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

How much does laser tattoo removal cost?

When it comes to the cost of a laser treatment, we determine pricing on more than just size per cm. We also look at the colour and density of ink in your tattoo.

Although this makes it difficult to provide an exact price before seeing your tattoo, it means we assess each tattoo and determine a price that’s subject to your exact treatment requirements. We choose to quote this way in order to give our clients the best possible price for their tattoo.

For example:

A tattoo that is just an outline will be cheaper than if it was fully coloured and saturated – less ink and less colour means a cheaper price.

We hope the following information gives you a better insight of what you may be charged for your laser tattoo removal treatment. Sending us an image of your tattoo is the best way to get an exact quote from us. You can do this via:

•         Facebook Message: LaserTat – Tattoo Removal Adelaide

•         Instagram Direct Message: @lasertat

•         SMS: 0421 132 734

•         Email: info@lasertat.com.au

FRequently ASKED PRICING QUESTIONS

Why are fully saturated tattoos more expensive?

The more saturated your tattoo is – either with black & grey ink or colour, the more of an area the laser must run over opposed to just an outline of a tattoo. The time and energy of the laser is reflected in your pricing.

Why are coloured tattoos more expensive?

Laser tattoo removal machines work by targeting different colours of ink in the skin and shattering the particles small enough for your body to remove. Targeting different colours requires us to use multiple wavelengths and machines, making your treatment more expensive.

Do you price match?

Our pricing structure is based on many factors including, quality and maintenance of our lasers, training and qualifications of our staff. Not to forget the decade of knowledge and experience within the laser industry. It’s for these reasons we do not price match with other laser clinics. We are the only clinic is South Australia to offer both Cynosure Q-Switch & PicoSure technology. Cynosure is one of the world leading medical laser manufactures. Having both lasers gives us the upper hand when it comes to not only all colours but all depths of ink.

What are your payment options?

We accept cash and all major cards.

We know laser is a luxury service and to help ease the sting we also offer Afterpay & the option to ‘pay for 3 get the 4th free’. By paying for 3 laser treatments upfront we give you your 4th treatment for free. This special is not valid with any other offer/special.

Signing up to our mailing list via our website will also get you a sneaky $20 off your first treatment.

How many treatments do I need?

Generally we recommend between 2-4 treatments to fade for a cover up and between 6-12 treatments for a complete removal.

Click here for before & after results.

How long should I leave between treatments?

We recommend a minimum of 6 weeks between your laser treatments. This allows for adequate healing and fading to take place. However, the longer you leave between your treatments the more your tattoo will continue to fade.

It’s important we’re able to give our clients the best possible price, results and service when it comes to tattoo removal. This is why we offer no obligation consultations at both our Port Adelaide & Munno Para clinics. Understanding your specific treatment process and pricing gives you one more step in the right direction towards your laser journey. 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.

To book a consultation with our friendly Laser Technicians please contact us here.

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!!