Permanently reduce or remove your unwanted ink in just a few quick and easy treatments.
Tattoos might be popular but many people are living with unwanted body art. A tattoo may have seemed like a good idea at the time but now it no longer fits in with your life or style. What’s more, tattoos can end up affecting your career and a poorly designed tattoo can affect your general self-confidence too.
Cynosure’s laser systems can treat:
Before you go ahead with laser tattoo removal, you will need to schedule a consultation with a licensed practitioner. During this time, you will find out more about what to expect and how many sessions you will need to remove your unwanted body art.
During your session, an applicator will deliver laser energy into the ink particles of the unwanted tattoo. The heat from laser breaks these particles into smaller pieces that the body can naturally eliminate. This is a gradual process, which means patience and multiple sessions are required to achieve the desired outcome. Tattoos on certain areas of the body, older tattoos and those that have older or lighter ink can be more difficult to treat.
No downtime is required following laser tattoo removal but you will need to keep the area clean and protected from harmful UV rays. The average treatment takes about an hour to complete and each treatment will take place at six to eight-week intervals.
The treated area will be slightly red, swollen and tender after your session. It will also scab and flake after several days. It’s important not to pick at the area to avoid scarring. Keeping the area is also important in order to avoid infection in between treatments.
Your laser removal treatment will feel very similar to your original tattoo session. Your provider may offer numbing cream to minimise any possible discomfort throughout the treatment. This takes about 30 minutes to take effect. Your skin will also feel tender after your appointment but not to the point that pain medication is required.
Treating an average-sized tattoo typically takes around 10 minutes. Treatments can be longer depending on the size of the tattoo being treated. Treating multiple tattoos will also take longer.
A series of treatments is typically recommended. The number of treatments needed is dependent on variables such as ink type, size of the tattoo, location on the body, lifestyle habits, etc. Your provider can provide you with a better idea of the number of treatments required during your consultation.
Cynosure’s laser systems are ideal for all skin types. However, certain ink pigments are more difficult to treat than others. This is one of the reasons why a consultation is required prior to treatment. Your practitioner can also advise you on whether there are any medical concerns, medications or supplements that could affect your results.
The cost of laser tattoo removal will be different for everyone. The size and number of tattoos, as well as how difficult it is to remove, all need to be taken into account. This will be discussed with you during your consultation.
There are a few things you can do to better prepare for your treatment. It’s important to protect the treated area from harmful UV rays. This means no tanning, whether naturally or with a tanning bed, at least two weeks before your session. It’s also highly recommended that you stop smoking to promote better healing. Certain medications that increase the risk of bleeding and bruising should also be avoided. Always show up to your session hydrated.
Laser tattoo removal will not leave you with scarring. However, this is only if the necessary aftercare instructions are followed. If you are prone to keloid scarring, you should mention this to your provider during your consultation. You’re at higher risk of scarring if you’ve developed keloid scars in the past but there are steps that can be taken to minimise the risks.
While certain colours can be slightly harder to remove than others, patients will almost always be able to remove most of their tattoo. Aged tattoos and any body art that’s present on very thin or thick skin can be more difficult to remove. In some instances, a very light shadow of the former tattoo can be seen but this will also fade gradually over the years.