing. Many people also choose to undergo cosmetic surgery, Botox, microblading, and more. All of these choices are up to the individual, and I respect those who’ve chosen to remove a tattoo. Just like getting a brand new tattoo, removing ink of something of a rite of passage.

Getting rid of a tattoo you are unhappy with is a process. Despite some of the videos or tattoo removal before & afters you may have seen, laser tattoo removal actually happens over time over the course of multiple sessions. Usually we an fully remove a tattoo in 10-14 sessions, but this does depend on the age of the tattoo, saturation and colors involved.

Those who have chosen to remove a tattoo with laser know that they are committing to a journey for the ultimate outcome of being able to beautifully cover up a tattoo they’re unhappy with, or remove it completely. How many sessions a tattoo takes to remove really depends on the age and saturation of the ink…and some other factors like your health.

When you consider an elective process like laser tattoo removal, it’s helpful to think about how it may impact your life, so that you know what to expect. One of the things I talk about often with my new clients is sun exposure. Much like a new tattoo, I advise my clients to stay out of the sun especially right after a laser treatment.

How laser tattoo removal works

Think about the concept of laser tattoo removal: we blast your tattoo with a laser that breaks up all of the ink into tiny particles. These particles then are then flushed through your immune system and out of your body. Then the process is repeated every 4-6 weeks until we have achieved the outcome you desire. More info about the process can be found in our FAQ. A laser can reach temperatures up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Imagine how it feels to have a gnarly sunburn, then to spend a few minutes outside in bright hot sun. Not pleasant, right? This is exactly what we try to avoid with sun exposure and laser tattoo removal.

Why blistering can damage your skin

The problem with blistering and tattoo removal is that it can damage your skin permanently. Blistering results from getting burned. Think about any time you’ve touched a hot oven by accident. Maybe you even have a scar somewhere from getting burned at some point in your life (I know I sure as hell do).

When blisters form after getting laser tattoo removal, this can lead to permanent scarring. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you know whoever is doing your treatment has the proper training and is using state of the art equipment. All laser “clinics” are not made equal…and the quality of your skin can suffer because of it.

It’s generally smart to keep the tattoo you’re working on out of the sun as much as possible during treatment. That doesn’t mean YOU have to stay out of this beautiful Colorado weather…just cover it or wear SPF. Sun exposure and laser tattoo removal just don’t mix.

Scarring from blisters is not the only risk you take on when you expose your get sun exposure after tattoo removal. You can also run the risk loss of pigment after tattoo removal when you go into the sun. This is called hypo pigmentation (removing pigmentation/color from your skin). Hyper pigmentation (darkening of the skin) can also occur. Both of these issues are obviously bad outcomes for laser tattoo removal when you’re looking to remove a tattoo or lighten a tattoo for a cover up.

Too much sun before laser tattoo removal treatments can also slow the process down. We all make mistakes, but I advise my clients to be careful about getting sun exposure and laser tattoo removal.

Sun exposure and laser tattoo removal don’t mix

Tanning and laser tattoo removal

Enjoying sun exposure a little too much can cause additional melanin in your skin (making you tanner and darker) and when combined with laser tattoo removal, can cause hyper and hypo pigmentation.

Some clients ask about using tanning lotions or self tanning creams instead of using the tanning bed while getting a tattoo removed. This is also not recommended. These creams can react to the laser and cause hypo pigmentation (lightening of the skin). Your skin also absorbs chemicals it comes into contact with including lotions and creams, and you want your immune system in good shape for this process.

At the end of the day, laser tattoo removal is a commitment with a great reward. It’s awesome to see people stoked that they can completely forget about an old tattoo they had….or see them work with a tattoo artist to create something completely new and special to them. Generally sun exposure and laser tattoo removal just don’t mix. If you choose to get a tattoo removed this is a great time to take care of your health, make sure you’re not smoking, and lay off the tanning beds and creams.

I’m always here to chat about your goals in removing a tattoo you no longer love and answer your questions whether they are about the process, tattoo removal cost, or anything else. Give me a call at the shop or setup a free, no pressure, no judgment consult.

Cheers!

Jim

September 7, 2022November 15, 2022

Smoking and removing a tattoo: Facts that could concern you

Smoker? Removing a tattoo may be more challenging

Removing a tattoo can be difficult enough, but smoking can have an impact on your success

If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo removed, there are a lot of factors that you should know about before getting started so that you can get the best result from the process. I usually see clients for 10-12 sessions to lighten for a cover up or completely remove a tattoo. Since there are 4-5 weeks between each removal session, it takes a time commitment. Besides time, there are other factors that come into play.

The age of the tattoo, the saturation of the ink, and the colors used all can ultimately influence the end result and how easy it is for you to lighten or completely remove your tattoo. Typically these are the factors that are most talked about when someone is considering laser tattoo removal to get a tattoo cover up, or to totally remove a tattoo.

Smoking and how it affects tattoo removal

However, another factor that is less talked about is whether or not you are a smoker. To get into why this matters, it’s best to talk about how the tattoo removal process actually works first.

Laser tattoo removal works by basically blasting tattoo particles in your skin apart into tiny pieces with a laser. This means that as those particles are broken up into smaller and smaller pieces, they are then sent into your bloodstream to be flushed out by your body’s immune system. After all, that old ink has to go somewhere, right? But because a smoker’s immune system is not in optimal condition, it can be much harder for a smoker’s body to flush out and remove the ink particles. This means that laser tattoo removal results may be harder to get in the same period of time for someone that is a smoker compared to a nonsmoker.

It’s been known for a long time that smoking negatively affects your body’s health and it’s ability to heal wounds. Toxins in cigarettes like carbon monoxide and nicotine depress your body’s immune system, which is what supports your immune function and ability to recover from wounds or illnesses. Nicotine reduces the amount of red blood cells your body makes, lowering your body’s ability to heal wounds. Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen in your system, negatively affecting how your immune system functions. Whether you smoke cigarettes or something else, any kind of smoking will negatively affect your immune system.

Surprising facts about smoking

According to a study published by the American Medical Association’s Archives of Dermatology, smoking can reduce the effectiveness of laser tattoo removal by up to 70%. This can obviously make your quest in removing a tattoo much more difficult, time consuming, costly, and potentially frustrating.

If you’re considering removing a tattoo and you’re also a smoker, I encourage you to consider your long term goals including your health and how much time you are willing to invest in an elective process that can come with a higher price tag. If the effectiveness of this process is drastically reduced because of your health, then it may take a much longer time to achieve the results you desire, or, you may not be able to remove your tattoo to the extent you want.

Consider your health

If you are extremely interested in removing a tattoo, you may want to quit smoking altogether for now and focus on your health. This includes not smoking, eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and getting appropriate exercise.

Knowing more information helps you make decisions for your health and your tattoo removal journey. Maybe you choose to quit smoking and focus on your health during the laser tattoo removal process. Or, maybe tattoo removal is just not a choice you can currently make. If you have questions about the process or want to talk to the actual person who removes tattoos, fill out our free consultation form or give me a call. We can chat about your concerns and options for removing a tattoo.

Cheers,

Jim

August 31, 2022November 15, 2022

Age, Saturation and Patience: The 3 Pillars of Tattoo Removal

After tattoo removal, tattoo removal aftercare

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

August 23, 2022November 15, 2022

Microblading Removal Can Get Your Skin Back to Normal

Learn how to restore your skin’s appearance with microblading removal

Microblading has become a popular option in permanent makeup over the last several years. Naturally, this has led to an increase in people interested in microblading removal. Making the decision to get permanent makeup is not any easy one, and a botched microblading job is everyone’s worst nightmare. That’s why it’s so important to find a licensed professional to perform this service, but even then, you may still be unhappy if the results are not what you expected them to be.

Microblading is a form of tattooing that uses a fine needle and cosmetic pigment to add the appearance of fine hairs in and around the eyebrows to create the client’s desired look. Microbladed eyebrows are usually customized to the person, so that the appearance is natural and blends in with their existing brow color. For many, it’s a great way for them to fill in sparse eyebrows from past overplucking, create a natural looking arch, or use less makeup on a daily basis.

Just like any other kind of tattoo, microblading can go wrong, and that’s why microblading removal is an option.

Reasons why someone might want to remove their eyebrow tattoos:

– Pigment color is spotty, uneven, or too dark

– Needle strokes are too long, too short or too thick

– Shape is not as expected

– Brows don’t appear to be even

– Pigment changed over time

– Poor quality

Another issue that some clients experience is the ink being deposited too deep into the skin. This can lead to the ink looking gray or blue when it heals.

Luckily microblading removal is a pretty easy, fast and effective process.

Why remove microblading

Some of my clients want microblading removal so that they can get it redone in a different style, color or shape, while others want it removed completely. Most of the time I hear that the result is simply not what they expected- maybe an untrained artist did the microblading freehand and it’s uneven, bad quality, or completely wrong color.

I’ve heard horror stories about people going for a second microblading session to try to fix the first one and making the issue worse. Botched microblading can lead to a drop in self confidence, feelings of disappointment and stress related to trying to figure out the best way to camouflage or remove it.

If you’re not happy with the results of your permanent makeup, the best way to remove eyebrow tattoos is with laser microblading removal. The creams, at home exfoliation or saline treatments at a medi spa just won’t cut it, and they can permanently damage your skin in the process. Laser tattoo removal for microblading preserves the integrity of your skin, so that you aren’t left with blisters or scars. You will be free to get your microblading redone, or simply completely have it removed and move on. The choice is yours.

I routinely help my clients remove microblading because it’s a process that’s so commonly done these days. Typically the issue is the color is just a little off, and that’s hard to deal with when you look at yourself in the mirror every day. Other times, the shape didn’t come out as desired. Or, maybe the color and shape are ideal, except the tattoo came out much darker than expected. These are all great reasons to utilize the awesome power of laser to lighten up or remove the microblading.

Microblading removal procedure is simple

When you come in for your first treatment, I’ll evaluate the condition of your microblading and give you an estimate on how many sessions I think it will take to remove them. You’ll have time to ask any questions you may have and after some paperwork, we’ll put on some eye protection and get to work. With a small area to work on, you’ll be in and out quickly and be able to get on with your day as normal.

How many sessions will it take?

Since microblading tattoos are usually applied with a pretty light hand, and cover such a small area, the number of sessions is low to lighten up or completely remove these eyebrow tattoos. Typically 1-3 laser removal of microblading sessions is all that’s needed to fully remove microblading, but the process can take longer depending on the age and saturation of the eyebrow tattoo. For example, if the microblading is only a few weeks old compared to a few years old- these differences will impact the number of sessions it takes to remove.

If you’re wondering about the microblading removal process we can help! Got questions on the process? Check out our tattoo removal FAQ or book a free consultation to get started.

Cheers,

Jim

August 16, 2022August 25, 2022

Tattoo cover up journey: Cats, lasers and a brand new tattoo

This tattoo cover up has been over 20 years in the making

It’s always exciting for me to get big new projects for laser tattoo removal! Our newest project is a large piece intended for a tattoo cover up, so our goal will be to lighten this as much as possible into a gray wash type tone. This will allow my client to choose any tattoo artist they desire for their cover up, and get a great result that will last for many years to come. This is my first post saying farewell to this cat, and I’ll document the journey from start to finish.

This cat piece is around 20 years old and roughly 10″ wide by 8″ tall. Colors on this tattoo to be removed include black, grey, green and purple. I would consider the ink saturation level to be medium to heavy. I’m estimating that laser removal sessions will probably range from 4-8 depending on how their body and ink respond to the process.

Large Cat tattoo for eventual tattoo cover up — Large cat design for tattoo cover up

3 factors that effect laser tattoo removal results for a tattoo cover up:

Health of the person: Your health plays a large role when you get laser tattoo removal- blood flow is everything! This means that underlying health problems or those that smoke may cause laser tattoo removal to be a slower process. After all, laser tattoo removal blasts the ink in your skin, so that it can be broken down by your body and then processed out. Any extra burden like smoking can slow this process down.
Age of the tattoo: Tattoos that are 10 years or older are prime candidates for laser tattoo removal. The sun and time have already lightened up the tattoo for us. This isn’t to say we can’t remove newer tattoos, because it’s definitely possible. The process may take a little longer, but results depend on multiple factors. Our buddy the cat here is a 20+ year old tattoo, which ensures we will see great results within the first 2-3 lightening sessions. Lots of us have made questionable ink choices- if you have a really old tattoo you hate, it’s typically easier to get rid of those. Many of my clients didn’t consider laser tattoo removal until they learned they could lighten up their old tattoos to get a tattoo cover up. This has now become the go to option for many people who desire to renew their canvas. Tattoos are no longer permanent, and our technology ensures the integrity of your skin so it can be covered with something you love.
Ink Density: The heaviness of the ink can speed up or slow down the process. As you can see, we have some pretty heavy ink on the cat’s head, as well as some thick line work throughout this tattoo. If you notice how “fuzzy” the tattoo looks, that gives the impression of broken down ink, which definitely plays in our favor when we’re looking to laser this old tattoo. Time and sun exposure can cause this process to accelerate, and if you have a tattoo that you hate looking like this, you’re in a good position to be considering laser tattoo removal.

As we work on this tattoo removal process I’ll be updating you with new posts to show you the progress each month on as we laser it away, to monitor how well the tattoo removal treatments are working. You’ll also get to see the coverup process including the drawing, stencil and tattoo progress as it goes. I’m excited to see how this one turns out. Stay tuned!

Cheers!

-Jim

August 11, 2022November 15, 2022

Gain awesome new ink with a tattoo cover up

Tattoo removal for tattoo coverup Denver Colorado

Laser tattoo removal can help achieve a long lasting, quality tattoo cover up

Have you ever seen someone with a tattoo cover up, and you can clearly tell it’s a cover up because of the dark lines showing through? This typically happens a couple years after getting a cover up when the ink settles into the skin. For those with the patience and interest in a long term tattoo cover up solution that will look great for years to come, laser tattoo removal is a great choice.

It’s so tempting to want to cover up a bad tattoo immediately, especially one with emotional bonds connected to it. Sometimes this can work, but especially for larger cover ups, this can be disastrous. Tattoo removal for cover ups can work wonders for those looking to upgrade their skin’s canvas, because it allows you to ultimately choose almost any artist, instead of just the ones willing to throw on a dark cover up just to get it covered fast. Does it take some time and patience? Absolutely, but the results are worth waiting for.

Don’t rush into a tattoo cover up

If you’ve already rushed into getting a tattoo you dislike enough to cover it up, don’t rush into getting it covered with just anything. I’ve worked with many people who have quickly covered up an old tattoo, only to come to me later regretting the black blob they now have in its place. It’s also much more difficult to remove what is now essentially a double layer of tattoos. We’ve all made these rash decisions, but there are now other options for us!

You have choices, and you can choose to renew your canvas so that you can choose most any artist and artwork after lightening your tattoo through laser tattoo removal. Typically, our goal with tattoo cover ups is to lighten the existing tattoo to a “gray wash” look. This allows it to easily be covered by the tattoo artist of your choice. Here’s a great example of this:

We work with all tattoo shops

We work with all Colorado tattoo shops for cover ups, so we can help you consult with your artist on how light we want to get the tattoo depending on your goals. A lot of our new clients are referred to us directly from local tattoo shops, where they’ve chatted with an artist about their tattoo ideas. It’s much easier for an artist to work out a cover up when it’s already been lightened- it allows more creative freedom and lets you choose the artist you really want.

How long does it take?

People ask all the time how many sessions will be required to get a tattoo in shape to be covered with another piece of art. The answer is: it depends. The age of the tattoo, how much ink was put in (tribal, anyone?), and how much color the tattoo has all dictate how many sessions it will take to lighten enough. For a regular black & gray tattoo, I’d estimate 4-8 sessions, but again, this depends on a lot of different variables. Your health, whether or not you smoke, and how old the tattoo all also dictate how easy the ink will lift out of your skin.

Each tattoo removal situation is unique to the individual. To find out more information that’s specific to you, it’s best to book a free, no pressure consultation where you can talk directly to a laser tattoo removal specialist about your options and get their opinion on how the process will go depending on your specific ink. It’s a time to ask questions and get a professional assessment of the tattoo you’re interested in removing- hit me up.

Cheers,
Jim