Tattoo Removal
Beautify Enhance Renew
Tattoo Removal in Newport Beach, CA
The tattoo industry has experienced a resurgence in popularity over recent decades. However, as the number of tattooed individuals increases, so does the number of individuals who regret the elaborate marks on their arms, legs, and backs. Laser tattoo removal offers minimally invasive relief for patients desiring to erase the evidence of previous decisions they may regret now. Laser tattoo removal has transformed the way tattoos are removed; they are now able to target even the most colorful of tattoos with less discomfort, scarring, and side effects. Tattoos are often described as a permanent expression of a temporary feeling, and for the men and women who agree with that statement, tattoo removal allows them to say goodbye to their ink.
What Are the Benefits of Tattoo Removal?
Tattoo removal can aid patients who feel as though their tattoos:
- Are limiting their employment opportunities
- No longer represent them
- Have changed due to weight fluctuations
- Are not of a high artistic standard
Am I a Candidate for Tattoo Removal?
While laser tattoo removal can target and reduce almost every color of ink, black and blue pigments tend to react best to the treatment. Candidates for this procedure should be in good general health and have realistic expectations of their results. Depending on the color, size, and placement of the tattoo, candidates should understand that their tattoo may never become completely invisible; however, it will be significantly lightened and improved.
How Is Tattoo Removal Performed?
Unlike previous, more invasive techniques, lasers remove unwanted tattoos by breaking up the pigment colors with a beam of high-intensity light. Before your treatment, a topical anesthetic cream may be applied to aid in your comfort. During the procedure, the laser delivers light to the topmost layers of your skin. The light is only absorbed by the areas that contain tattoo pigment, leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. Tattoo removal requires multiple treatment sessions spaced one month apart. The number of sessions needed will depend on the color, size, and age of the tattoo as well as your skin tone and the depth of the ink.
How Long Is My Tattoo Removal Recovery?
Following your session, you may experience swelling and skin discoloration. This is normal and will fade over the following days. An ice pack and antibiotic creams or ointments are recommended to sooth the treated area. During the treatment, be sure to keep the area covered and protected from the sun to prevent further skin discoloration.
What Are the Potential Side Effects of Tattoo Removal?
While lasers provide the safest means of tattoo removal, there is still the possibility of infection, hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. Be sure to follow all of the post-treatment instructions to reduce these risks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tattoo Removal
How long does the tattoo removal process take?
Multiple sessions are common. Several specific factors determine the number of sessions you may need to remove your tattoo. Among those features is the quality of the tattoo ink used, depth and density of ink etched into your skin, the ink hue, how old the tattoo is, skin type, and where the ink is located on your body. But an average range is about five to 10 separate sessions. Note that each session is pretty short, usually ranging from a few minutes to a half-hour. The average length is 15 minutes.
We must space your treatments several weeks apart — typically eight to 12 weeks. Complete healing between sessions is essential.
How painful is the procedure?
While it’s not comfortable, the process is often no more painful than the original tattoo application. Some patients do describe more pain but because each session is far shorter than most tattoo sessions, it’s typically easier to deal with. Additionally, we use a topical anesthetic cream to lessen the discomfort.
Can I have part of a tattoo removed?
We understand that many people are simply looking for tattoo revisions or cover-ups. We work with you to help achieve the result you are seeking. We can lighten a tattoo before a cover-up to help improve the effectiveness of the cover-up. You may need three to six sessions to lighten your tattoo sufficiently. Laser tattoo removal also allows us to target very specific areas of your tattoo. So, partial removal is possible.
Does placement matter in tattoo removal?
Yes. Where the tattoo is located on your body impacts removal efforts. Due to circulation, the further away from your heart, the more difficult it is to remove the tattoo entirely. For example, it may take longer to remove a tattoo on your lower leg than on your chest.
Are some ink colors harder to remove?
Light blues and greens do not respond as well to laser removal as do red and black inks. Tattoos in those hard-to-remove hues are likely to require additional sessions. In some cases, they cannot be entirely removed. The amount of ink saturation also plays a role.
How much does laser tattoo removal cost?
Costs vary depending upon the many factors described above. Large tattoos with heavy ink applications need more sessions than small, light tattoos. Your price will reflect that. Meet with our staff for an in-person consultation to receive a personalized estimate. Note that we also have some patient financing options available.