What Is Laser Tattoo Removal?

Nearly 30% of people in the U.S. have at least one tattoo. Almost half of all millennials have one. But not all of them are happy about their decision. As many as 25% of those with a tattoo say they regret getting it.

If you’re in that 25%, there is good news. Laser tattoo removal techniques can significantly diminish the appearance of your unwanted tattoo with minimal side effects.

Laser tattoo removal is a treatment to help diminish the appearance of unwanted tattoos. During this treatment, dermatologists or technicians use lasers to send out high-intensity pulses of light that target the ink inside your tattoo but leave the skin around it alone. As the ink absorbs these pulses of light, it begins to heat up. This heat makes the ink break into tiny pieces, which your immune system can then clear away. Your tattoo starts to fade as the ink goes away

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

Lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigment colors with a high-intensity light beam. Black tattoo pigment absorbs all laser wavelengths, making it the easiest color to treat. Other colors can only be treated by selected lasers based upon the pigment color.

You should first schedule a consultation with a trained professional who can evaluate your tattoo and advise you on the process. The number of treatments you need will depend on the age, size, and color(s) of your tattoo. The color of your skin, as well as how deep the tattoo pigment goes, will also affect the removal technique.

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?

Laser tattoo removal can be uncomfortable, but there are ways to help deal with the pain.

Before they start using the laser on you, your doctor will give you numbing cream or a shot of numbing medication in the area they’re treating. They can also do a small test patch to see how painful the laser is for you, and to make sure it’s working well.

After a treatment session, your skin might feel sore or swollen. You can put an ice pack on it to make it feel better. Your doctor might also tell you to take an over-the-counter pain medicine like ibuprofen or acetaminophen before or after your treatment sessions.

How much pain you feel will depend on where your tattoo is, the kind of lasers your doctor uses, and other details. Some people say that the laser feels like a rubber band being snapped against their skin. Other people think it hurts about the same or less than it did to get the tattoo. Tell your doctor if you feel a lot of pain during or after a treatment session.