All about Laser Tattoo Removal

Tattoos have been an integral part of our culture for hundreds of years. What do you do, though, if you regret having this “piece of culture” tattooed on your calf, back, or arm. Luckily, almost any tattoo can be undone by laser tattoo removal. The trick, though, is to understand a bit about this procedure before you jump right in. So before getting your tattoo removed, take a look at a bit about this removal process.

What Tattoos can be Removed?

Not all tattoos will be as easily removed as they were put on. After all, tattoos were meant to stay on your skin no matter what. Some tattoos will, simply not being able to be taken off completely. Scarring and even remnant ink may still appear on your skin after removal. Luckily, there can be tremendous success with some tattoos. People with fair skin who have tattoos on their chest, bottom, and legs will most likely have the best results. Understand, though, that the deeper the ink, the more sessions you will need to remove the tattoo.

How Does Laser Removal Work?

Tattoo removal with lasers works by breaking up the ink cells that are tinting your skin in the form of a tattoo. After the ink particles have been fragmented, you body can then clear them away naturally. The deeper the ink, though, the more sessions will be needed to take the tattoo away permanently. This can cause some blistering or scarring depending on your skin’s individual reaction to multiple laser treatments.

Does Removal Hurt?

Getting a tattoo taken off of your skin is just as painful as when you got it drawn. Fortunately, there are many different ways that you can keep a tattoo removal from being too painful. Most doctors recommend that you take a pain killer an hour or two before your procedure. Don’t take medication that thins the blood, though. You doctor may also apply or administer anesthetics to dull the pain.

What Can I Expect During the Procedure?

Getting a tattoo removed is a fairly non-eventful procedure. Once the treatment begins, the patient is given protective glasses to keep their eyes safe from the razor. The treatment then begins with a small laser applied to your tattoo. You can expect 10-30 pulses of laser in one treatment to remove your tattoo.

Removing Your Tattoo

Before getting a laser tattoo removal procedure, it’s important to understand what goes into this modern method of getting rid of tattoos. First, understand that your tattoo may not be able to be removed or may not come off completely. Finally, keep in mind what to expect when you go to get your tattoo removed.

Risks Of Laser Tattoo Removal

Many people who are considering tattoo removal may wonder about the risks involved with laser tattoo removal.  While the procedure is expensive and that is definitely a disadvantage, laser tattoo removal is relatively safe.  Having said that, there are some risks associated with it that you should be aware of if you are considering this method of tatto removal. It’s much more expensive than using tattoo removal cream.


There are three different types of lasers that are used in laser tattoo removal.  They are NdYAG, Ruby, and Alexandrite.  These lasers emit light at one particular wavelength unlike IPL Laser tattoo removal that emits light across multiple wavelengths Depending on which laser are used has somewhat of an impact on the risks.

Here are a list of risks that you should be aware of.

  • Pain -  There is undoubtedly going to be a certain amount of pain during and after the treatment.  Many people have reported that the treatment is more painful than getting the tattoo applied in the first place.  Others report that there wasn’t much pain at all.  Some clinics will use a topical numbing agent to lessen the pain.
  • Discoloration – There is a low risk of permanent skin discoloration after undergoing laser tattoo removal. In some cases the skin ends up being lighter and in some cases the skin ends up being darker than the surrounding skin.
  • Blistering -  There is a risk that the patient will develop a large blister over the treated area.
  • Scarring -  There is a risk that the patient will have permanent scarring.  Some people don’t develop scarring at all. Others develop visible scarring.
  • Infection -  If post treatment plans aren’t followed precisely, there is a risk of developing an infection in the treated area.
  • Unsatisfactory results -  In some cases not all of the tattoo pigment can be removed by the use of lasers.  This is especially true of tattoo ink that is deeply deposited under the skin.

So there you have it.  A list of possible risks associated with laser tattoo removal.  Does this list make tattoo removal cream seem more appealing? Perhaps you might consider trying an at home tattoo removal cream like Wrecking Balm or Ink Busters, or Nuviderm. You might also enjoy reading an article that I just wrote on intense pulsed light tattoo removal. If you are still interested in tattoos, but would rather save yourself the agony of laser tattoo removal, you might want to look into getting some temporary henna tattoos or other temporary tattoos.

Wrecking Balm Coupon

I think the main hang up that most people have with laser tattoo removal is the cost. It, along with IPL, dermabrasion, surgical tattoo surgical excision, and reverse tattooing are the most expensive tattoo removal methods. Laser tattoo removal can be pretty gross. Here’s a link to some laser tattoo removal pictures for you to look at if you would like. In some cases you may qualify for a free tattoo removal program if your are an ex gang member but these programs use laser tattoo removal.