How Does Tattoo Removal Work?
As you get older or your taste changes, you may want to get your tattoo removed. As many as one in nine people in the UK have undergone tattoo removal treatment. Although tattoos do naturally fade over time, if you want a quick solution to completely remove your unwanted tattoos, laser tattoo removal is a popular choice. Sometimes professional tattoo artists will even suggest tattoo removal to lighten up tattoos before a cover up.
Tattoo removal is a common procedure, and we’re sure you’ve heard of it. But do you know how does tattoo removal work?
How It Works
Laser treatment is a safe and effective way which takes multiple treatments to penetrate all the layers of ink. It is relatively noninvasive and only targets the skin of your unwanted tattoo.
Laser removal works by breaking up the ink particles with a high-intensity light beam. The laser is precise and exposure to the beam is short. Different colours of tattoos absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light at different rates. Black pigments are the easiest colour for laser wavelengths to absorb compared to colour tattoos that are a bit more stubborn; as the darker the ink, the more light that is absorbed.
Tattoo removal is a big decision, and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.To begin with you should have an initial consultation with a professional practitioner who can assess your tattoo and help you decide on the best way forward for you. It is also important to understand how tattoo removal works before you begin the process and to be treated by an experienced practitioner who is fully qualified.
Tattoo removal is not an instant treatment and the amount of sessions you need will be dependent on the size and design of your tattoo. Different lasers are used at each stage of treatment depending on which colour ink is used in your tattoo and how deep it goes into your skin layers. After undergoing several treatments with your chosen laser, you should notice that some or all of your tattoo has faded away or disappeared entirely. Usually, total removal is achieved within 10-12 sessions and sessions normally take 10-30 minutes depending on the size of your tattoo.
Obviously tattoos that are older often fade quicker and areas with high blood flow also show to be effective in the removal process.
Following the treatment, your body’s immune system flushes the tattoo ink particles away from the location, lightening the appearance of the tattoo. It works with the natural body’s natural processes to remove foreign material and draw out the old ink. As this happens the tattoo on the treated area will slowly fade.
However this isn’t an easy fix. Laser surgery can be expensive and painful; additionally, there is a slight chance it can leave behind scars and other side effects if done improperly or without sufficient care. Sometimes tattoos cannot be fully removed. despite laser removal and it is common that people are left with some traces of ink on their skin.
Numbing Cream for Tattoo Removal
Although people considering tattoo removal have sat through uncomfortable tattoo appointments, they often wonder how does tattoo removal work with many people still apprehensive about the process. Tattoo removal can be painful and may even put you off the tattoo removal process altogether. However you can use TKTX Tattoo creams to numb the pain.
Our Yellow deep numbing cream is ideal to be used on all skin types for tattoo removal. As it is the strongest of our deep numbing creams, it numbs the affected area for between 3-5 hours while the laser light attempts to remove the ink.
The cream doesn’t just affect the first layer of the skin, it penetrates deeper into the skin to manipulate the nerve endings and blood vessels. So applying it in advance of your appointment is advised as it usually takes 1.5-2 hours to numb.
The cream is a mix of Benzyl Alcohol, Carbomer 934, Lecithin (Soybean), Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Eugenol (Clove Oil) and Water. Please note, you should follow the application leaflet for optimal numbing.