What Does Laser Tattoo Removal Feel Like?
You are taking the plunge to get an unwanted tattoo removed. You have done your research and found that laser tattoo removal is the safest and most effective way to remove it. But now you are thinking about the pain factor and what does laser tattoo removal feel like?
If you are concerned about how much pain you might feel during laser tattoo removal, you do not have to be. If you had the strength to get the tattoo in the first place, then you should not have an issue with getting an old tattoo removed with laser treatment.
Laser tattoo removal treatment may feel unpleasant, but in the hands of professionals, it is much quicker and bearable than you might think. At Zapp Laser Studio, we use the most advanced laser on the market – PicoSure. Not only does it target all tattoo ink colours in the spectrum, but it does it in fewer treatments than other types of lasers.
If you are at the start of your tattoo removal journey and want to talk to an expert about how the laser removal process works, contact our team via the link below.
Does laser tattoo removal hurt?
Unfortunately, we cannot tell you that laser tattoo removal is totally pain-free. It’s not. In fact, for some people, tattoo removal treatments can hurt as much or more than getting the tattoo in the first place.
You will know your own pain tolerance and the fear of not knowing can feel worse than the actual treatment itself.
When we treat our clients with laser tattoo removal, we always run through with them how it all works and what they can expect from their treatment. The more prepared you are, the more comfortable you will feel with having tattoo removal.
What do our clients say about their laser tattoo removal experience?
Sometimes, it is useful to hear what laser removal feels like from people who have had the treatment. So, here’s what a few of our clients said:
“Have been attending Zapp in Hove, consultant Sian is absolutely lovely! Really eases you into it, from the original consultation to the full procedure, felt totally at ease. The pain comparison she gave was spot on, so I felt I was fully prepared for what was to come. All in all, a great experience for a not so painless procedure 🙂 Looking forward to my next appointment.”
“Had my first laser tattoo removal session. Georgia was so knowledgeable and lovely. The cold air made it a lot less painful and excited to see results with this high-end laser.”
Check out some more of our customer reviews.
What does tattoo removal pain feel like?
Everyone has a different level of pain tolerance. And if you are someone who gets anxious about how painful laser treatments can be, this can often delay your decision to get your tattoo removed or put you off completely.
When our clients undergo laser tattoo removal, they often say that it feels like a rubber band snapping against the skin repeatedly. It will only feel like this when we fire the laser energy into the tattoo ink to break it down.
Other people say it feels like a bit of hot fat hitting your skin or like a really bad sunburn. But because the treatment is over within a few minutes the pain is much more manageable. In fact, with a small tattoo, one treatment session can take a few seconds. With larger tattoos, it can take up to ten minutes. This is much faster than sitting for hours in a tattoo chair.
More about the laser tattoo removal process and your pain management options
To help put your mind at ease, we find that understanding how laser tattoo removal works and what we do to make the treatment feel more comfortable helps.
During your laser tattoo removal sessions, we use the PicoSure laser device to fire light energy onto the tattoo. It is a precise treatment that targets the tattoo ink without causing any damage to your skin. As a result, the tattoo ink will shatter and break down into smaller particles. This makes it much easier to pass naturally through your immune system.
Your first few sessions will target the ink deeper in your skin. In the later sessions, we will decrease the depth of the laser, but add in more energy to treat tattoo ink on the surface of the skin.
So, how do we make laser tattoo removal more comfortable? You may be asking do we use numbing cream first? The answer is no, but for a very good reason. Numbing creams can actually change the texture of your skin. This can make it far more challenging to remove your tattoo successfully.
Instead, we provide pain management by using a cooling device. This blows extremely cold air on the skin throughout the treatment. Of course, this does not numb the skin, but it does counteract the heat from the laser and make your treatment much more pleasant.
How can you prepare yourself for laser tattoo removal?
Whether it is your first session of laser tattoo removal or you have had a couple of sessions, there are things you can do to make the process go more smoothly.
If you are going on holiday or spending time in the sun, you should cover up your tattoo before and during your treatment. This can be with clothing or a plaster.
You should avoid sun exposure on your tattoo for at least six before your treatment. If not, it can make the skin weaker and the laser treatment less effective.
Other things you should avoid include:
- Fake tan
- Do not apply moisturiser, skin oil or perfume to the tattoo before treatment
- Do not have any other laser treatments at least two weeks before and during tattoo removal treatment
You should:
- Exfoliate your skin a few days before treatment to remove dead skin
- Shave any dark hair that is on top of your tattoo the night before
Your next steps to laser tattoo removal treatment
If you want more information on what laser tattoo removal is like, check out our blog –
Does laser tattoo removal hurt?
Or, if you want to speak to one of our laser technicians in person, start by booking your initial consultation. This gives us a chance to get to know you and provide you with more advice on how laser tattoo removal works and what you can expect from the treatment.