If your tattoo no longer reflects your personal style, or you are ready for something new, you’ve probably started to look at the different ways to remove your tattoo.
Your internet search will offer you some weird and wonderful methods to remove tattoos, most of which will be at home solutions.
Of course, we understand the appeal of at home tattoo removal.
On the surface, they seem to provide a quick, low cost way to fade or completely remove tattoos. But just because it’s easier, it does not make them better.
The question you should be asking yourself is – do home tattoo removal machines work?
And do they provide safe and effective results?
This is where our tattoo removal experts can help.
We will talk you through the truth behind DIY tattoo removal methods, and provide clear advice on why professional laser tattoo removal continues to be the most safe and effective method.
If you would prefer to get some one-on-one advice, the best place to start is with an initial consultation at Zapp Laser Studio – one of the UK’s top tattoo removal outfits with studios in Brighton, Bristol and London.
We can help you understand your options and create a tailored plan that will work for you and your desired results.
What are the types of at home tattoo removal?
One quick Google search will bring up several at home tattoo removal methods that promise a quick and easy fix to your tattoo removal needs.
The most common types of DIY tattoo removal methods include:
- Chemical peels – including the use of Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) or Glycolic Acid to remove tattoos
- Dermabrasion kits – using sandpaper type material or pumice stone to exfoliate the layers of skin that include tattoo ink
- Tattoo removal creams – or ointments that promise to help fade tattoo pigment
- Natural remedies – including lemon juice or hydrogen peroxide
- Hand-held laser devices – that market themselves as an alternative to professional lasers
All of these options may market themselves as the best way to remove tattoos.
But the reality is that the results and the negative impact they have on your skin say something very different.
Most tattoo ink sits in the dermis layer (middle layer), which means that these surface-level tattoo removal treatments will never reach most of the ink.
The result – at home removal methods fail to break down the ink particles enough to provide any decent amount of fading.
What’s more, they often lead to permanent tissue damage, scarring, and even skin discolouration.
Why using at home tattoo removal machines can be dangerous
We all like to give things a go ourselves, but when it comes to laser treatments and removal devices, it’s much better to let trained professionals lead the way.
Without the right training and knowledge on areas like laser settings, how to reach deeper ink safely, skin anatomy, and how to treat different ink colours, you could cause serious damage to your skin.
At home tattoo removal machines or DIY removal methods can lead to:
- Permanent scarring
- Damage to healthy surrounding skin
- Severe chemical burns (acids and creams)
- High risk of infection – by irritating or breaking the skin
- Skin discolouration – especially if you have darker skin tones
Most at home tattoo removal treatments run the risk of causing irritation and lead to healing issues.
They can also be extremely painful to use, with many people reporting that they feel a strong burning sensation or severe pain during and after treatment.
So, why would you take a high risk of damaging your skin? Especially when these methods cannot guarantee tattoos will be completely removed.
Why professional laser tattoo removal is the best option
If you want a safe and effective method for tattoo removal, professional laser treatment is, and will continue to be the gold standard.
Laser tattoo removal uses precise and targeted laser light energy to target tattoo ink beneath the skin’s surface without damaging the healthy surrounding skin.
In the hands of a full-trained laser treatment specialist, tattoo removal comes with less risk of scarring, infection, or changes in skin texture.
It also provides the best results for both fading a tattoo and full removal.
Choosing the right laser device to remove a tattoo
Not all laser devices are created equal. So, you need to do your homework on which laser treatment will work for your skin type and tattoo type.
At Zapp Laser Studio, we use the latest laser technology to provide tattoo removal. As a result, we can treat all skin types and tattoo ink colours successfully.
Our laser tattoo removal experts use:
- PicoSure laser tattoo removal – which uses ultra-short pulse widths of light energy to break down tattoo ink particles. It is proven to remove coloured tattoos effectively, even the most challenging colours – yellow, blues and greens.
- PicoWay laser tattoo removal (London only) – another advanced tattoo removal device that precisely targets tattoo ink to shatter it into smaller pieces. It is also suitable for darker skin tones as it uses a 1064nm wavelength to bypass melanin in the skin.
Putting your trust in professional clinics such as Zapp Laser studio ensures:
- Your treatment uses safe and medically-proven technology
- You receive a bespoke treatment plan based on your skin type and desired results
- You benefit from expert advice from the moment you have your consultation through to treatment and aftercare
- Their expertise leads to a higher success rate in fading and complete removal
How does laser tattoo removal work?
During a session of laser tattoo removal, your laser expert will start by cleansing the skin to prepare it for the laser.
At Zapp Laser Studio, we do not use a numbing cream on the treatment area first. This is because it can change the texture of the skin and slow down the removal process.
Instead, we use a cooling device that blows extremely cold air onto the skin throughout the treatment to protect it.
Laser tattoo removal does hurt. But the cooling device does help to minimise discomfort.
During your session, we pass the laser device across the tattoo, which fires ultra-short bursts of laser light energy directly into the tattoo ink.
This breaks the ink down into much smaller ink particles that the body can then process naturally through the immune system over the next few weeks.
How many sessions of laser tattoo removal will I need?
Every tattoo is different and will require its own treatment plan.
During your consultation, we will look at several factors to determine how many sessions of laser tattoo removal you will need:
- Age of the tattoo
- Tattoo location
- Ink depth (deeper ink requires more)
- Skin type
- Size of the tattoo
- Your skin condition
- Your medical history
- Ink depth
To give you a rough estimate, most clients need an average of:
- 2-6 treatments to fade a tattoo
- 6-10 treatments to fully remove a tattoo
We need to space each session around ten weeks apart. This helps ensure that your skin can fully heal and that your body can process the ink particles.
Remember, while most tattoos can be faded or completely removed with laser tattoo removal, patience is key.
So, do at home tattoo removal machines work?
The short answer to this is no, they do not work.
They carry a high infection risk, can lead to permanent scarring, and cause permanent tissue damage.
But what if you want your tattoo removed quickly and cheaply?
Unfortunately, there is no such thing.
If you truly want a tattoo removed safely and with great results, you need to invest in professional care, advanced technology and understand that it takes time.
But what we can say is that laser tattoo removal does work and we have the reviews to back that up.
Book a consultation
If you want to know more about PicoSure or PicoWay laser tattoo removal, get in touch with our team today to book an initial consultation.