Tattoo Removal Q & A

How does tattoo removal work?

Tattoo removal services can effectively erase an unwanted tattoo from your skin. Treatments work by breaking down the pigmented ink particles, making them small enough that your lymphatic system can flush them out as waste. 

Medical professionals at Dermatology Associates use medical-grade lasers to lighten and eventually remove your tattoo during a few treatment sessions. 

A laser for tattoo removal is a focused light that heats the ink particles in your skin. With every session, your lymphatic system removes a few more ink particles, and you’ll see increased lightening every time. However, every session involves a period of recovery so you must space your tattoo removal sessions out accordingly. 

You can expect a full tattoo removal to take several months to a year or longer.  

How many tattoo removal sessions do I need?

Tattoo removal isn’t a one-and-done process in most cases unless your tattoo is extremely fine-lined and light already. Multiple factors influence the amount of time and energy it takes to remove a tattoo including:

  • Its size
  • Its age
  • The depth of the ink
  • The ink colors
  • The type of ink used

The team at Dermatology Associates takes photos of your tattoo to record your results as you go through treatment. They estimate the number of sessions you’ll need for full removal, but you can also choose to just lighten a tattoo so it’s easier to cover with another work of art. 

Does tattoo removal hurt?

Tattoo removal can be relatively uncomfortable without any lidocaine or other numbing products. The team at Dermatology Associates discusses numbing options with you during your consultation for tattoo removal. 

What is the healing process like after tattoo removal?

After every tattoo removal session, your skin is raw and needs some time to heal. While the ink appears to turn white during the session, it goes back to a darker pigment shortly after your treatment. 

You can soothe any initial inflammation and discomfort using an ice pack wrapped in a cloth. Follow the team’s instructions for bandaging or wrapping your tattoo during the first few days of healing, as covering the tattoo protects it from infectious bacteria. The team may give you an antibiotic cream to ward off bacteria, also. 

Call Dermatology Associates or schedule a tattoo removal consultation online to start fading your unwanted tattoo today.