Laser Tattoo Removal: How it Works & All You Need to Know

Who is the Ideal Candidate for Tattoo Removal in Dubai?

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

How Long Does Laser Tattoo Removal Take?

What Should You Expect For a Tattoo Removal Session?

The Laser Tattoo Removal Procedure

Post-procedural Care

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?

Are There Any Side Effects to Laser Tattoo Removal?

What is the Cost of Laser Tattoo Removal in Dubai?

Is Laser Tattoo Removal Safe?

Are There Alternative Methods for Removing Tattoos?

Tattoos have become part of mainstream culture in recent years. You can hardly find young adults without at least one tattoo, regardless of age. Some people get tattoos because it’s trendy to do so and they are fashionable, while others get them to keep memories of an event or loved ones.

However, there are multiple reasons why tattoo removal may be necessary. Either you got a new corporate job that requires you not to have a tattoo, or you want to get rid of a symbol that has not held well over time. You may even want to remove an old tattoo and create room for a new one.

Tattoo removal was almost impossible in the past or the available procedures were very painful often with significant side effects. The good news is that tattoo removal has now become more accessible and more effective, thanks to technological advancements. You now have easier access to affordable tattoo removal services.

However, before you book an appointment, it is pertinent that you understand what you’re getting into. Read on as we uncover the details of laser tattoo removal to help you make the best decision.

Who is the Ideal Candidate for Tattoo Removal in Dubai?

Laser tattoo removal is safe for everybody that wishes to get rid of those tattoos. However, the candidate must be at least 18 years old with good overall health. Fulfilling these criteria will help prevent complications during the process.

How Does Laser Tattoo Removal Work?

The use of lasers to remove tattoos involves using very short, high-energy light pulses to destroy the color pigments in the skin. Lasers break up the pigment colors of the skin to help get rid of tattoos. Some of the tattoo ink comes through the skin surface during the process. The ink remaining in the skin gets broken down into smaller pieces.

Since tattoo removal involves a series of treatments, these particles get broken up even more until they are no more visible on the skin. The laser can usually get rid of black and red color pigments in particular. Yellow, brown, and violet pigments, on the other hand, are often not completely eliminable and are usually challenging, even for the best lasers.

The reason is that black and red pigments can absorb all laser wavelengths. Other colors have more pigments, which are more finely dispersed beneath the skin. They are also very light, making them absorb laser lights less effectively. However, specialized lasers are available based on specific pigment colors to effectively remove those tattoos.

If you want to go with a more technical explanation, laser tattoo removal works based on the theory of photothermolysis. This theory explains that the heat from light of appropriate wavelength and pulse duration will help remove the tattoo. This photothermal effect causes only minimal damage to the surrounding skin.

Photomechanical effects also help remove tattoos by fracturing the tattoo particles with picosecond pulse duration. The body then removes the smaller tattoo particles. In this case, the while blood cells seize those smaller particles and carry them into the liver. Here, the liver flushes them out along with other toxins or foreign body materials.

How Long Does Laser Tattoo Removal Take?

Although removing tattoos with lasers is effective, the process is not “one and done.” Rather, it usually involves several sessions, with professional tattoos taking an average of 6 to 12 visits. You always have to take a 4 to 8-week break between the sessions. This will help the skin regenerate, and the color can be removed from the body via the lymphatic system. Therefore, you’d expect laser tattoo removal to take between six months to two years.

However, this answer is not a one-size-fits-all. How long your tattoo removal takes depends on several factors including the following:

• The Color(s) of the Tattoo

The color pigment of your tattoo plays a vital role in the effectiveness of the removal process. Darker colors often take fewer sessions than lighter ones. This is because dark or black colors will absorb light more than lighter inks. This way, the laser will be more effective on dark or black ink tattoos. On the other hand, lighter colors are often more reflective, causing light to bounce off them. The fewer the light absorption, the less effective the laser removal is.

• The Location of the Tattoo

Tattoos fade the fastest in areas of the body with increased blood circulation. Thus, tattoos farther from the heart will usually take more time to remove. You’d notice that tattoos in parts like your hands and legs tend to be more vibrant. However, removing tattoos from your chest or torso area will be faster and easier.

• How Long do Tattoos Last?

Tattoos may be permanent, but they fade away as time passes. The older a tattoo is, the more faded it is likely to be, which translates to fewer tattoo removal sessions.

In general, you can never say in advance exactly when the tattoo has disappeared because skin and metabolism can be very different in everyone. This is why it is crucial to have a session with trained professionals to determine the number of sessions you will need before beginning the process.

What Should You Expect For a Tattoo Removal Session?

There are three basic stages in every session you attend. You need to understand some pre-procedure basics, what happens during the removal, and post-procedural care. Let’s take a look at each stage.

Pre-Procedural Instructions

Every laser tattoo removal session should begin with a consultation. Here, a trained professional with proficient knowledge and experience will evaluate your tattoo and give adequate advice on the process. Before going for your appointment, the following general instructions will help you get the best out of the procedure:

● Get a proper night’s sleep on the day before the tattoo removal.

● Take your bath with antibacterial soap.

● Shave any hair that may be on the area.

● Avoid skin treatments a week before the removal, especially near the tattoo area.

● Do not wax for at least one week before removing the tattoo to avoid skin sensitivity.

● Eat a healthy meal some hours before going for the treatment.

● Remember to wear loose clothing for proper tattoo visibility.

The Laser Tattoo Removal Procedure

When you visit for your appointment, this is what happens:

● You will be given protective eye shields to wear.

● The physicians will test your skin’s reaction to lasers to determine the best energy for your needs.

● A numbing cream or topical anesthetic will be applied to the treatment site area before the procedure.

● The practitioner then directs a short pulse of high-intensity laser beams to the tattooed area using a handheld device.

● Consequently, the laser will break the pigments into smaller bits for easy removal from the system.

● Upon completion of the procedure, physicians use ice packs to minimize discomfort and topical antibiotics to prevent infections.

Post-procedural Care

Laser technicians or professional physicians involved in the process will give you a couple of aftercare instructions to help retain the positive results. Firstly, a topical antibiotic ointment will help speed up the healing of the treated areas. It also prevents infections or reduces the risks of infections to the barest minimum. You must also change your wound dressing each time you apply the ointment.

The following aftercare procedures will be valuable in the first two weeks after tattoo removal:

● Keep the treated site clean and dry at all times.

● Ensure not to wear tight clothes around the area.

● Avoid exposing the treated area to UV rays from the sun.

● Never pick blisters or scabs that may appear on the area to prevent infections.

● It will be best to avoid activities like running, swimming, or other strenuous exercises for about a week after the procedure.

● Consult your doctor if you need to take any over-the-counter medicines.

Does Laser Tattoo Removal Hurt?

The thought of laser beams and the light intensity they produce puts fear in people who may want to undergo laser tattoo removal. The procedure involves some level of pain. However, it is not excruciating. Since you’ve had a tattoo drawn on your body, you can surely withstand the pain. Many patients often compare the sensation of the removal to that of applying the tattoo itself.

Facilities that offer tattoo removal services give some topical anesthetic or soothing to the skin during the procedure. Here, at Eden Derma Clinic, we keep the area numb throughout the process to provide effective removal while ensuring high patient satisfaction.

Are There Any Side Effects to Laser Tattoo Removal?

You should expect side effects as parts of the removal process. Some side effects occur due to immune responses as the tattoo ink leaves the skin, showing that your body system is in the right shape. So, you should not be in shock when your skin becomes more sensitive after the tattoo removal, and you need to limit some clothing or activities.

Some of the most common side effects of laser tattoo removal are:

● Blistering

● Redness

● Swelling

● Bruising

● Tenderness

● Hypopigmentation

● Hyperpigmentation

● Scabs

If the physicians follow the proper removal protocols according to the patient’s skin, these side effects are temporary. Redness, swelling, and tenderness often reduce within two days after the treatment. You may begin to see blisters within a day of treatment, some of them looking large and alarming. This is normal, and it takes about a week or more to heal. The same is the case for scabs and bruising.

Hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation are also temporary. They occur when there is skewing of the body’s melanin production after treatment. In the case of hypopigmentation, the treatment depletes melanin to make the skin look bleached. There is overproduction of melanin for hyperpigmentation, and the treated area looks darker than usual. These issues resolve naturally with time.

Scarring may occur, and mostly it is permanent. It happens in very rare cases though. As long as you have your tattoo removed by the experienced and skilled medical aestheticians at Eden Derma Clinic, the risks of deleterious side effects will reduce significantly.

What is the Cost of Laser Tattoo Removal in Dubai?

Laser tattoo removal cost in Dubai is not fixed and ranges from AED 500 to AED 5,000. However, this is just an estimate. The price varies based on individual needs. The following factors will affect the cost of the tattoo removal procedure:

● Color(s) of the tattoo

● Size of the tattoo

● Number of tattoos

● How long the tattoo has stayed

● The physician’s expertise.

Is Laser Tattoo Removal Safe?

Thanks to newer available technologies, removing tattoos with lasers is now more effective with little to no risks. Laser removal is safer than most other available methods like dermabrasion and excision.

However, you have to ensure that you choose physicians with adequate knowledge and experience in using tattoo lasers. That’s what we offer here at Eden Derma Clinic.