Whether you have a tattoo that no longer reflects your personality, or you have a tattoo you regret, the one question everyone is asking is – can tattoos be 100% removed?
The good news is that with advanced laser technology, the possibility of complete removal is now more achievable than ever before.
At Zapp Laser Studio, we use two of the most cutting-edge laser tattoo removal treatments – the PicoSure and PicoWay laser systems.
Not only do they both have multiple wavelengths to target and remove all tattoo ink colours on the spectrum, but they even treat the most complex types of tattoo.
To show you how laser tattoo removal procedures can help with complete tattoo removal, we will break down how the tattoo removal process works, and how many sessions you will need for your unwanted tattoo to be fully removed.
The short answer: can all tattoos be fully removed?
In most cases, the answer is yes, your tattoos can be fully removed. But this is not to say that all tattoos are created equally and that all tattoos follow the same removal process.
There are several factors that can impact how many sessions it will take to achieve complete removal. These include:
- Your skin health – healthy and hydrated skin promotes better healing
- Tattoo size – smaller tattoos require less treatments than larger ones
- Your immune system – you need a healthy immune system to be able to process the ink particles
- Tattoo age – older tattoos are easier to remove as they often fade over time. New tattoos are more challenging
- Tattoo location – the further the tattoo is from the heart, the more laser removal sessions you will need
- Tattoo artist skills – professional tattoos tend to use more ink and go deeper into the skin, which means they often require more sessions to completely remove them.
- Density of the tattoo ink – deeper and denser ink will require more sessions
Laser tattoo removal process
At Zapp Laser Studio, you will be in the hands of laser treatment experts, specifically laser tattoo removal. We are fully trained in treating all skin types, colours of tattoo and types of tattoo.
We provide an initial consultation, where we can assess your tattoo and skin condition. We will also do a patch test to ensure that you are suitable for laser treatment.
The laser removal process uses ultra-short bursts of high-intensity light energy. This happens at a very fast rate, which causes the tattoo ink to break down into much smaller particles.
These fragments are then processed over the next few weeks by the body through the lymphatic system.
Both PicoSure and PicoWay use precise and targeted laser light energy that only targets the tattoo ink without causing any damage to the healthy surrounding skin.
Most clients need multiple sessions for their tattoo to be completely removed. One of the reasons is that each session works differently:
- The early sessions focus on targeting the ink particles within the deeper layers of the skin
- The later laser therapy sessions focus on tattoo ink that sits near to or on the surface of the skin.
How many sessions for complete tattoo removal?
The number of sessions you will need to get your tattoo removed will depend on the size, location, and complexity of your tattoo.
Everyone’s laser tattoo removal journey is different, but on the whole the average number of sessions you may need are:
- To fade a tattoo for cover up: 2-6 laser sessions
- To completely remove a tattoo: 6-10 laser treatments
The healing process is key to the laser removal process
After every laser tattoo removal treatment session, you will need to give you tattooed skin time to heal.
The laser has done part of the job by breaking down the tattoo ink, but now you need your body to effectively process the ink through your lymphatic system.
It can take your skin a few weeks to fully heal. During this time, it is important that you follow our aftercare guidance to allow the ink to be flushed out, but to also ensure the skin does not get damaged or infected.
For this reason, each treatment session is also spaced a few weeks apart (at least 10 weeks).
During the last few sessions, we may ask you to wait longer between sessions as the ink on the surface of the skin will take longer to process.
Other tattoo removal methods
There a few alternative methods for removing tattoos, which include:
- Tattoo removal creams – do not tend to work and can damage the skin
- Surgical excision – not a very common method and is only suitable for small tattoos. It also leaves scarring
- Chemical peels or dermabrasion – this is much more invasive and can lead to scars and other complications
The safest and most effective way to completely remove a tattoo is laser treatment.
While the other methods may seem cheaper and a faster way to achieve results, in most cases these methods cause more issues and will not deliver the results you want.
Are you ready to see how laser tattoo removal can help?
Full removal of unwanted tattoos requires patience and expertise – this is where Zapp Laser Studio can help.
Our team of laser experts will work with you to build a tailored treatment plan that will work for your skin type and tattoo type. We always provide clear and honest advice, so that you know what to expect from the treatment and the results you will achieve.
If you want to know how you can see ink-free skin again, contact us today to book an initial consultation.