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Tattooing is an art form where a pigment is inserted into the skin to change its color permanently. It is an ancient tradition and today is more popular and socially acceptable than ever. Evidence that prehistoric people knew and practiced tattooing are tools that were discovered in France, Portugal, and Scandinavia. These tools are at least 12,000 years old and were used for tattooing.

The tattooed right hand is of a Chiribaya mummy, displayed at El Algarrobal Museum in southern Peru. The Chiribaya were farmers who lived from A.D. 900 to 1350 Joann Fletcher.

Tattoos appeared in ancient Egypt and India used tattoos as methods of healing and as methods of religious worship. They were also marks of status in society but also a punishment. Different styles and techniques developed in these places and they today mix and mingle to the joy of all tattoo enthusiasts and artists.

The world record holder in the number of tattoos is Gregory Paul McLaren whose skin is 100% covered with tattoos. Gregory Paul McLaren, born in 1971, who goes under the name of Lucky Diamond Rich is a New Zealand-born performance artist, street performer and international arts festival performer whose act includes sword swallowing and juggling various items whilst on a unicycle, he has been certified by Guinness World Records as “the world’s most tattooed person. He has held the certified title since 2006, being 100 percent tattooed.

After him comes Tom Leppard born in 1934. His skin is covered with tattoos “only” 99.9%.

We may see tattoos as an act of rebellion against society, but that is only one of the many reasons why people wore and still wear tattoos.

In 2000 15% of Americans had tattoos.

Now nearly 30% of people in the U.S. have at least one tattoo. Almost half of all millennials have one. But not all of them are happy about their decision. As many as 25% of those with a tattoo say they regret getting it.

If you’re in that 25%, there is good news. Laser tattoo removal techniques can get rid of your unwanted tattoo with minimal side effects.

The laser tattoo removal market is expected to grow 12.7% annually by 2023.

Laser Tattoo Removal

Tattoo removal has been performed with various tools since the start of tattooing. While tattoos were once considered permanent, it is now possible to remove them with treatments, fully or partially.

The standard procedure for tattoo removal is the non-invasive removal of tattoo pigments using Q-switched lasers like the Quanta Q-Plus C laser which we use at Laser Tattoo Removal Services Different types of Q-switched lasers are used to target different colors of tattoo ink depending on the specific light absorption spectra of the tattoo pigments. Typically, black and other darker-colored inks can be removed completely using Q-switched lasers while lighter colors such as yellows and greens are still challenging to remove. Success can depend on a wide variety of factors including skin color, ink color, and the depth at which the ink was applied.  

Common Laser Tattoo Removal Myths

Don’t be fooled by laser tattoo removal myths.

• It’s safe to get laser removal done anywhere it’s offered.

Though laser centers and spas are popping up everywhere, it’s essential to make sure a laser tattoo removal specialist does laser removal that understands what to recognize, how to look for a complication, and who not to treat. With laser tattoo removal, there’s a risk of bleeding, infection, and scarring, all of which can be successfully treated, but only under the proper care of a Specialist. It’s up to you to check the qualifications of your practitioner.

• Laser removal is a simple, quick, reliable, and easy solution to a bad tattoo.

Complete laser tattoo removal requires numerous treatment sessions, typically spaced at least six weeks apart. Treating more frequently than six weeks increases the risk of adverse effects and does not necessarily increase the rate of ink absorption and leads to more scarring. At each session, some but not all of the tattoo pigment particles are effectively fragmented, and the body removes the smallest fragments over the course of several weeks or months. The result is that the tattoo is lightened over time. Remaining large particles of tattoo pigment are then targeted at subsequent treatment sessions, causing further lightening. The number of sessions and spacing between treatments depends on various parameters, including the area of the body treated, skin color and effectiveness of the immune system. Tattoos located on the extremities, such as the ankle, generally take longest. As tattoos fade, clinicians may recommend that patients wait many months between treatments to facilitate ink resolution and minimize unwanted side effects.

Healing from laser treatment isn’t always a walk in the park, either. Lasers remove tattoos by blowing up pigment molecules into tiny pieces, which are then cleared away by an immune system response.

• Factors contributing to the success of laser tattoo removal.

Several factors determine how many treatments will be needed and the level of success one might experience. Age of tattoo, ink density, color and even where the tattoo is located on the body, all play an essential role in how many treatments will be needed for complete removal. However, a rarely recognized factor of tattoo removal is the role of the client’s immune response. The standard process of tattoo removal is fragmentation followed by phagocytosis, which is then drained away via the lymphatics. Consequently, it’s the inflammation resulting from the actual laser treatment and the natural stimulation of the host immune response that ultimately results in the removal of tattoo ink; thus the results vary in everyone.

• It isn’t painful to have a tattoo removed.

Laser tattoo removal can be painless, but that’s usually because practitioners can give you a numbing agent first. The pain you’d endure removing a small tattoo is less than that which you’d feel while removing a large tattoo, making it a bit more bearable for some.

• Laser removal is safe for everyone.

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for laser tattoo removal. Tattoo removal is always going to be more difficult in patients who have a darker skin tone because of the way the laser works. The laser targets pigment that’s in the dye, but at the same time, it can also target melanin in your skin. So, the darker your skin, the more complicated it will be to utilize a laser to remove the tattoo. Laser removal can cause burns and hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones.

• All tattoos are equally easy to remove.

Black tattoos are easier to remove than brightly colored tattoos. Green and blue tend to be a little more challenging, and things like yellow, white, and purple are almost impossible to remove altogether. Different wavelengths of laser target different colors in the skin. This is why multiple lasers are required for the successful removal of a multicolor tattoo. If you have laser removal done correctly, you should see about 90% clearance on a tattoo. You can’t be sure that you’re going to get 100 percent clearance on a tattoo, and that’s for a variety of reasons, including the type of ink and if a professional tattoo parlor did the tattoo. Professional tattoos tend to incorporate more colors and deposit more deeply into the dermis, making them more challenging.

• If you had no reaction to getting a tattoo, you’ll have no reaction to getting it removed.

It’s possible to have a smooth healing process after getting your tattoo, but still a poor reaction to laser removal. For one, lasers can cause scarring and permanent skin discoloration that tattoos might not. Alternatively, you may have had an adverse reaction to the tattoo and want it taken off. In this case, the worst thing you can do is laser tattoo removal. Laser removal will to break up the pigment and bring it into the lymph nodes, which will cause a systemic reaction everywhere. Alternative removal methods for people with allergies include surgically cutting the tattoo out or removing it with an abrasive laser, which removes the top layer of skin.

What to expect from laser tattoo removal process

You should first schedule a consultation with a trained and licensed laser tattoo removal company that can evaluate your tattoo and advise you on the process. The number of treatments you will need will depend on the age, size, and color of your tattoo. The color of your skin, as well as how deep the tattoo pigment goes, will also affect the removal technique.

In general, this is what you should expect during a laser tattoo removal session:

• You’ll be given a pair of protective eye shields.
• The technician will test your skin’s reaction to the laser to determine the most efficient energy for treatment.
• The technician uses the laser to pass pulses of intense light through the top layers of your skin that will be absorbed by the tattoo pigment only.
• Smaller tattoos will require fewer pulses while larger ones will need more to remove them. In either case, to completely get rid of a tattoo, it will take several treatments. After each visit, your tattoo should become progressively lighter.
• Laser tattoo removal is uncomfortable, but most patients don’t need anesthesia. Depending on the location of your tattoo, you may want to apply a topical anesthesia cream beforehand.
• Immediately following the treatment, use an ice pack to soothe the treated area. And apply an antibiotic cream or ointment and bandage to protect it. You should also be sure it’s covered with sunscreen when you’re outside.

Laser Tattoo Removal Aftercare

• Avoid heat and sun:
  • Use SPF 30 with 10% Zinc content
  • Do not over-bandage
• Keep it clean and unbothered:
  • Do not pick or scratch the treated area
  • Keep area away from pets and small children
  • Do not use any astringent soaps or cleansers
• Keep the area as dry as possible:
  • Avoid soaking area in hot water like hot tubs and saunas
  • Take cooler shorter showers
  • Take bandages off in 1-3 hours
  • If irritated or itchy use a small amount of Nove Gel

• Monitor and care for your blisters:
  • If blisters become larger than a dime, pop it at the base with a sterile lancet
  • With a clean tissue press out any accumulated fluid until flat
  • Do not tear blister. Be gentle and patient
  • Blisters may refill with fluid; re-pop with a lancet in same area and rain
  • The blisters may refill more than twice
• Maintain health:
  • Avoid heavy exercise for 24 hours then its ok to exercise regularly
  • Avoid overindulging in alcohol post-treatment
  • Stay hydrated
  • Refrain from smoking through the treatment process
  • Refrain from heavy caffeine consumption the day of treatment

Tattoo Removal by Cover-up or Replacement

Some people decide to cover an unwanted tattoo with a new tattoo. This is commonly known as a cover-up. A new tattoo cover-up may render the old tattoo completely invisible, though this will depend mainly on the size, style, colors, and techniques used on the old tattoo. Covering up your old tattoo necessitates darker tones in the new tattoo to effectively hide the unwanted piece. Many tattoos are too dark to cover up, and in those cases, patients may receive laser tattoo removal to lighten the existing ink to make themselves better candidates for a cover-up tattoo.

Getting Laser Tattoo Removal in Florida

If you’re in Florida and are seeking to get your tattoo removed, we service two locations in Naples and Fort Myers.

Possible Side of Laser Tattoo Removal

Laser tattoo removal treatments are often safer than many other tattoo removal methods, for example, surgical excision, dermabrasion, or salabrasion because laser treatment selectively treats the pigment in the tattoo and there are intensely few side effects.

However, you should consider these factors in your decision:

• Your tattoo removal site is at risk for infection. And there is a slight chance that you will have a permanent scar.
• It’s unlikely that your tattoo will be removed entirely. In many cases, specific colors may be more effectively removed than others. Blue and black tattoos, for example, respond well to laser treatment.
• You may end up with hypopigmentation, which means the skin that is treated is paler than the skin surrounding it. You could also have hyperpigmentation, which leaves the affected skin darker than the rest of your skin.

Cosmetic tattoos like lip liner, eyeliner, and eyebrows may actually get darker after treatment. They do tend to fade with additional sessions.

To ensure you get proper treatment and care, find a reputable trained professional. If possible, get a recommendation from your primary care physician or dermatologist that specializes in laser tattoo removal.

Since tattoo removal is a personal option in most cases, most insurance carriers won’t cover the process unless it is medically necessary. Tattoo removal studios may also require payment in full on the day of the procedure. If you are considering tattoo removal, be sure to discuss associated costs upfront and obtain all charges before you undergo any treatments.

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