Tattoo Removal What to Expect and Why

What to expect

Tattoo removal is successful for most people. Age, overall health, hydration, type of ink, location of the tattoo, and how heavy-handed the artist were all play a role in how quickly the tattoo fades. Due to their high titanium dioxide content, white, bright yellow, and bright green are the most difficult to remove. Many people say tattoo removal feels like a hot rubber band snap or hot bacon grease splatter. Numbing agents can be used but rarely make a large difference.

How many Sessions? How often?

Tattoo removal takes more than 1 session. Tattoo removal works by superheating the ink, breaking it into smaller pieces so your body can attack it like a foreign invader and carry it off through your lymphatic and circulatory system. Many people need 8-15 treatments, depending on the factors mentioned above. Tattoos on extremities fade slower than those closest to your heart and face. It takes approximately 9+ months for the ink from a session to process away. Sessions are scheduled every 8-12 weeks, depending on the tattoo. This means it can take 3 sessions before you see movement. The tattoo may look slightly darker or wider for a time. This a good sign and indicates the ink has broken into smaller pieces. 

Will it hurt? What’s done for pain?

It’s going to be painful. We use heat energy to shatter ink particles in your skin, and the feeling of an intense sunburn is common. We will do everything we can to make this as comfortable as possible, and we can take as many breaks as you need. Cryotherapy (forced cold air) is used to chill the area as much as possible before we start, relieving much of the heat pain. I will always schedule enough time for breaks, proper cooling, and questions.

What’s that immediate color change?

You will see an immediate change of color called “frosting.” This is the ink particles breaking up and releasing steam. Because we are not breaking the surface of your skin, the steam will be trapped under it and will begin to reabsorb as you leave.

Side Effects:

Many people don’t see major side effects. Many people only occasionally see side effects. A lack of side effects does not mean the treatment didn’t work. Alternately, a high inflammation response is not a cause for concern. If you experience side effects that are concerning to you for any reason, please reach out via text or call at 602.753.6637, Instagram @EstheticsbyTatianna, email, or the contact form on my website.

• Swelling: Swelling is common due to the trauma of the skin. We’re breaking ink up under your skin with intense heat. Ice the tattoo as soon as possible, 5-10 minutes on, 5-10 minutes off (please avoid freezer burn). Cold aloe gel, burn gel, hydrocortisone cream, and Arnica gel can all help with this.
• Redness: Your skin is taking in a lot of heat energy to break up the ink particles. Hot redness is to be expected. It could look and feel like a sunburn for 1-14 days, depending on your inflammation response. 
• Pinpoint bleeding and/or bruising: When the ink breaks up it can create trauma to the surrounding skin. Sometimes, this trauma is enough to break capillaries under the skin. The blood may accumulate beneath your skin, resulting in small, dark bruises. This bruising usually clears in 3-14 days. Arnica is traditionally helpful for this. Sometimes, the blood will push up through the hair follicle in the area. If this happen,s it shouldn’t be runny or drippy. It would resemble being waxed, with some blood specks that dry and rinse off quickly.
• Blistering: Blisters can be common depending on the density and depth of the ink and the sensitivity of the skin. We are using a lot of heat energy to break up the ink, and the more ink there is or the closer it is to the surface of the skin the hotter the skin will become. Please avoid popping, picking, or scratching the blisters. Loose bandages and occlusive agents such as Aquaphor, Vaseline, or A&D ointment can be used as a protective barrier after 24 hours. Please do not apply bandages or occlusive agents before 24 hours as they can trap heat and exacerbate inflammation-related side effects. Blisters may take on the color of the tattoo. This may look alarming, but it does mean that the ink is coming out in the plasma.
• Itching: Itching can last the longest and is generally a simple annoyance, similar to healing a tattoo. Your skin is trying to heal itself at a deep layer while also attacking the ink. Please avoid scratching. Keeping the area well moisturized, using hydrocortisone cream, antihistamines, and gently tapping/slapping can all help relieve itching.
• Scaley, shiny, dry skin or light scabbing: Drying of the skin is to be expected due to the heat. These layers of dry skin will need to work themselves up and out. Keeping the area moisturized and gently exfoliation it after 1 week (or once blistering has healed) can help this process along.