When we decide to get a tattoo, it’s often a choice made under the assumption that it’ll be a permanent fixture on our bodies. Admittedly, the likelihood is that your once-prized immortalization won’t have a place in your life. Luckily, as advanced as the procedure of tattooing has become, so too has the science of undoing it. Below we delve into the process of what you can expect after your first laser tattoo removal treatment, detailing the immediate changes you’ll see in your ink, and the journey to fading your old self away.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Laser Tattoo Removal
The advent of laser tattoo removal has provided a world of possibilities for those looking to say ‘goodbye’ to their unwanted tattoos. Ultimately, the method centers around focused light energy bombarding the tattoo, shattering the ink into tiny particles. Thanks to this process, our body’s natural filtration system can excrete these shards down the track. In fact, the semblance of fading may even occur in the days following the first laser intervention. However, as you may expect from the resilient nature of the tattoo art form, the number of sessions to get here are still a few.
This technology is designed to pinpoint the specific tattoo ink, meaning minimal harm is done to the surrounding tissues.
The appearance of the tattoo will slowly and subtly change with each session.
The closest thing to an immediate effect applies to those tattoos made using a darker ink, as well as older tattoos. At least any tinges of regret from the distant past will be easier to remove.
Understanding Lasers
The start of your laser journey involves understanding that:
Temporary redness, swelling, itching, blistering, scabbing, peeling, or some bruising is common in the days following.
The color of the tattoo ink, as well as its brightness, will dictate its susceptibility to laser intervention.
Your tattoo’s size, location, and the strength of your body’s immune response will also have a bearing on results.
Remarkable results actually come from a gradual commitment, over the course of multiple occasions.
Ultimately, it is designed for you to be constantly moving ‘beyond’ your tattoo throughout treatment.
what your tattoo will look like after one session
After your tattoo has completed the first laser tattoo removal session, it’s essential to have realistic expectations on the trajectory that it is going to take. Typically, what most people see is a lightening of their tattoo – which is a sign that the process is working, albeit not by much. In reality, the lightning that can be seen after the first session is just a precursor to the much more significant fade that is yet to come – one only sees the beginning of that fade.
There will typically be some redness in the skin around the ink, as well as some minor blistering – this is your body starting to heal itself and is not uncommon. The tattoo itself may also be lighter in color than it was before. However, it’s important to remember that the tattoo will still be there, even if it’s faded a little – fading a tattoo is a marathon, not a sprint, and any progress on your first session is encouraging.
Summary of the first treatment results:
Redness, swelling, and mild blistering around the target area
The tattoo itself will look lighter than it did before
The tattoo itself will still be there, and will not be entirely gone from your first treatment
Factors Affecting Initial Treatment Results
What happens to your tattoo after your first laser tattoo removal session is dependent on two main factors. First, the type of ink used in the tattoo is important: different tattoo pigments react to the laser light in different ways. Tattoos that have spent years being tattooed onto the skin also fade more quickly in the first place: an older tattoo has already started to break down, and can break down more quickly during the first two treatments.
Different kinds of ink used in tattoos of different colors may be broken down in different ways.
The skin tone of the person being treated also affects the rate of the treatment, with some lighter-skinned people noticing better results from the first treatment
Most photos have been updated with tattoo lasers that are designed in a certain way, whether the tattoo ink dissolves in the skin.
Why do you need multiple sessions?
Patience is not just a virtue, it is a sort of necessity when it comes to removing a tattoo with a laser secession. As the body gradually take care of clearing the ink particles from your derma, each of the treatments will build upon the last one, facilitating a slower and safer. Waiting between the sessions is especially important, since aggressive laser treatment sessions, damaging the surface of your skin completely, would be impossible.
A selection of treatments will be required to produce an appreciable effect on your tattoo.
Your immune system will be processing the ink residue at its own pace, and it needs to.
Understanding the requirements imposed by medical technology in advance will make it easier to set your expectations.
Why patience is vital: A slower treatment pace is safer for your skin.
After each laser treatment duration, the ink is expelled to your bloodstream; your immune system needs some time to ensure it is processed and removed.
The number of procedures will be different for everyone; your personal healing factor and the size of the tattoo in question will help determine it.
Getting the maximum result: Pre- and Post-Treatment Care
To ensure your skin will be in the best position possible to profit from some steps should be taken before the secession proper. Specifically, you should do your best to stay out of the sun and not to apply any products on the derma are disregarded. An adequate diet and hydration regimen for the day can also prove adequate for helping to cope with the pain and assist the body in the healing process. As that, the strap day will have its own set of countermeasures to take, such as applying the ointment and ensuring the area is kept clean. Following these simple rules will give you the best chance of supporting your body during the healing process.
Pre- and post-pro-tips:
Don’t sun-tan or wear perfumes on the day of your treatment.
Do hydrate well and eat a good meal beforehand.
Apply your prescribed ointments after the session and keep the treated area out of the sun.
Get regular check-ins at the clinic to monitor your progress and tweak your treatment plan.
Dismissing Myths About First Treatment Results
The first ink removal with a laser is just the beginning of a journey of tattoos’ fading, not the completion of the task. This makes it imperative not to fall into the illusion of any tattoos miraculously disappearing at this stage. The rates of skin and ink response to such sessions are as individual as the people themselves. While some amount of fading is likely, removing the ink entirely is not a given. Swelling and blisters in the treated area, moreover, are a routine healing process rather than a sign of the technique not working. Understanding these myths is helpful for maintaining a positive and realistic attitude toward the start of the clinic’s treatment to continue the journey.
Our first steps start your journey, they don’t end the process.
All skins and tattoos are different and will react uniquely to a first laser session.
A little fading is good, but removal takes time.
Don’t panic if you get swelling or blisters; your body is doing what it needs to heal from the treatment.
Reality Check
Our first session just marks the start of your tattoos’ fading process.
Different skins will respond differently to tattoo removal lasers.
Some swelling and discomfort are likely—because that’s what happens when a wound heals.
Patience is vital, as well as your treatment plan and after-procedures.
Why You Should Start Your Laser Tattoo Removal Now
The perfect time to start on the journey to tattoo freedom is now. As with dieting and exercise, early on in treatment is always encouraging, with some initial fading even visible after a first procedure. Even if you are still locked at home due to social distancing restrictions, now can be a time to think ahead and consider what long-term goals it meshes with, like being tattoo-free in time for a milestone birthday and that summer holiday in a faraway land. The sooner the better! Your body will then be allowed to pace the natural elimination of ink and you will be ahead of the eventual advancements in laser technology. Just keep yourself informed of the latest tech advances.
Early treatment means early results and eventually clear skin.
The timing of treatments will suit your life events, bestowing clear skin when you want.
Using the latest laser technology will mean more ink will be treated more efficiently.
Now:
Just after the first treatment, you will see the beginning changes.
The timing of your treatments will allow for your body’s natural fading and recovery.
The body’s natural recovery will need time between sessions.
Start Your Journey to Laser Tattoo Removal Today!
The realization to never again have to deal with your unwanted tattoo after the initial treatment is underway but it is ultimately still only the beginning of the journey. While the procedure will only last several minutes per session, the actual collagen production and lymphatic process will take several weeks. For the first week after the initial treatment, you may notice typical side effects of laser tattoo removal surgery, which resemble an extension of a mild sunburn. However, be patient on this slow journey, as with each laser treatment the tattoo will become less and less visible. Just remember, your body’s natural processes are responsible and so the timing of your treatments is critical. You’ll regret comparing your skin to others as each individual is on a unique removal journey.
The changes after even the first treatment are only the beginning of the fading story.
Eye-catching pieces from talented and creative tattooists often become part of people’s skin for years or even forever. The fewer sessions it takes, the less your tattoo costs you each session builds on the last, and the eventual effect will be the dimming of the tattoo. Post-treatment side effects are common, but each will heal, and each session you attend will show signs of progress. Accept your own timetable, your body’s reaction, and how many sessions it takes to release your skin from ink.