Laser tattoo removal is becoming more and more popular. Most tattoo parlours now also offer removals too due to demand. I find that a lot of tattoo parlours are also good places to go if you are looking to get a piercing.

Over 30% of the population have at least 1 tattoo and about a third of those people regret it.

A lot of people have tattoos when they are young or the fad tattoo at the time and go on to wish they hadn’t. Or they have a change in career which means having a visible tattoo could be detrimental if they became a swimsuit model for example. You might not get work because of the tattoo.

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?

With the advances in technology and the cosmetic industry as a whole, you no longer have to live with a tattoo you no longer like. Living with a tattoo that you feel embarrassed about no longer has to be the case. No longer should you need to cover a certain part of your body because you are ashamed of the ink you decided to get on your body.

Laser tattoo removal could well be the solution for you if you are looking to get rid of some old ink.

Laser Tattoo Removal

I personally had laser tattoo removal on my ring finger, this was my ex-husband’s name in black ink. Dating again having another man’s name on my ring finger made me feel a bit uncomfortable. This was something I definitely wanted to be removed and looked into my options.

I have since had 5 sessions of laser tattoo removal on my finger and the ink is virtually gone, you can no longer read it. There is a small faint bit of ink which I might get laser on again if it doesn’t naturally break down anymore.

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

The lasers used in the treatment are high-intensity light which breaks up the tattoo’s pigment through your skin.

All different colours of ink can be broken down the same way, with black being the easiest to remove. Different wavelengths of laser are used depending on the colourings of your tattoo.

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?

The main thing that concerned me when having my tattoo removed was how much it would hurt. When you think of a laser you instantly think that it is going to be unbearably painful. The reality of it is yes it is a bit uncomfortable. The first two sessions were the most uncomfortable, with the sensation being the highest at the first. I can most like the feeling of elastic bands pinging your skin, which is also very similar to the sound the laser makes too.

You can use numbing creams if you are particularly worried about the pain. Personally, the pain was bearable and totally worth it for the tattoo being removed.

The area you have treated is sensitive and tender for a couple of days following your first treatment. As the ink starts to disappear so does the pain, to the point now that at certain parts I couldn’t even feel anything as the ink has pretty much gone.

My consultant always adds some aloe vera gel to the area after the session and covers it with a plaster.

If you are at all concerned about the pain talk it through with your consultant prior to your visit and they may be able to suggest the best option.

How Many Sessions of Laser Tattoo Removal Is Needed?

There is no 1 answer to the question of how many sessions are needed. I was told to expect to have at least 4 and to date, I have had 5.  I am still left with a very small amount of light grey ink where there was originally black ink.

Depends on a number of variables. The colour of the tattoo is the most important factor. If it is all black it is likely it will go much quicker than any other colour.

How long you have had the tattoo could also change the amount of laser tattoo removal sessions you would require.

A lot of people tend to have a few laser removal sessions and then have a tattoo cover-up instead of persisting with the laser removal. Personally, because of where the tattoo was I wanted it gone and I didn’t want something else there.

A lot of people mistakenly think that their tattoo will go after their first session, but it will absolutely not! After the first session, the tattoo will seem to have disappeared. This is what is known as ‘frosting’ where the top layer of skin slightly blisters and masks the ink beneath. Once the frosting has cooled down the ink will begin to show through your skin again.

Persisting with the laser removal won’t result in frosting every time, this only happened for me in the first session. I now just get a red mark and a hot sensation. This cools down after a couple of hours and just leaves it a bit sensitive.

If you are considering it I would say certainly go in and talk to a consultant, I am certainly glad I did.

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