Does Tattoo Removal Hurt?
Are you not feeling that flaming skull tattoo you got a few years back? Maybe you want to erase your ex’s name permanently from your body. If you are looking at laser tattoo removal, one question on your mind might be – does tattoo removal hurt?
The short answer is, yes, laser tattoo removal hurts. But if you are wondering if you can stomach how uncomfortable tattoo removal can be, you will be glad to hear that most of our clients say it’s much better than what they first thought.
What’s more, you will also be impressed with the results you can achieve in a few short sessions of laser tattoo removal. But if you still have worries about tattoo removal pain, our experts at Zapp Laser Studio are here to put your mind at ease.
Would you prefer to chat in person about the laser tattoo removal process? Contact our friendly team to book yourself an initial consultation.
How does laser tattoo removal work?
Laser tattoo removal treatment is fairly simple. The treatment uses a laser device that sends short pulses of energy into the skin to break down tattoo ink particles. By shattering the tattoo ink into smaller pieces, it allows your body to flush them out naturally through your immune system.
The first few treatments will focus on targeting the ink that sits deeper in your skin. In the later sessions, we will concentrate on the tattoo ink that is on the surface of your skin.
You will need more than one laser tattoo removal session to fade unwanted ink or remove a tattoo completely. How many laser removal sessions you will need depends on different factors. These include; the location, size of your tattoo, the density of the ink, and the colour of your tattoo to name a few.
You will also need time for your skin to heal between laser tattoo removal treatment sessions. This is the most important step to give your skin a breather and to allow your body to remove the ink particles from your skin. For this reason, we ensure each of your tattoo removal sessions is 10 weeks apart.
How much does laser tattoo removal hurt?
Now to answer your burning question on the pain factor. Everyone will have a different response to having tattoo removal treatments. Some people can tolerate more discomfort than others. If you have sensitive or thinner skin, you may feel more uncomfortable during your treatment.
When you are getting a tattoo removed or faded, the laser removal process is very uncomfortable. Some of our clients even describe it as being more uncomfortable than getting the tattoo in the first place.
But do not let that put you off. The good news is that each laser tattoo removal session is pretty short. Small tattoos can be as little as a few seconds per session and bigger tattoos can take up to ten minutes per session. So at least this means that you aren’t sitting in the chair for hours like you do during a tattoo.
We do not apply numbing cream to your tattoo before laser treatment. This is because it can change the texture of your skin and make it harder to remove your tattoo.
We do, however, offer another method of pain management. This comes in the form of our cryo machine, which blows extremely cold air onto the skin. it won’t numb your skin, but it does make the laser tattoo removal process much more pleasant.
What does laser tattoo removal feel like?
Saying laser tattoo removal is uncomfortable does not always give you a good indication of what to expect. This is why we use our clients’ description of the treatment to give you a better idea.
Most of our clients describe laser tattoo removal as feeling like a rubber band is snapping on their skin. This ends once the laser has left your skin. Other clients describe it as feeling like a bad sunburn, which is something most of us have experienced at one time or another.
But overall, they all tend to say that if you can put up with the pain of getting a tattoo in the first place, you should be able to manage the discomfort of laser tattoo removal.
What parts of the body does tattoo removal hurt the most?
In areas where you have less fat or muscle mass, you are more likely to feel more discomfort from laser tattoo removal. This is also true of areas on the body that have a lot of nerve endings.
Most common body areas where tattoo removal is more painful
- The joints – including at your knees, elbows and ankles
- The ribs or breastbone – as the skin is very close to the bone
- The fingers and feet – which have a lot of nerve endings
- The armpits – where the skin is more thin and fragile
- The head and face – are very sensitive areas for tattoo removal
The right laser technology can make all the difference
When removing a tattoo, you want a laser treatment that offers precision, is safe and provides you with great results.
This is why at Zapp Laser Studio, we use the PicoSure laser treatment for tattoo removal. Not only is it the most effective tattoo removal device in the world, but it is also the most advanced. This is because it targets ink particles much harder and faster, which means it works on even the most difficult-to-treat tattoos.
Let Zapp Laser Studio get rid of your unwanted tattoo
At Zapp Laser Studio, we pride ourselves on ensuring every client has the best treatment experience. This all starts with an in-depth consultation where we will get to know more about you and assess the tattoo you want to remove.
We will also walk you through the laser tattoo removal process and help you understand what the treatment will feel like. Remember, no question is a silly question. That is why we encourage you to ask us everything you want to know so you feel comfortable and fully prepared to start your treatment.