Laser tattoo removal uses advanced laser technology to break down the pigments that make up an unwanted tattoo, often taking multiple sessions before its complete elimination.
Your skin may change dramatically after laser treatment; swelling, blisters and pigment loss could all occur as a result. But once these procedures have been completed, a tattoo could still be placed over that area!
Swelling
Laser tattoo removal uses a medical-grade laser to strip away tattoo ink that no longer serves its intended purpose. Treatment begins by breaking down pigment particles by stimulating chemical reactions within your skin; after absorption by white blood cells and elimination from your system over weeks or months. Recovery typically takes anywhere between six-18 weeks after laser tattoo removal depending on your immune system health and care for aftercare after treatment.
After receiving laser tattoo removal treatments, your skin may feel sore or swollen for several hours after treatment; this is part of the healing process and should subside soon afterwards. In addition, carbon dioxide released during laser sessions could give your skin a frosty white appearance; this should subside within half an hour after laser therapy has taken place.
blisters following laser tattoo removal treatments may appear 8 to 72 hours post treatment. While it can be tempting to pick at these blisters, doing so could result in infection or scarring – both are serious risks!
Blistering and scabbing are common side effects of laser tattoo removal, but you can minimize them by keeping your skin clean. Use mild soap or gentle cleanser on a regular basis when washing this area of the body, using sunscreen with an SPF50+ sunscreen, and avoiding direct sunlight exposure on treated areas.
Healing times after laser tattoo removal vary between individuals, and you may or may not experience any side effects. Your tattoo removal specialist will advise on the best ways to take care of your skin post treatment; for example they might suggest topical numbing cream or inject you with lidocaine beforehand to minimize pain or discomfort and speed up healing time. Taking good care in managing post treatment care will speed up this process significantly.
Blisters
Tattoo removal uses lasers to break up ink pigment into tiny particles that the body’s natural immune system can recognize and eliminate. If this causes your skin to blister, take it as an encouraging sign that the treatment is working; blisters often break open as the blisters heal over time, forming scabs or crusts as the blisters break up or heal over. Scabbing and blistering depend on where a tattoo is located – hands and feet tend to experience more reactions due to less blood flow in these areas than on other parts of the body.
Blistering during a tattoo removal session is generally harmless and should resolve within hours of treatment. Blisters can appear anywhere on your body, but are most frequently found around darker ink or older tattoos which have been touched up. Blistering occurs due to laser light breaking tiny blood vessels near the surface of skin which allow fluid (usually water and ink mixtures) into pores under your skin that cause them to fill with fluid, often visible as purple, red, orange or combinations thereof based on the tattoo colors themselves.
As blisters can delay healing and lead to infection, it’s best to let them drain naturally before applying triple antibiotic ointment to the area. While itching after tattoo removal sessions is common, be wary of picking at them as this could delay recovery time and result in scarring.
After receiving laser tattoo removal treatment, it is essential that the area of treated skin be covered and protected from direct sunlight for several days or weeks following. In particular, use only cleansers intended for sensitive or irritated skin to cleanse this area, and only shower using gentle soap. Apply ointment regularly throughout the day and refresh bandages or dressing as necessary; should any pain or itching persist beyond a few hours please reach out directly to your laser technician.
Itching
Laser tattoo removal should leave you itching, as this indicates your body has begun mending the broken breaks of skin back together naturally, similar to when you get bit by an insect or twist your ankle. After treatment has subsided naturally and there is no threat from heat exposure, any swelling caused by heat treatment will fade naturally as soon as your immune system realizes there are no threats present.
After your laser treatment session, it is not unusual to notice light scabbing which resembles tiny squares of sandpaper on the area that was treated. These micro scabs consist of water and fragmented ink particles and typically appear 8 to 72 hours post treatment session. Scratching or picking these scabs increases scarring risk significantly – simply allow them to fall off naturally over time.
As well as avoiding scratching, one way to combat itching is applying fragrance-free moisturizer after your daily shower. Speak with your tattoo specialist or dermatologist about safe brands or variants to use on lasered skin. Additionally, refrain from taking hot showers which tend to deplete skin moisture levels quickly, leading to itchy sensations and further scratching.
If the itching persists, consider applying a non-steroid hydrocortisone cream or mild antihistamine to the affected area to soothe irritation and decrease any potential allergic reactions associated with laser tattoo removal. These measures should help alleviate itchy symptoms as well as decrease any allergic reactions which might arise as a result.
Laser tattoo removal may also cause dry skin conditions to flare-up. To combat this issue, apply a moisturiser after every shower or bath and layer additional amounts if necessary. To ease itching during laser tattoo removal sessions, hydrating body moisturisers are an effective remedy – try adding them after every shower or bath and topping off as required!
Once your laser treatment is over, it may also be prudent to apply sunblock for three months post-laser session to protect the melanin pigment in your skin from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, which could otherwise lead to hyperpigmentation or raised, thickened scars known as keloid scars.
Pain
Laser tattoo removal may seem uncomfortable at first, but most clients report experiencing less discomfort than anticipated. Your exact level of pain during a session will depend on your pain threshold as well as its size, location and color; some find legs, arms or hands tend to hurt less as their flesh acts as a cushion between you and the tattoo being removed compared with shoulders or backs where skin acts like padding; prior to an appointment it may also be necessary to apply numbing cream or cold air in order to mitigate discomfort.
Just after laser treatments, skin can develop a chalky appearance due to carbon dioxide being released by heat from the laser. This is a completely safe and normal reaction which typically lasts only for a few hours; other side effects may include swelling, itching and minor blistering which should subside with over the counter anti-itch medications and ice packs; picking at or scratching scabs will only delay healing processes further and increase scarring risk.
Although it’s less ideal, you can still obtain a cover-up tattoo even after having laser removal performed on your skin. Just make sure your tattoo artist utilizes PicoWay laser technology for fading or removing tattoos in order to provide a blank slate to begin the new design on. It has proven very successful at providing fresh canvasses on which new designs can be created.
Scar tissue from previous tattoos may be uncommon, but it can prevent ink particles from settling evenly onto your skin and distort results of laser tattoo removal. Your removal specialist should assess whether there’s any scar tissue present prior to inking your new tattoo and take measures accordingly to avoid negatively influencing its outcome.
Protecting and shielding the skin after laser treatment is key for avoiding scarring and hyperpigmentation, while drinking plenty of water and taking extra care not to scrub during showering or bathing can boost immune systems and accelerate healing time.
