Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients need 6 to 8 treatments before achieving complete tattoo removal. Patients with smaller, older, or significantly faded tattoos may only need 3 to 4 treatments. That being said, it is impossible to know exactly how many treatments a patient will need. Since every patient is different and every tattoo is different, the number of treatments needed is unique to each individual patient. Our clinic uses a variety of factors to best estimate the number of treatments you will need. These include:
- Age of tattoo
- Size of tattoo
- Location of tattoo
- Tattoo ink colors
- Depth of ink
- Density of ink
- Pre-existing scarring
- Patient health
How Long Before My Tattoo Is Completely Healed?
Laser tattoo removal is a procedure that requires multiple treatments, patience, time, and commitment. Furthermore, each treatment is spaced a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks apart to give the skin enough time to heal before receiving another treatment. This healing time is implemented for your safety and to ensure your skin heals flawlessly. Because every patient heals at different rates, some patients may achieve complete removal in a couple months while others may take a year. It really all depends on the various factors listed above. Our Discovery Pico Plus laser is designed to shatter more ink than traditional lasers, allowing for faster ink clearance and fewer overall treatments needed.
Does the Laser Hurt?
Since everyone’s pain threshold is different, each patient will have a unique experience with the laser. However, most patients have compared the laser to having a rubber band snapped against their skin. Fortunately, laser tattoo removal is a very quick procedure that lasts anywhere from 1 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the tattoo being treated. One thing is for certain, if you are able to tolerate having a tattoo applied, you can definitely tolerate having one removed.
We use the Zimmer Cryo cooling system to help maximize patient comfort and eliminate any pain. This advanced cooling system is a patient favorite and helps numb the skin before, during, and after your treatment.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Laser tattoo removal is the safest, most effective noninvasive method for removing unwanted ink and causes very few side effects. The most common side effects are temporary redness, scabbing, blistering, itchiness, and pigmentation changes. All of these side effects are temporary and heal the weeks following each treatment. Patients are most alarmed at the appearance of blisters and scabs. We assure you that these are very common and are in fact good signs that your skin is reacting well to the treatment. Patients should follow aftercare instructions to achieve the best results for their skin.
How Much Does Each Treatment Cost?
LIGHTEN UP Laser Clinic offers competitive pricing at an affordable cost. Our prices are based on the size of the tattoo being treated. We also provide special discounts and treatment packages to match the needs of all our patients’ budgets. Visit our pricing page for more information.
Can You Fade My Tattoo in Preparation for A Cover-Up?
Yes! Laser tattoo removal is a great solution for anyone looking to get their tattoo covered up. Cover-up tattoos help hide original artwork by incorporating a new design over it. Tattoo artists can have a difficult time creating new artwork over an existing tattoo if the original tattoo has a lot of dark ink. Laser tattoo removal can fade a tattoo to a few shades lighter, giving your tattoo artist a cleaner canvas to work on and more flexibility with their design. Most tattoos need only one or two treatments to lighten their tattoo for a cover-up.