Laser Tattoo Removal: How long until you can see results?

As laser technicians, we often find ourselves being asked how long it will be before our clients start seeing results from their treatments. It is important to understand that everyone has a different tattoo removal journey and results differ from person to person as well as tattoo to tattoo.

As explained in our previous blogs and on our social media platforms, there are many factors that impact ones tattoo removal journey: age of tattoo, client’s immune system, density of ink, colour, depth, time in between treatments, location of tattoo, etc. It is important to take these factors into consideration when starting your own laser journey.

It is not uncommon for your tattoo to remain the same in appearance following your first or even your second treatment. For most, visible changes start to occur around the third treatment, however, this can be different for everyone. We generally recommend 6-12 treatments for complete removal. For those who have grey wash tattoos (less density of ink in the skin) visible changes can happen almost immediately or at a quicker rate (sometimes 2-6 treatments for complete removal) in comparison to very deep, dark and dense ink.

Let’s go into some of these factors a bit more to help you understand …

Depth and density of ink in the skin

The depth of ink plays a big role in how quickly a tattoo removes. Heavier line work tattoos are often sitting a lot deeper in the skin compared to shading, grey wash and fine line tattoos. When the ink is sitting deeper and the density is higher, it will take a longer course of treatments to fully remove. Therefore it may be a few treatments in before you see some changes in your tattoo.

This client’s script tattoo has been lined fairly deep in the skin. We were able to see some slight changes after 2-3 treatments and now at 7 treatments have some significant results from our laser.

Tattoos that are made up of mostly grey wash often see a change very quickly with laser treatments. This client has a tattoo with very little ink and grey wash that is also close to the surface of the skin. Less ink = less laser, which is why we have seen some fantastic results here after just 2 treatments.

The more ink pigments in the tattoo, the more pigment your body has to remove through its lymphatic system. It is not uncommon for it to take multiple treatments before you can start to see a visible change, just like the example shown here. It may not be the drastic change compared to the grey wash example above, but this is very normal for the amount of ink in this tattoo.

Colour tattoos

Some coloured pigments of ink can often take longer to remove than others. This all depends on the colour and make up/ingredients of the ink and the wavelength we are using with the laser.

We are lucky enough to be the only clinic in SA to use both PicoSure and Q-switch laser technologies allowing us to treat all colours with three different wavelengths across the two lasers. With our Pico laser, we can often see immediate or fast results in blues, greens and purples.

Here you can see amazing results after just 1 treatment with our PicoSure laser. Bright ‘cool’ colours are the perfect match for the 755 wavelength.

Tattoos with multiple colours take longer to remove than other tattoos due to the multiple pigments that need targeting with our lasers. All three wavelengths are required to target all the colours within this tattoo example. Lighter colours such as pink, yellow and orange can be harder to remove, especially if they contain white pigment as they can be reflective of the laser.

As you now know, our PicoSure laser is amazing at targeting blue, purple and green ink. After 1 treatment those colours within this tattoo are almost completely gone – this is the magic of a Pico treatment! The red ink is targeted by a different wavelength, which we have not yet treated.

Time in between treatments

I know we go on about this a lot but the longer you leave between your treatments the better your results will be! For those patient and happy to wait longer between treatments you will generally need less treatments in the long run compared to coming in every 6 weeks. The tradeoff is that it will take a longer time of course. You will notice results will progressively appear with your removal with time, even if you left it 3 months, 6 months or even a year.

For those wanting to have a piece removed as quick as possible, you are able to come in every 8 weeks but you may require more treatments over a shorter time period.

This client left a 2 year break between her treatments. This is a prime example of why we recommend leaving longer gaps between your appointments. The longer you leave, the more fading you see!

During your consultation we advise that if you leave longer between your treatments, you often require less treatments. The client in this example had 6 laser treatments over a span of 3 years and has achieved a complete removal!

For those of you that are currently or have previously been a laser client, you would know that the results from laser are progressive. In other words, results become more obvious the more laser treatments that you have and the longer that you leave between treatments. Laser tattoo removal is not considered a ‘quick fix’ and can take months, even years to achieve complete removal.

We always assess and tailor a treatment plan to you and your tattoo individually at our first consultation. This allows us to achieve the best possible results and as quickly as possible. When you begin treatments we will also take a before photo so we can compare along the way and show you your tattoo removal progress.

It is super important to remember that there is no specific way your tattoo ‘should’ look after each treatment and everyone and every tattoo will respond differently and at varied rates. Some tattoos will respond quicker than others and some tattoos will respond slower and that’s okay!

We are so passionate about tattoo removal and we absolutely love being able to achieve great results for our clients.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us!

Call: 0421 132 734

Email: info@lasertat.com.au

Or book a consultation HERE

10 things you need to know before starting laser

Thinking of starting your very own laser journey? Not sure where to start, what to do or what to expect? You’re not alone. We’ve answered the most common laser questions in hopes of making your entry into the world of laser a little less daunting.

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1)     Does it hurt? Like really bad?

It can be a bit of an intense feeling. However, we always recommend the use of numbing cream to anyone who is nervous about the feeling of laser. With numbing cream and the use of our cooling machine most of the discomfort is eliminated.  Laser tattoo removal is often compared to the sensation you’d feel if flicking a hot rubber band on the skin. Not overly pleasant, but it’s over in a flash — literally seconds!

2)    Can I achieve a ‘complete removal’?

It is certainly possible in most cases. We have seen fantastic results over the past 10 years from majority of our clients needing between 6-12 treatments. How achievable this is depends on various factors including overall health, colour/type of ink used and how deep the ink is in the skin. For example if there is excessive scarring in the tattoo, this can hinder the complete removal process.

3)    How many treatments will it take?

Generally we recommend 2-4 treatments to fade for a cover up and 6-12 treatments for a complete removal. All treatments are spaced approximately 6 to 8 weeks apart. This allows enough time for the skin to heal and eliminate as much of the ink as possible through the body’s lymphatic system. The number of treatments depend on the size, complexity and depths of the ink, as well as several other factors.

4)    Can you give me a time frame?

Not exactly! In the tattoo removal industry, time and patience is everything! !n some cases it can take up to 1-2 years if not longer for a complete removal hence why patience is so important.

5)    Are there people with certain health conditions you can’t treat?

As everybody is completely different, so are their health conditions. All of our clients must attend a comprehensive consultation prior to a treatment. In this consultation we complete a full assessment of your overall health, current medications & your specific tattoo. This determines if we can go ahead with the treatment or require a doctor’s recommendation before proceeding.

 6)    What kind of price am I looking at?

Straight up: getting a tattoo completely removed is usually more expensive than having one put on. The price of laser tattoo removal depends upon the size, colour, density of ink, location of the tattoo and the number of treatments required. Our starting price is $120 per treatment of a small tattoo. Learn more about our pricing on our website or feel free to contact us for a quote!

7)    Will I scar?

Scarring is super rare with tattoo removal! With our advanced laser system we are able to target the ink particles with the least amount of skin interaction possible. Often there can be scarring present when the tattoo was done, which in this case, will stay present once the ink has been removed. Following our carefully prepared after care instructions is just as important as looking after a new tattoo.

8)     PicoSure VS Q-Switch?

What’s better than one laser machine? Two!

Both lasers perform well in their own right, so there is no clear winner here!
PicoSure performs amazingly well on cooler ink colours that previous technology could not. Absolutely no other laser in the industry compares to this, which is why it is known as the Rolls Royce of laser tattoo removal machines!

The Q-Switch is an incredible workhorse in the laser industry. Particularly with the 1064 wavelength which is able to consistently treat black inks and penetrate deeper into the skin to help clear out stubborn pigments.

It’s the combination of both technologies being used together which optimises the capability of removing all colours, depths and types of inks. This is where the magic happens!

9)    How long does a treatment take?

With our Q-Switch laser firing at 10 pulses per second and our PicoSure laser firing in picoseconds (one trillionth of a second), treatments are super quick! Most treatments last from only a few seconds for a smaller tattoo to a few minutes for a large tattoo. Then, once the treatment is complete we apply cooling Laser Aid cream and bandage the area. We then run through your aftercare instructions ensuring you the best healing possible. We allow half an hour for your appointment overall.

 10)  Are there any side effects?

Side effects are an expected part of the tattoo removal process for a majority of clients. In fact, this is an important part of the healing process as it is the immune response that helps eliminate ink from the skin.

The most common side effects are:

•          Swelling

•          Redness

•          Tenderness

 And in some cases:

•          Blistering

•          Bruising

•          Scabs

As everyone is so different, so is our healing process! We all heal and react to laser differently but all of the above indicates to us that your body is doing exactly what it should be!

There is a non-refundable fee of $50 for our consultations which will be deducted from your treatment cost if you decide to go ahead with a laser treatment.

What have you got to loose except that tattoo?

Get in touch today.

Curt's Journey – Life changing laser tattoo removal

For some people the thought of beginning (or even continuing) laser tattoo removal can be very daunting. But when it means that your life will literally change as a result, it gives you the motivation to stay committed to the process.

Curt’s tattoos before commencing tattoo removal

Curt’s journey to remove all his visible tattoos was no easy ride, in fact it was probably one of the toughest we have seen.  Curt’s strength and determination to achieve the results needed is truly inspiring.

Curt has kindly offered to share his story in the hope that it may help others push through those harder barriers of beginning and staying committed to the laser journey.

Curt has been a tattoo artist for the last 10 years and after getting married and having 2 children he decided he wanted a career change to the Australian Defence Force.

He first applied for the ADF in April 2019 and was advised that their policy was that they would not accept any visible tattoos from the collar up. Curt was heavily tattooed on his neck, head and face and began laser tattoo removal on these areas immediately knowing that this could be a 1-2 year process or longer for complete removal.

Curt would come in every 3-4 weeks and we would split his sessions into different areas, face, left side neck, central neck, right side of neck and scalp. Each session he used numbing cream to assist with the pain as these areas are some of the most pain sensitive on the body. It was no easy task, some days we would need to reschedule as the numbing cream had not been effective or applied for long enough. Healing was also a struggle from time to time with some treatments resulting in swelling, blistering and pin point bleeding on the areas.

Curt also undertook many other tasks to better his chances of acceptance including completing an ADF preparation Maths course at TAFE SA (as he did not finish Maths in year 10), bringing his health and fitness up to speed and he also had his stretched ear lobes surgically stitched up.

In April 2020 Curt was offered a position into the ADF and had to send through photos of where he was at with his laser treatments. Unfortunately at this point he wasn’t fully accepted as the tattoos were still too dark, especially under his chin. We continued with frequent treatments to lighten and remove his tattoos even further.

Curt was able to progress with other areas of his application during this time and passed medical tests and passed PFA fitness tests, every 6 weeks. Had a further assessment day/job interview in Feburary 2021 and was told he would be put forward for a position as soon as tattoos were removed. 

In June 2021 he was again asked to send through new photos of his tattoo removal progress, including before and afters and was given a waiver for his remaining tattoos (under chin) so that his application could progress further. We had almost fully removed all other tattoos, however his chin tattoo was very deeply tattooed into the skin and was proving to be the most stubborn one out of all his tattoos. Thankfully it was under his chin and much less noticeable. The waiver was approved in July 2021 and presented to the head recruitment officer. 

When Curt’s application and waiver, including the before and after images were presented to the head recruitment officer, he was so impressed with the process Curt has been through and the progress of the tattoo removal he offered Curt a position in the next intake immediately.

In July 2021 he received a formal job offer and enlistment date for August 2021.

We are so proud and inspired by the progress and transformation Curt has undertaken to achieve his goal to enter the ADF. There’s no better feeling than being able to help our clients achieve their goals and in some cases completely change their lives for the better.

Curt has kindly provided some feedback on his tattoo removal journey and experience:

”For the past 12 years I have worked in the tattoo industry and as a result of that I gathered quite a few tattoos along the way!

After getting married and having 2 children I felt the need for a bit of stability and consistency both in work hours and financially, so the thought of a defence force career popped up again and my long….long journey of tattoo removal began.

Amanda and the girls at LaserTat are amazing and have helped me and encouraged me the whole way through the process even on the days that I didn't want to deal with another session they made it as comfortable and friendly as possible and without that I may have not made it all this way.

I cannot recommend LaserTat enough to anyone wanting to remove a little old tattoo or to help completely change your life like they have in my instance.”

What was the most difficult part of the process?
Bringing myself to get laser so often especially when it seemed like there was no end in sight. It was hard making myself go to appointments some days more than others. I just tried to remind myself why I was doing it and every time I went to an appointment the team at LaserTat were always reassuring.

How did you have motivation to continue?
Thinking about my goal at the end of my laser journey and why it was worth it to me.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to commit to such a big change?
Remind yourself of the end game and why you committed to begin with. Take progress photos so you can remind yourself of how far you’ve come when it can seem like they haven’t faded at all. Numbing cream, and more numbing cream!

Thanks so much to Curt for allowing us to share his story. We wish you all the success in your next chapter of your life with the Australian Defence Force and thank you for trusting us to help remove your tattoos!!!!

Amanda and the LaserTat team

If you or anyone you know wants to know more about the laser process, Curt’s story or simply to book in your next treatment, please feel free to get in touch via our contact or booking page.

What is the most effective laser for tattoo removal?

It’s important to know that different ink colours require different laser wavelengths to target and shatter the ink particles. This is the basic principle behind effective laser tattoo removal. A milti-coloured tattoo requires multiple wavelengths to target each colour.

Finding out which wavelength is right for your specific tattoo is a very important factor to consider when researching a tattoo removal clinic. The capabilities of each wavelength are different, and it's important your laser clinic has the tools to treat your tattoo in the most effective way. 

Now, before we lose you amongst all the scientific stuff, let’s break these wavelengths down:

Black ink can be treated with either 1064nm & 755nm

Red, orange, yellow & pink ink require 532nm

Green, blue, purple ink require 755nm

*The number sequence indicates where this wavelength sits on the light spectrum

*nm stands for Nanometers, a unit of measurement  

The quality of a laser machine plays a huge part in its effectiveness and safety of a laser treatment. A great quality machine will reduce the risk of scarring and damage caused to the skin whilst optimizing results. Our choice of laser technology for the past decade is hands down Cynosure. Cynosure is one of the world’s most trusted manufactures of medical grade lasers.

Our super artillery consists of the following lasers:

• Cynosure MedliteC6, a Q-Switch laser we predominantly use to target heavy and deep black ink using the 1064nm wavelength and red, orange, yellow and pink ink by using its 532nm wavelength.

• For green, blue and purple ink we bust out our Cynosure PicoSure laser using the 755nm wavelength. This wavelength is also proving effective on removing stubborn black ink as it has the ability to shatter ink particles even smaller making them easier for our body’s immune system to remove.  

LaserTat is the ONLY clinic in South Australia who offer both laser machines which allows us to treat every single colour at maximum effectiveness.

So in summary – the best laser for treating your tattoo all comes down to what colours of ink you have and the quality of laser machine. The best lasers are always FDA approved and come from quality manufactures with proven results.

You can check out our laser results by clicking here.

Committing to a laser tattoo removal journey can be a long one and often expensive. We’ll leave you with this last piece of advice:
Research, research, research!!

How to prepare for your laser treatment

We all know getting laser isn’t the easiest, most comfortable experience.

Fortunately, over the past 9 years of doing what we love, we’ve had plenty of experience preparing you for your treatment, so here goes:
 

• Please eat!
  It doesn’t have to be a full meal, just a snack before your appointment. When you have an empty stomach & endure laser treatments you tend to get light-headed.

  If this tip slips your mind we have lollies, snacks & soft drinks available for you to treat yourself with.

• Drink plenty of fluids
  We have water on hand if you feel you haven’t had enough. Staying hydrated keeps your skin healthy. It also helps those ink particles hitch a ride out of your body!

• Get those 8 hours
  Sleep is so important for our bodies. The night before your laser treatment is no exception. Sleep helps the body repair, regenerate and recover. So rest up before and after your treatment.
  
  

• Sickness vs laser
  It’s best to receive your laser treatment when your body is strong & healthy.
  If you’re fighting off or showing any signs of infection such as a cold, flu, gastro, cold sore or injury it’s best to rest and wait until you are back to good health.
  Your immune system can then focus all of its energy on expelling ink particles rather than fighting other conditions.

• Avoid direct sunlight

  This applies before and after your treatment.
  Our laser technicians won’t be able to treat your tattoo if you’re sunburnt.

  You will also need to keep your tattoo out of the direct sunlight for a minimum of 2 weeks after your laser treatment. Planning your treatments around outdoor outings is super important. 
  
  

• LADIES, this one is for you!
  Timing is everything… yes, we are talking about ‘that time of the month’.
  During your menstrual cycle you may be more sensitive than usual, therefore making your treatments more intense.
  We are more than happy to reschedule to a time more suitable for you.
  
  

• Wear loose fitted clothing
  There is nothing worse than having your clothes rub on your tattoo after your treatment. This can irritate the area and create friction. Ditch the active wear for your favourite comfy clothes.

• Numb if you need to!
  Look, there are some areas that are more painful than others.
  Personally we love ‘Numit’ numbing cream. You can purchase it over the counter at a chemist or pharmacy. Numbing cream needs to be applied 2 hours prior to your appointment, wrapped in glad wrap and taped down so it’s airtight. Come in with it on and we’ll clean it up before we start. Excess body hair will need to be shaved prior to applying numbing cream.
  
  

• Changes to your health
  Please remember to let us know if you have commenced any new medication or have any new medical conditions. This is so important for us to know as it will affect how we approach your treatment.
  
  

• Ask questions
  Ask as many questions as you need to! Laser tattoo removal is a long term commitment. Helping you feel comfortable with your decision to start laser is important to us. If you have any questions or concerns you can contact us via Facebook, Instagram, email, call or SMS 0421 132 734. We are always happy to help!