Tattoo Removal FAQs

Laser Tattoo Removal is the most effective and safest way to fade and remove unwanted tattoos. At Medalase, brand new, state of the art lasers, a compassionate and individualized approach, multiple strategies to maximize your comfort, and experienced providers with hundreds of treatments under their belts all come together to offer you an unparalleled approach to erasing that bad decision from the past.

The laser used in the treatment process is a special type called a Q-switched laser. Such lasers contain a very fast array of tiny switches and mirrors that allow pulses to be delivered in extremely fast, short bursts (approximately 1,000 times faster than other aesthetic lasers). Different wavelengths of light are chosen depending on what colors are being treated within the pigment of the tattoo. When the laser light is absorbed by the ink, the pigment is broken down into tiny fragments without significantly damaging surrounding skin. These fragments are then safely removed from the body by white blood cells over the course of the follow 8 weeks. This process of fragmenting the ink particles requires numerous sessions depending on the depth the ink was placed, the age of the tattoo, and the colors used.

Depending upon the method you choose with your Medalase consultant, you may use either a topical or injected numbing agent. When using a topical solution (provided free of charge at our Centers), you will arrive an hour before your treatment to allow the cream to take effect. Should you choose an injectable numbing solution, at the very beginning of your appointment, your Medalase Provider will inject a small amount of lidocaine into the tissue immediately under the tattoo. Once the skin is numbed, the laser handpiece will be used to systematically treat the entire tattoo.

Treatment time is dependent on the size and complexity of the tattoo. A single color tattoo the size of a playing card can be treated in 15 minutes, but add in other colors and it will likely take 30 minutes. A large, single color tribal arm band may take close to 30 minutes to treat. A tattoo the size of a sheet of paper with multiple colors could take an hour or even longer.

After treatment, a petroleum ointment will be applied, and ointment should continue to be applied to keep the area moist for up to a week after the treatment. When bathing, the area should be treated gently, and scrubbing or strong detergent soaps should be avoided. Because the treated area should becared for like a sunburn, it’s recommended that you avoid hot-tubs, chlorinated pools and significant sun exposure. Additionally, a broad spectrum SPF 30 sun block with a physical block (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) should always be applied, even if you’re “just going in and out of the car”.

Avoid tanning (sunbathing or tanning bed) the treated area while undergoing your series of Tattoo Removal treatments, since your skin will be more susceptible to over-reacting to the intense light. Additionally, since the true mechanism of removal is actually your own white blood cells and not the laser, the healthier you are – good diet, exercise, low stress, no smoking – the better the treatments will work.

Side effects of laser procedures are generally few but may include hyperpigmentation (excessive color), or hypopigmentation (excessive fading) of skin. Other possible side effects include temporary crusting or blisters, infection, and a small chance of permanent scarring. The area may appear like a sun burn for a few months and ultimately the skin will become normal.

Most people will begin to see results approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the first treatment, but the initial response will vary greatly depending upon the individual and tattoo. Single color, dark blue or black inks will be the first to fade, and these may improve tremendously with only a few treatments for more shallow or amateur tattoos. Anyone undergoing this procedure needs to understand that this is a long process that could entail 10, 15, or even more treatments depending upon the tattoo. Even with the best lasers, full resolution of all signs of the tattoo cannot be guaranteed.

While many tattoos can be completely removed, some may not respond to treatment. Tattoos are meant to be permanent and with recent ink technology and professional tattoo artists improving their skills, tattoos imprinted in the last decade are very difficult to remove. Even with the best technique, residual scarring from the tattoo itself may remain in some cases. Green, yellow, and light blue inks are extremely difficult to remove, and often can only ultimately be faded even with many treatments. Some metallic and white inks cannot be treated because of their inherent reflectivity and the potential for skin damage or discoloration.

Those individuals with fair skin and superficially placed tattoos are the best candidates. Darker skin is more difficult to treat (and in some cases may not be treatable at all). Anyone with an allergy to lidocaine or similar anesthetics can still undergo laser Tattoo Removal, but the treatment experience will unfortunately be much more uncomfortable.

The overall success of removal of a tattoo is based on several things: size, location, the individual’s ability to heal, their skin color, how deep the tattoo was applied, the type of ink used, and how long it has been in place. Newer tattoos are generally more difficult to remove than old ones.

Simple tattoos may be removed in 5 treatments scheduled about 8 weeks apart. Removing complex and deep tattoos requires a series of treatments spaced approximately 8 weeks apart or longer. Professional tattoos usually require 10-15 treatments or more for significant or complete clearing.