Today, lasers are the most common method of tattoo removal. They work by targeting the ink with pulses of highly concentrated light that break the ink into tiny fragments, which are then cleared away by your own immune system. However, this isn’t all done with just one treatment. The more treatments you have, the more the laser can penetrate to destroy the ink. But, the more treatments you have, the more damage you do to your skin, causing painful blisters and scabs that can eventually lead to scarring. Experts in removal therapy say that technology has advanced to the point where scarring is minimal, sometimes non-existent, but this can vary depending on the situation.
It is important that after each procedure you follow the aftercare instructions. If you do so, you have a less than 5% chance of a scar. Your risks are increased with a history of scarring, darker skin or a history of keloid formation. We will discuss all these risks for you during your consultation and will not perform the laser treatment if your risks of scarring are too great.
The mainstays of aftercare to prevent scarring are:
Don’t pick at the scabs or pop any blisters
Keep the tattoo out of the sun
Keep the tattoo out of the sun, even after many weeks from your last tattoo removal session.
The sun causes blistering quickly and increases the time of healing.
When in the sun, wear sunscreen
Wear sunscreen that contains zinc or titanium dioxide to block against UVA and UVB rays. Wear sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
Wait at least six weeks between laser tattoo removal sessions
Your body continues to digests the ink in the tattoo long after the laser zaps it. The longer you can wait, the better the results you will have!
Quit smoking
Maintaining a healthy circulation will improve healing and decrease your chance of a scar.
Call 832.478.5669 today to schedule your free consultation. BOOK NOW.
