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Frequently Asked Questions About Tattoo
Removal1. Am I candidate for Laser
Tattoo Removal?
2. What is Laser Tattoo Removal?
3. How many techniques are there in performing Laser Tattoo Removal?
4. What does a typical Laser Tattoo Removal consultation entail?
5. How is Laser Tattoo Removal performed?
6. What are the different lasers used in Laser Tattoo Removal?
7. What should I expect after Laser
Tattoo Removal?
8. Does Laser Tattoo Removal hurt?
9. How long does Laser Tattoo Removal take?
10. Is there a lot of swelling involved with Laser Tattoo Removal?
11. When can I return to work?
12. When will I be able to see the results?
13. What are the risks of Laser Tattoo Removal?
14. Can I go in the sun after Laser Tattoo Removal?
If you are in good health (no serious health concerns), have realistic
expectations and do not have hypo-/hyper- pigmentation or Keloid scarring in your family
or personal history, you may be a good candidate for Laser Tattoo Removal.
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Laser Tattoo Removal is the penetration and break up of the ink
articles that were implanted into your skin. This procedure uses an Alexandrite laser.
This procedure can take about 2 years to fully remove a a tattoo ad even then it is not
guaranteed.
Whenever a person chooses to undergo the procedure.
There is no time
limit or specifications.
Your laser technician or doctor will discuss the prices, details,
explain he laser function and take before photos at the consultation. You may even watch a
video of this procedure being performed (I did). A regimen will be set and the risks will
be discussed as well.
The laser is applied with pulses lasting micro-seconds.
Sometimes it is accompanied by a short burst of Freon type substance or other freezing
agent shortly before to minimize pain. It takes about 180 pulses for a small
tattoo the size of a box of matches. You
will wear glasses protect your eyes. It is really quite simple.
There really isn't. It is the type of crystal that is used within the
machine that emits certain types of lasers to remove certain colors or pigments.
The treatment area will be swollen, red and very tender. It is really
like a burn. Blisters may form. Do not pick at the skin, let it heal
naturally. You will ice it down for the first 24 hours and thereafter for comfort.
It will crust up and eventually fall off. In the months ahead your body will dispose of
the cracked ink by its normal waste disposal protocol.
Yes, although some doctors offer anesthetic.
Local injections can be
given but more than likely a topical anesthetic agent is given which takes a long time to
penetrate anyway. Most patients go without, as did I. It feels like hot popping grease.
Too long. It may take up to
approximately 2 years for the tattoo to
disappear (with treatments anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to every 4 months).
There is moderate swelling of the treatment site, mine lasted 3 days.
It
remained tender for 4 days. However, the swelling can be alleviated with with proper icing
of the treatment area..
You may return to work immediately.
There is no down time
for this procedure.
You will notice some gradual fading over the course of
anywhere from a few weeks to 8 months. It took several months for me as I have had that particular tattoo re-inked
a FEW TIMES. It is
so gradual that you may not think that it was a waste of time and money. That is the
purpose of the before photos. I was told by a few laser techs that one really shouldn't have an
alexandrite treatment more than every 4
months or you will be wasting time and money. It takes the body time to dispose of
the broken ink particles.
Severe burns from defective machinery and/or unskilled technicians are
possible as well as infection (although very unlikely) of the scabbed areas.
You can go out in the sun after a treatment as long as it
is covered from the sun. This could severely damage your skin. Do not expose your
treatment area to the sun for at least 2 weeks, and even then, apply sun block.
The laser
literally evaporated some of the layers of skin in the process so you will have little
natural protection.
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