Living with bad ink or a regretted tattoo is something a lot of people deal with. But you do not have to keep an unwanted tattoo forever.
Whether you got your tattoo on holiday that does not mean the same thing to you anymore, or the artwork no longer reflects who you are, there are some great tattoo removal options for you.
But with so many treatments out there, how do you know which one will work for you?
If you are asking yourself – what is the most effective tattoo removal method? We can help you.
Our tattoo removal experts break down why laser tattoo removal remains the safest and most effective way to fade and remove a tattoo completely.
We will also share why the advanced PicoSure laser will help you see optimal results without damaging your healthy surrounding skin.
You can also speak to one of our laser specialists in-person, by booking a no obligation consultation.
The tattoo removal process
Before we get into how laser treatment can remove tattoos effectively, it will help to know more about how the tattoo removal process works and what happens to your tattoo ink.
When tattoo artists create your art, they inject tattoo pigment into different depths of the skin, depending on the technique they use and the tattoo area.
These tattoo ink particles are far too large to be broken down by the body alone. This is why tattoos are permanent unless you look for a targeted tattoo removal treatment.
To remove a tattoo, we need to shatter those ink particles down into much smaller fragments, which allows the body’s immune system to flush them out naturally.
The only tattoo removal method that can do this is one that uses advanced laser light energy, which is where PicoSure laser technology comes in.
How laser tattoo removal works
PicoSure laser tattoo removal works by sending precise, ultra-short bursts of light energy directly into the tattooed skin.
This pulses fire at a fast rate into the tattoo pigment without damaging the healthy surrounding skin.
This rate at which the laser device fires the light energy is also known as picoseconds. PicoSure and PicoWay are two of the best picosecond lasers available.
The technology in these lasers helps to shatter ink particles into much smaller pieces. This allows your body to process them naturally and flush them out of the body’s immune system.
Most people need multiple tattoo removal sessions to fade or see complete removal. This is because we target different ink particles in each of your sessions:
First few sessions – increased depth to work on ink deeper in the skin
Final few sessions – shallower depth, but increase the intensity to target tattoo ink of the skin’s surface
PicoSure laser treatment works on most skin types, but is most effective on skin types 1-4.
PicoWay, on the other hand, works on all skin types. This is because it uses a 1064nm wavelength that bypasses the melanin in the skin and only targets tattoo ink. This reduces the chances of pigmentation issues in darker skin types.
How do laser tattoo removal treatments compare to other tattoo removal methods?
There are a few other tattoo removal methods available that might sound tempting, but they each come with more cons than pros.
Surgical excision
As the name suggests, surgical excision or surgical removal involves a surgeon cutting out the tattooed skin.
The surgeon will then use sutures to stitch the remaining skin together. This form of tattoo removal only works on small tattoos where there is enough healthy skin leftover.
Surgical removal:
- Requires much more invasive than laser removal
- Leaves you with a scar
- Needs longer downtime and healing process
- Does not work well for medium or larger tattoos
Most people are drawn to the fact that you can remove it in one procedure. But this pay off also comes with higher complications and visible scarring. It can also leave you with damaged skin.
Tattoo removal creams
A lot of tattoo removal creams tell you they will fade and completely remove your tattoos from the comfort of your own home, but:
- They do not penetrate deep enough to reach all tattoo ink particles
- You may also see minimal fading or none at all
- They can cause skin irritation, damage the skin, or even cause scarring
We advise any client to avoid reaching for tattoo removal creams as they can actually make the appearance of your tattoo worse and tend to use harsh chemicals.
Other methods
Other removal methods such as chemical peels, or microdermabrasion are sold as faster and cheaper alternatives to laser treatment, but they often:
- Damage healthy surrounding skin
- Do not deliver consistent results (if any at all)
- Increase your risk of developing scars
It is not worth risking the health of your skin to opt for treatments that promise to be cheaper and faster with results, when in reality, they do not give you results, end up costing more, and damage your skin.
Laser tattoo removal is safe, precise, and far more effective as a tattoo removal procedure.
Why laser tattoo removal is the most effective treatment
There are plenty of clear advantages to choosing PicoSure laser tattoo removal, including:
- Provide a precise method to target tattoo ink only
- Works on all types of tattoos and all tattoo ink colours
- Minimal risk to surrounding skin
- Works well on small, medium, and large tattoos
- You can see complete removal in 6-10 sessions
- Requires fewer treatments than older lasers, including q switch treatments
If you are not sure whether laser treatment is the right tattoo removal method for you, please get in touch with our friendly team today.
They will book you an appointment to talk in-private to one of our tattoo removal specialists.
What factors can impact your tattoo removal journey?
Getting tattoos removed can look different for each person. Everyone’s skin is unique and so too are their tattoos.
There are a number of factors that can impact how many sessions of laser treatment you will need to fade or remove a tattoo, such as:
- Tattoo size – large tattoos will take longer to remove
- Ink colour – white, green, blue and yellow take longer to remove than black ink
- Ink density – more dense ink will require more sessions to help your body process the ink particles
- Tattoo location – the further away from the heart, the longer it takes to heal
- Skin type – skin types will react different to laser treatment which is why we offer a patch test to determine suitability
- Environmental factors – such as sun exposure can cause the laser to target skin pigment and not tattoo pigment. This can increase the risk of burns or damage to the skin.
During your consultation, our practitioners will assess your skin type, tattoo type and location to develop personalised treatment plan that will give you your desired results.
How many sessions will I need of laser removal?
Most people require multiple sessions spaced several weeks apart. On average, you will need:
- 2-6 treatments to fade a tattoo
- 6-10 treatments to fully remove unwanted ink
How much does laser tattoo removal cost?
There is not one set cost for laser tattoo removal. This is because we treat every client on a case-by-case basis.
We will develop a bespoke treatment plan, which will include treatment costs and how many sessions you will need to see the best results.
To help make laser tattoo removal more affordable, we do offer a pay-as-you-go plan. We also offer discounted payment plans to help you spread the cost.
You can find more information on our pricing treatment page.
Are you ready to start removing your tattoo?
Whether you are 100% sure on laser tattoo removal, or just want some friendly advice on your options, our team at Zapp Laser Studio are here to help.
Book an initial consultation at one of our studios, and take your first step towards clear skin today.